DO NOT READ THIS POST UNTIL AFTER 22:00 hours local time and 6 drinks....it is for entertainment purposes only.
...during the 80 year (rebellion) war with Spain. The three Dutch-English wars during the 17th century, or even the fight with the murderous HORDES from the east. From The Huns (right after birth of christ) to the Mongols somewhere around the first millenium. Not forgetting the Vandals, the Vicogoths or even the Viking invasions. As well as the various clashes of the 19th century. Come to think of it the Romain empire itself came to a end in the Dutch marshes and the German Forrests.
Sounds like the Dutch have relationship issues. Maybe Dr. Phil could help....wait, he is American, is that allowed?
Ehh, wait a minute, the americans of those time were still wearing bear skins and feathers and dancing around a bon-fire.
Ouch. This statement will make the cartoon protests seem miniscule.
.... the financier of the American revolution itself and have sheltered the very pilgrim fathers from prosecution before they decided to sail to the new world. Haven't seen much thanks for those contributions lately.
Thanks for the financing, it came in handy. Has that tab been cleared or did we default on it? By the way, why'd they leave? Sounds perfect to me.
If you think that a more permanent Nazi or Sovjet occupation would have ended our claim to these lands or killed off our identity then you are seriously mistaken. In time, we would have again fought ourselfs free and would have re-established control of our own destiny as we had done 10's of times in the past 2 millenia of Dutch history.
Time would have told, gladly it was avoided. Most occupations you mentioned crumbled from within due to lack of oversight, lack of speedy communication, lack of speedy travel - which while not perfected were coming of age in the 1940's. It is an interesting philosophical question how long an occupation would have lasted in these more current times - assuming the Nazi's would have kept up their extrodinary economic development that they saw in the 1930's.
Thanks goes TO YOUR FATHER OR GRANDFATHER for putting in a contribution that rather soon shedded our yoke in 1945; I write contribution as I seem to remember large formations of Poles; Canadians, Brits, Free Dutch, Free French and what not else in this endeavour.
All TOUGH SOBs, in my book.
But don't ever make the mistake of thinking that YOU personally can derive any credit from this. You didn't do any fighting. And don't think that your larger American family singlehandedly achieved something that wasn't coming our way in due time anyway. And your weren't defending any European liberties in Korea, Vietnam, Grenada or even Iraq (I refrain from giving you the full listing)
This response was a little personal and "is exactly why it is always so easy to sting them with such remarks".
...during that time many sacrifices have been made in favour of the survival of a nation. In this light it will be wise to remember the modesty of your contributions and the travesty of your own failings.
Very elegant. I cannot remember the book I read that in, but I am still looking for the title.
All in all, a very concise look at how differently historical contributions can be viewed - dependent upon ones local surroundings.
We all have Al Gore and his wonderful internet to thank for making it all possible.
While you have your list of inventors out: who invented fiberglass, carbon fiber techniques and all the other cool sailing related inventions?
