Question Foreign nationals allowed to join our armed forces.

[RobM]

Apparently there were more Indians fighting on our side in WW1 than Australians. That surprised me.

 

[MK Shrimper]

Apparently there were more Indians fighting on our side in WW1 than Australians. That surprised me.

Why? Their populations were vastly different. A ratio of approx 500:1.

 

[RobM]

Why am I surprised? I just didn't know!

 

[MK Shrimper]

Why am I surprised? I just didn't know!

The contribution by those with non-white faces has often been brushed over.

 

[Mad Cyril]

The contribution by those with non-white faces has often been brushed over.

Rubbish. There were loads in Zulu.

 

[MK Shrimper]

Rubbish. There were loads in Zulu.

Ten thousand Watusi warriors armed to the teeth with kiwi fruit and guava halves?

 

[RobM]

Don't let them near the papaya!

 

[rigsby]

I used to sell copies of the Socialist Worker (though tbf I was never a member of SWP or its predecessor IS).

Pleased to see you didn't waste that private education.

 

[rigsby]

The contribution by those with non-white faces has often been brushed over.

Unfortunately because British history is often only viewed as Empire building and colonialism by the academic world. The positive aspects are never discussed or encouraged.

At the battle of Trafalgar there were 27 different nationality's amongst the British navy. Including over 400 black men, often listed as American. They were happy to be freed from slave ships because in Nelsons navy a black man could rise to the same rank as an ordinary white man.

One of the prize jobs were the Topmen. You need great upper body strength to haul up the sails so it suited many black sailors. They were loyal to the ship as they could hardly jump ship in any port around the world.

It was the Victorian era that whitewashed our history and took years to change but it should not be judged because of that wrong.

However even in the Victorian era if you look up the West Africa Squadron that is surely a bit of history we can all be proud of. Unless of course anyone thinks capturing hundreds of slave ships and freeing thousands of Africans was wrong.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

Bolshevist!! Say 50 Hail Rees-Moggs in penance.

Ha! I joined the CPGB shortly afterwards .Just doing a little moonlighting beforehand.Can't say I like your penance too much.

 

[maninasuitcase]

Unfortunately because British history is often only viewed as Empire building and colonialism by the academic world. The positive aspects are never discussed or encouraged.

At the battle of Trafalgar there were 27 different nationality's amongst the British navy. Including over 400 black men, often listed as American. They were happy to be freed from slave ships because in Nelsons navy a black man could rise to the same rank as an ordinary white man.

One of the prize jobs were the Topmen. You need great upper body strength to haul up the sails so it suited many black sailors. They were loyal to the ship as they could hardly jump ship in any port around the world.

It was the Victorian era that whitewashed our history and took years to change but it should not be judged because of that wrong.

However even in the Victorian era if you look up the West Africa Squadron that is surely a bit of history we can all be proud of. Unless of course anyone thinks capturing hundreds of slave ships and freeing thousands of Africans was wrong.

I don't think anyone would think that was wrong. But I have to question why we thought it was okay to enslave people in the first place. Yes I know we weren't the first to do it, but we did it on an industrial scale and that is a huge black mark on the UK which ever you want to look at it.

Even ending the slave trade meant paying the traders millions of pounds in compensation, if we didn't think that was right, we would have at least confiscated their ill-gotten gains.

 

[RHB]

I don't think anyone would think that was wrong. But I have to question why we thought it was okay to enslave people in the first place. Yes I know we weren't the first to do it, but we did it on an industrial scale and that is a huge black mark on the UK which ever you want to look at it.

You're absolutely right on the 'wrong' bit, but across history all big empires that had longevity used slaves to keep their industry, armies, in fact just about most things running. The Roman Empire, The Greek Empire, The Spartans, The British Empire, The Ottoman empire, all of them captured countries enslaved the defeated armies and the populations and then moved on to the next conquest. Totally wrong now but then it was the way of the world.

 

[rigsby]

I agree slavery is such a shameful part of our history. Like the rest of you though, I fully support modern slavery. A wonderful system and we don't have to feel any guilt as long as its far enough away and happening in another country.

Take somewhere like Indonesia. First you make sure you get a murderous right wing military man in charge. The West funds him and helps him with covert operations, then when he is in power he can round up and slaughter any opposition… ..You know the usual suspects, journalists, teachers and union officials.

Then you bankrupt the country with infrastructure projects with the help of say The World Bank. Now to pay that debt they have to have the big Western companies set up factories. So brands
like Gap and Nike will have an endless supply of slaves, including children. When demand goes up at Nike they put their works on 24 hour shifts with just 2 hours break in between….Those old Southern gentlemen cotton plantation owners would turn in their graves if they could see that.

In the meantime the dictator will make sure there no dissent by murdering over 1m of his own people......Of course you don't care because you are controlled by the very people who profit from all this.....The military/industrial and banking complex.....They of course control the press and our politicians. So you will lap up the story of Tiger Woods falling off his grandiose pedestal. When Nike cancels his contract (worth more than the wages of the whole factory, including management) because of and please don't laugh 'Brand image' None of you admit to your shameful and complacent part you play when leaving the high street shop with a £300 golf club.....Or the club shop with your latest replica shirt.

Whatever you reading this on will have small amounts of metal, sourced by gangs using child slaves.....They don't have a choice, nor did our forefathers who never had a vote and lived as slaves themselves...…..We of course do have a choice but are brainwashed into judging history rather than our own guilt......Something you might want think about.

 

[Brummie John]

Those who are brainwashed are in a prison of the mind. They have nothing to feel guilt about if ever they break free from that prison. The biggest landowner of God's earth (or so she believes) is the queen. God's number 1 enemy (Satan, The Devil, W**** of Babylon).
A massive wave of positive spiritual energy could and should sweep this earth upon the death of that trillionaire W****. A wave so powerful, that it could bring an end to this worldwide royal ****show. There are good people within secret societies. We have hope.

 

[MK Shrimper]