[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Did you know that an estimated 1 million Irish people died and another million left Ireland during the Irish Potato Famine and all the while that this was happening food was being shipped from Ireland to England under military guard

Nothing of the sort, I was never taught anything of Irish history. I was only lucky enough to receive the botched version of English History, I can't tell you anything about Scottish or Welsh history either.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

Nothing of the sort, I was never taught anything of Irish history. I was only lucky enough to receive the botched version of English History, I can't tell you anything about Scottish or Welsh history either.

The million who left Ireland mostly left on ships heading for America known as "coffin ships" I'm sure you can guess why........not too dissimilar from what's going on now actually with Syrian refugees etc

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

The million who left Ireland mostly left on ships heading for America known as "coffin ships" I'm sure you can guess why........not too dissimilar from what's going on now actually with Syrian refugees etc

History will always repeat itself although not always in the same fashion.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

History will always repeat itself although not always in the same fashion.

Yeah, true enough. Infact pictures of those coffin ships were posted around alot here to remind us that we were once in a similar situation, people forget, maybe that's why a reminder of such things can give people some perspective or make it more relate able

[the truth]

• Originally Posted by lostalex

  America did protect the UK from German invasion, and just as importantly stopped a complete Russian/Soviet invasion of western Europe. America really did singularly save the world in WW2. that's a fact.

lol yes and bruce willis was winston churchill

[DemolitionRed]

Originally Posted by lostalex

America really did singularly save the world in WW2. that's a fact.

Oh I'm sure, if it wasn't for America, we would all be speaking German now. God bless America

[jennyjuniper]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

How is that a second side to the story?

That Empire isn't always all bad or all good.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by jennyjuniper

That Empire isn't always all bad or all good.

Yeah it really doesn't prove that at all but whatever

[jennyjuniper]

Originally Posted by lostalex

America did protect the UK from German invasion, and just as importantly stopped a complete Russian/Soviet invasion of western Europe. America really did singularly save the world in WW2. that's a fact.

America only decided to enter the war when Pearl Harbour was bombed. Britain had been asking for the Yanks to help stop Hitler for a long time before they actually complied.
I am so sick of Americans thinking that they solely were responsible for every victory.

[VanessaFeltz.]

History lessons should be objective and neutral. For example if british empire did something bad than it should be taught or if british empire did something good than it should be taught too.

Also If you live in a country you should know about every single culture which has been on the land not just only the dominant culture/country.

Unfortunately countries around the world are biased about their history so they dont tell history %100 objectively

[the truth]

OH BUT we cant possibly know the pure evil, rape and mass murder of the monarchy throughout their entire sick history

[MTVN]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

So those Indians should have been grateful that the British took them over in the first place? ummm

Well I'd say India is much better off for having been a part of the Empire

[bots]

We maybe didn't go about think entirely correctly, but all the countries involved progressed immensely and are reaping the benefits of being part of that empire today.

Its very easy to be super critical with the benefit of hindsight, hundreds of years on in civilisation

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

We maybe didn't go about think entirely correctly, but all the countries involved progressed immensely and are reaping the benefits of being part of that empire today.

Its very easy to be super critical with the benefit of hindsight, hundreds of years on in civilisation

As tax havens?
We're still as exploitative today as we ever were.

[the truth]

the british empire was horrific in many parts, just 100 years ago we invented concentration camps which lead to the deaths of tens of thousands

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

We maybe didn't go about think entirely correctly, but all the countries involved progressed immensely and are reaping the benefits of being part of that empire today.

Its very easy to be super critical with the benefit of hindsight, hundreds of years on in civilisation

All we got from "the empire" was our language taken from us, our lands taken from us, our people starving to death on the streets eventhough there was plenty of food in Ireland at the time it was just shipped abroad to feed English people while our own people either starved or were forced to leave. And do tell what is "the correct" way to invade a country?

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by MTVN

Well I'd say India is much better off for having been a part of the Empire

Sorry Matt, i usually agree with your opinions but that's such a maddening statement. You were better off being invaded by us? whhhhaaattt. Would you feel the same if it were England having been taken over by the Germans or whatever? I doubt it very much. How could you possibly know what India would be like now if Britain had never gone near them in the first place? And regardless, that "you're better off" reasoning is just so offensive

[Livia]

Originally Posted by MTVN

Well I'd say India is much better off for having been a part of the Empire

True.

The Empire did some dispicable things, but it also did some good things. India's system of government and it's railway system for a start. And of course, what took the place of the Empire - the Commonwealth - is a great institution. And anyone who thinks it isn't should ask themselves why countries who were never part of the Empire choose to be a part of the Commonwealth.

I think it's time we stopped being encouraged to beat ourselves up about things that were done decades, centuries, before our time while learning about what happened. But this means recognising the good as well as the bad. Lots of bad things were done in the past that should be remembered, but we should also keep in mind that, in the words of LP Hartley, the past is a different country, they do things differently there.

[Kizzy]

Oh 'the sins of the father' and so on and so forth... That's until it suits to do otherwise.

All that is being suggested is that history isn't creatively re written.
“The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.”

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Livia

True.

The Empire did some dispicable things, but it also did some good things. India's system of government and it's railway system for a start. And of course, what took the place of the Empire - the Commonwealth - is a great institution. And anyone who thinks it isn't should ask themselves why countries who were never part of the Empire choose to be a part of the Commonwealth.

I think it's time we stopped being encouraged to beat ourselves up about things that were done decades, centuries, before our time while learning about what happened. But this means recognising the good as well as the bad. Lots of bad things were done in the past that should be remembered, but we should also keep in mind that, in the words of LP Hartley, the past is a different country, they do things differently there.

^^ Very easy to make a statement like that when your country was the oppressor in the scenario though..........

[Niamh.]

Imagine saying, you know slavery wasn't so bad, those black people are better off now they live in America anyway........

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Imagine saying, you know slavery wasn't so bad, those black people are better off now they live in America anyway........

Good point Niamh.

[Beso]

he isn't asking for much, maybe some of the future academies will.

[Beso]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

^^ Very easy to make a statement like that when your country was the oppressor in the scenario though..........

get over it, we forgave the romans.

[Denver]

Originally Posted by lostalex

America did protect the UK from German invasion, and just as importantly stopped a complete Russian/Soviet invasion of western Europe. America really did singularly save the world in WW2. that's a fact.

All the Yanks did was fight the Japanese when they was attacked, had they not been attacked they would not of got involved it bloody sickens me that they try take full credit