TOAK- Thread Of All Knowledge- Part V
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 768
Likes: 55
From: chico
I think this avoids the "political", if not, well, I did my best...
About Churchill, I admire him for some of the things he did - credit, after all, to those who deserve it... But he's far from an ideal character. Richard Burton said of Churchill:
"In the course of preparing myself … I realized afresh that I hate Churchill and all of his kind. I hate them virulently. They have stalked down the corridors of endless power all through history. … What man of sanity would say on hearing of the atrocities committed by the Japanese against British and Anzac prisoners of war, “We shall wipe them out, everyone of them, men, women, and children. There shall not be a Japanese left on the face of the earth”? Such simple-minded cravings for revenge leave me with a horrified but reluctant awe for such single-minded and merciless ferocity."
Not, mind you, that I agree with Burton, but he's got a point. And WSC advocated using gas on "uncivilized" people - helpless schmucks. I simply can't abide that. But I wasn't there... If I'd been with him in the Malakand Field Force I might have agreed...
WSC, an American, by the way - dual citizen by act of Congress, was a superb writer and an amazing "mustang". A man of his time...he probably did his best, drunk or not.
The bit about waking up sober with a ugly gal...reminds me of this story:
A man asks a woman if she would be willing to sleep with him if he pays her an exorbitant sum. She replies affirmatively. He then names a paltry amount and asks if she would still be willing to sleep with him for the revised fee. The woman is greatly offended and replies as follows:
About Churchill, I admire him for some of the things he did - credit, after all, to those who deserve it... But he's far from an ideal character. Richard Burton said of Churchill:
"In the course of preparing myself … I realized afresh that I hate Churchill and all of his kind. I hate them virulently. They have stalked down the corridors of endless power all through history. … What man of sanity would say on hearing of the atrocities committed by the Japanese against British and Anzac prisoners of war, “We shall wipe them out, everyone of them, men, women, and children. There shall not be a Japanese left on the face of the earth”? Such simple-minded cravings for revenge leave me with a horrified but reluctant awe for such single-minded and merciless ferocity."
Not, mind you, that I agree with Burton, but he's got a point. And WSC advocated using gas on "uncivilized" people - helpless schmucks. I simply can't abide that. But I wasn't there... If I'd been with him in the Malakand Field Force I might have agreed...
WSC, an American, by the way - dual citizen by act of Congress, was a superb writer and an amazing "mustang". A man of his time...he probably did his best, drunk or not.
The bit about waking up sober with a ugly gal...reminds me of this story:
A man asks a woman if she would be willing to sleep with him if he pays her an exorbitant sum. She replies affirmatively. He then names a paltry amount and asks if she would still be willing to sleep with him for the revised fee. The woman is greatly offended and replies as follows:
She: What kind of woman do you think I am?
He: We’ve already established that. Now we’re just haggling over the price.
Have Fun, Brothers
He: We’ve already established that. Now we’re just haggling over the price.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 81,309
Likes: 36,894
From: Oklahoma City
Pie, the story about waking up sober wasn't about Churchill sleeping with her. At a state dinner Winston imbibed a bit heavily and an aristocrat said, "You sir are drunk!" The reply about her looks immediately followed.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...s-8878622.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...s-8878622.html
Last edited by OKMICK; Apr 29, 2016 at 03:31 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 19,653
Likes: 835
From: North Carolina
Well, we made it back in one piece. He only dang near scared the **** out of me a couple times and actually did pretty good for his first time out.
Politics in Great Britain was as Machiavellian as it gets after WWII
She's gonna poke somebody's eye out with those! Maybe mine if I'm really lucky.
Gassing as opposed to disintegrating thousands of civilians with an atomic bomb you mean?
WWII was a brutal war and the Japanese ethic at the time was that you fought to the death. If you surrendered you were beneath contempt and this was demonstrated by their treatment of the British forces after the Battle of Singapore, and the US and Philippine forces after Bataan.
This led to the joint approval of the Geneva Conventions in 1949. However it is doubtful that even if they had existed before the war that the Japanese in particular would have followed them given the mentality of their commanders and hence their soldiers.
War is just damned nasty business
She's gonna poke somebody's eye out with those! Maybe mine if I'm really lucky.
WWII was a brutal war and the Japanese ethic at the time was that you fought to the death. If you surrendered you were beneath contempt and this was demonstrated by their treatment of the British forces after the Battle of Singapore, and the US and Philippine forces after Bataan.
This led to the joint approval of the Geneva Conventions in 1949. However it is doubtful that even if they had existed before the war that the Japanese in particular would have followed them given the mentality of their commanders and hence their soldiers.
War is just damned nasty business
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 34,574
Likes: 2,087
From: TOAK Northern Branch
I don't know how you do it Mick. You make it sound like its no big deal.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 19,653
Likes: 835
From: North Carolina
Hang in there Mick! I have been through a tornado and I'd be nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. That is some awesome power!