Subject: Re: a little something for everyone/Sgt X to the rescue
From: Jive Monkey (monkey_jive@hotmail.com)
Date: Sat Jun 16 2001 - 09:16:47 GMT
While my knowledge of much of history, dearest Scottie, is dreadful, I think
you may be leaving a bit out, or just taking too much credit for yourself.
My version of the fire-bombing of Dresden is that it was a joint operation
of the RAF and the U.S. Army Air Force (maybe it had become just the Air
Force by then?). To be honest, though, I take this interpretation from the
lowly recollection of one Kurt Vonnegut, who survived Dresden to be a little
known science fiction author, and the commercials I see on tv offering
videos telling of the great exploit, in terms of U.S. military action and
the heroics of our Fighting Airmen. I've also seen and heard mention of it
in various history courses and texts. If you could point me to the correct
text, to enlighten me, I would greatly appreciate it.
I also believe that zazie is accusing the Irish of siding with the Germans
just as much (and probably more) to pull your chain as because they didn't
side with the Allies (after the way your Imperial ancestors treated them, I
don't blame them). Actually though, Eire's neutral stance could be seen as
further proof of "Europe's" (it's a country now, you know, dubya says so)
lack of resolution, as you said, to defend itself from it's internal
aggressor, and the need for cross-Atlantic assistance (really, we've been
bailing you guys out left and right for the better part of a century).
And you're right, Scottie, Britain did jump ship on the Empire as soon as
things started going downhill, and things have turned out great. Look at
India & Pakistan and the Middle East, for instance (not to mention Ireland).
regards,
Ringo O'Sullivan
NAVSP
From: "Scottie Bowman" <rbowman@indigo.ie>
Reply-To: bananafish@roughdraft.org
To: <bananafish@roughdraft.org>
Subject: a little something for everyone
Date: Sat, 16 Jun 2001 08:29:49 +0100
First, a couple of details from history.
I’m afraid, Ringo, it was the forerunners of my comrades
in the RAF who introduced the innovation of the fire-storm
to Dresden & Hamburg. It was only later perfected by
your own Curt LeMay practising on the paper dwellings
of Tokyo.
I’m not Irish myself, Zazie, so you’ll have to take it up
with them, but I can’t imagine which of them you can be
accusing of ‘siding' with the SS. A completely failed attempt
*was* made to recruit a couple of hundred prisoners-of-war
to the Wehrmacht - & of course Lord Hawhaw though
an American citizen was Irish by birth - but I’m more aware of
( & grateful to) the thousands of Irishmen who fought in
the British forces (not to mention the many, many thousands
more American GIs of Irish descent - Sgt J.D. O'Salinger,
for example.)
I’m sure I exemplify the smugness of my Imperial ancestors,
Sean, (though the word is ‘intolerable’ not ‘untolerable’)
but it must be one of the few empires in history that was
acquired against the resistance & instincts of such powerful
elements in the home legislature; that was abandoned with such
little bloodshed; where the newly liberated lands took over
the style of government of the oppressors; & where the new
rulers continue to educate their children in the institutions
of their former masters - not to mention returning to the imperial
capital for their tailoring.
(It goes without saying that the very vigour with which young
Americans like yourselves criticize your homeland is a powerful
justification of my own admiration of America as a the land
of the free. And, of course, a further illustration of what I’ve
just discussed: the Anglo-Saxon tradition taking root in countries
across the seas, far from the mother land. Not too many blokes
in Tienanman Square, comparatively speaking, & the crowds
in Gothenburg & Berlin turn out in rather greater numbers
to barrack Bush than Shroeder.)
Finally, Suzanne, I’m afraid I’m unimpressed by your PhD friend
& her less than startling finding that 15% of any normal distribution
will show a greater than average tendency to nervous arousal.
It would be very weird if they didn’t. What you’ll also find
from now on is that only 15% of this list will NOT identify
themselves as HSPs. (And trundle out the figures to prove it ...)
Perhaps we can have it recognised as a qualification as in:
R.M Bowman MD MRCPsych HSP.
It’s we TRULY sensitive types who struggle on, shuddering
with apprehension, listening to the flowers opening, smelling
the distant odour of a dying deer, watching the pain in eyes
of the multitude, our nerve endings screaming at the touch of
the zephyr ... WE’re the ones who never mention our delicate
condition - but who should be minded, protected & granted
those very privileges we gallantly wouldn’t dream of demanding.
Scottie B.
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