the American view of world history vs everyone else's

[Albinonewt]

You know what's funny about AO? You say the words "Europe", "America", or "History", in a thread and a half a page later it's the same old debate about whether or not America was needed in WWII.

Well, let's just say this. WWII went the way it did because of American involvement. You think Britain could have won the way by itself? Maybe, but it didn't. Britain had been fighting for quite some time without us and didn't win. Maybe it would have taken more time, maybe they would have lost, or more likely it may have been a push. But saying that everything boils down to a nightraid or that America only contributed materials as aid for years as proof that the American involvement wasn't the deciding factor is pretty silly.

Point is, WWII went down the way it did.


As for history being different from country to country, I wouldn't put too much into who's "right". It's a matter of perspective. History is vast. That an American text book doesn't mention a British innovation or tactic isn't just to try to make America look better (since most of American Educators want the opposite) but more likely just because History is BIG. Not every piece of every story gets told by everyone all the time.

No need to obsess.

[sharpshooter1286]

The American media is like the countrie's loud-mouthed idiot brother. Honestly, I watch it every morning. They do everything for shock value or glorification of America. The way they talk about Iraq, they make it sound like we are the good guys and everything is the Iraqi's fault. Blasphemy.

[Albinonewt]

The American media is like the countrie's loud-mouthed idiot brother. Honestly, I watch it every morning. They do everything for shock value or glorification of America. The way they talk about Iraq, they make it sound like we are the good guys and everything is the Iraqi's fault. Blasphemy.

What are you babbling about?

The American media say the EXACT opposite...

[Jeffy-CanCon]

What are you babbling about?

The American media say the EXACT opposite...

Maybe it's the difference between satelite and cable?


Funny coincidence: had a date with a Chinese chick today, and our discussion meandered through men-women, religion and politics. At one point she says to me "I don't think they teach you the right history here".

[la690]

The American media is like the countrie's loud-mouthed idiot brother. Honestly, I watch it every morning. They do everything for shock value or glorification of America. The way they talk about Iraq, they make it sound like we are the good guys and everything is the Iraqi's fault. Blasphemy.

I really agree with you. the American media tries to turn every world event into a movie that they can sell to people who will take it all as fact.

[Boski51]

Remember that the only function of American news programs is to sell advertising time. Nothing more and nothing less. For the folks that think the news is truth, you have never been on the "other" side of the news. News in America is about getting you to sit around for a few minute in between commercials.

[Miscue]

Is there such a thing as an English accent?

I always found it odd when an American talked about "English accents," when it's Americans that have the accents.

[manike]

Is there such a thing as an English accent?

I always found it odd when an American talked about "English accents," when it's Americans that have the accents.

There's lots of VERY different accents in England.

[Miscue]

There's lots of VERY different accents in England.

Yup. I'd like to sample them all... a different chick with each accent whispering something dirty in my ear. There's just something about the way they talk...

[peewee]

People talk the way they talk, having been dragged all across the USA it was always cool to hear how different people spoke. UK is the same My Mom is from Wellington & she sounds very different from her cousin Jack that's from London. I think every friend of mine that ever talked to my ma on the phone got rattled. A few of them asked her out. It was funny. I do have to say Americas view on history is "pro " US. I also believe that other countries have a different spin on any historical event that they were involved in. Kind of like a car wreck everyone's view is a little different their perspective will be skewed by their own involvement. If you read a history book in another country it will be from their perspective, as they say the victors write history. I'd like to read the German soldiers first person accounts on who they felt won the war against them. Being a Jarhead I know the Corps whooped up on Japan in WWII but we also "know " what the cost was that had to be paid for those victories.
Japs were tough dedicated proffesional fighters. We may have defeated Japan in the end but it took a nuke or two.

[bornl33t]

who cares? I mean history is history, we live in the now-a-days, where everyone watches america and want to have a voice in what we do, BUT DON'T, PERIOD.

[Eagle]

Everyone has an accent, be it southern, northern, Canadian, or Brit.

[CaptaiN_JacK]

U Boats had an effect (not the effect the propoganda machine said though) but they were crippled very quickly (bases) by english bomber night raids.

My understanding was that bombing raids on u-boat installations were nearly useless because the Germans built massive concrete storage installations to keep the u-boats, and no bombs could penetrate them?

Maybe that was the only installation of it's kind, I have no idea.

[MarkM]

Specialised submarine pens were a pretty formidable structure quite a few of the bases weren't built like that...the comment you quoted was replying to the comment saying that the U Boats were running riot destroying english and american shipping. This is often brought about by movies showing U Boat raids or Convoy based movies being attacked by U Boats.
My Grandfather was in the Merchant Navy as a Chief Engineer but had a new job with an engineering firm land based so it was a reserved occupation...every ship he had served on by the end of the war had been sunk during the war...his last ship was alerted to a possible threat as it was shadowed home to base by a German ship..not a U Boat as that came later..this was in 1939 just prior to the official declaration of war.

[Head knight of Ni]

By night bombing raids he means B-24 liberators scaning the atlantic for U boats. They used a magnetic disruptor to find the subs or one big- search light.