British Expats

British Expats (https://britishexpats.com/forum/)
-   The Trailer Park (https://britishexpats.com/forum/trailer-park-96/)
-   -   What side would you choose? (https://britishexpats.com/forum/trailer-park-96/what-side-would-you-choose-617878/)

gazza64 Jul 2nd 2009 1:21 am

What side would you choose?
 
Hi,

As it`s coming up to July 4th again, my mind had a "what if " moment today!

"What if" you had a time machine and could go back to the war of independence, what side would you have chosen knowing what we know now? The Brits or Americans? What side and why? Would you be a patriot Brit or fight for the plucky Colonials?

Let battle commence!

cindyabs Jul 2nd 2009 1:31 am

Re: What side would you choose?
 

Originally Posted by gazza64 (Post 7716562)
Hi,

As it`s coming up to July 4th again, my mind had a "what if " moment today!

"What if" you had a time machine and could go back to the war of independence, what side would you have chosen knowing what we know now? The Brits or Americans? What side and why? Would you be a patriot Brit or fight for the plucky Colonials?

Let battle commence!

My family already did their bit, mainly on the plucky side. :thumbup:

I did have the odd French/Dutch line that fought as patriotic Brits. Go figure that out. :confused:

gazza64 Jul 2nd 2009 1:44 am

Re: What side would you choose?
 
Although i consider myself to be an patriotic Englishman, i think i would chosen the American side just because of the basic reasons involved in the first place. IE freedom to make ones own decisons.

SagenOnion Jul 2nd 2009 1:47 am

Re: What side would you choose?
 

Originally Posted by gazza64 (Post 7716614)
Although i consider myself to be an patriotic Englishman, i think i would chosen the American side just because of the basic reasons involved in the first place. IE freedom to make ones own decisons.

I would pick the American side so that my future ancestors don't have to deal with those USCIS bastards 200 years later.

gazza64 Jul 2nd 2009 2:13 am

Re: What side would you choose?
 
Amen to that!

surly Jul 2nd 2009 2:15 am

Re: What side would you choose?
 
My choice would be with the rebels. They had right on their side, then I have always been anti Monarchy.
The creation of the USA has been one of the most important event in world history.

gazza64 Jul 2nd 2009 2:27 am

Re: What side would you choose?
 
Surly, i agree wiith you. I`m proud to be English, but i`m not a royalist in anyway shape or form.

surly Jul 2nd 2009 2:31 am

Re: What side would you choose?
 

Originally Posted by gazza64 (Post 7716724)
Surly, i agree wiith you. I`m proud to be English, but i`m not a royalist in anyway shape or form.

We had our chance in 1649 and blew it. :frown:

nettlebed Jul 2nd 2009 2:47 am

Re: What side would you choose?
 

Originally Posted by surly (Post 7716706)
My choice would be with the rebels. They had right on their side, then I have always been anti Monarchy.
The creation of the USA has been one of the most important event in world history.

Me too. I agree entirely with the last sentence.

I believe that Oliver Cromwell was probably the greatest English statesman who ever lived. Unfortunately he had the misfortune to be around a century ahead of his time in terms of political though in Europe.

I would love to have seen what he would have been able to achieve had he been one of the Founders of the USA.

janet82 Jul 2nd 2009 5:54 am

Re: What side would you choose?
 

Originally Posted by nettlebed (Post 7716763)

I believe that Oliver Cromwell was probably the greatest English statesman who ever lived.

Apart from what he did to the Irish. Agree about the anti monarchy bit though.

lapin_windstar Jul 2nd 2009 7:08 am

Re: What side would you choose?
 

Originally Posted by janet82 (Post 7717029)
Apart from what he did to the Irish.

Glad you pointed that out!

I can't see how anyone looking in retrospect would not choose the American side - I mean, not only did they have the better ideas and land, but they won! Who wants to be on the losing side? :thumbsup:

nettlebed Jul 2nd 2009 3:49 pm

Re: What side would you choose?
 

Originally Posted by lapin_windstar (Post 7717238)
Glad you pointed that out!

I can't see how anyone looking in retrospect would not choose the American side - I mean, not only did they have the better ideas and land, but they won! Who wants to be on the losing side? :thumbsup:

Venturing into modern political territory here, but it amazes me that successive US administrations never seem to have learned from the successful insurgency practiced by their C18th ancestors that an imperial force attempting to subdue an overseas country that doesn't want them almost never works.

cindyabs Jul 2nd 2009 5:50 pm

Re: What side would you choose?
 

Originally Posted by nettlebed (Post 7717454)
Venturing into modern political territory here, but it amazes me that successive US administrations never seem to have learned from the successful insurgency practiced by their C18th ancestors that an imperial force attempting to subdue an overseas country that doesn't want them almost never works.

To be fair, nobody picked up on the cue starting from the Roman Empire. :blink:

nettlebed Jul 2nd 2009 5:53 pm

Re: What side would you choose?
 

Originally Posted by cindyabs (Post 7717728)
To be fair, nobody picked up on the cue starting from the Roman Empire. :blink:

Right, but my point was that we USAians make such a big thing of the irregular (they should have been on Ex-Lax?) minutemen beating the oh-so mighty British troops, that the comparison should be more obvious...

cindyabs Jul 2nd 2009 6:43 pm

Re: What side would you choose?
 

Originally Posted by nettlebed (Post 7717734)
Right, but my point was that we USAians make such a big thing of the irregular (they should have been on Ex-Lax?) minutemen beating the oh-so mighty British troops, that the comparison should be more obvious...

Speaking as a descendant of the irregulars, one at Valley Forge, one at Saratoga, one a Minuteman and a few others elsewhere, I understand your point. Mine was that nobody ever seems to cotton on to avoid falling into that pit of self delusion. The powers that be, past and present always think that their way of life is what everyone else should want, ergo, let's show 'em how it's done. :rolleyes: This is also most helpful in masking the "looting" or at the very least controlling of any resources to be found in the new found lands.


All times are GMT. The time now is 6:02 pm.

Powered by vBulletin: ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.