It says a huge amount about the confidence of the royal family, that they feel able to respond to their Nazi home movie with nothing other than outrage that anybody should see it. They make no denial they were giving Nazi salutes, no statement that the royal family did not support the Nazis. Of course the young children had no idea of the implications. But the adults most certainly did. The missing figure is the cameraman, future King George, who was filming his wife and brother displaying the family sympathies.
The royal family were of course German themselves – completely so. Since George I every royal marriage in line of succession had been conducted in strict accordance with the Furstenprivatrecht, to a member of a German royal family. The Queen Mother, who was of course not expected to feature in promulgating the line of succession, was the first significant exception in 220 years. She was evidently trying hard to fit in. But I am not sure German-ness has much to do with it. Nazi sympathies were much more common in the aristocracy than generally admitted. Their vast wealth and massive land ownership contrasted with the horrific poverty and malnutrition of the 1930’s, led the aristocracy to fear a very real prospect of being stood against a wall and shot. Fascism appeared to offer social amelioration for the workers with continued privilege for the aristocrats. It is completely untrue that its racism, totalitarianism and violence was unknown in 1933-4. They knew what they were doing.
Happily fascism was defeated. The royal family is of course only the tip of the iceberg of whitewashed fascist support – without even starting on industrialists, newspaper proprietors, the Kennedys, etc. etc. But the Buckingham Palace option of outrage that anybody should ever remember is very sad – still more sad that such a position gets such popular support.
We never did get round to shooting the aristocrats.
I am an optimist in politics. My experience of life has taught me that altruism is a far stronger human urge than selfishness. Modern political fashion is based on the denigration of the urge to cooperation, and I do not believe will survive.
Which leads me to believe we are now living in an embarrassing past. Future generations will look back at the massive and exponentially expanding gap between rich and poor, at the super state security services and near total surveillance, at the violent wars waged in ill-disguised annexation of resources, and be amazed that people could support it. I also think that enormous shame will attach to all those who support the excruciatingly slow genocide of the Palestinians. That will be part of our embarrassing past.
Mark Golding –
You posted a made-up quote purporting to be by a Jewish rabbi supporting ISIS, which you found on a loony site. Have the decency to apologise.
“Ba’al educated us about the clearances by saying”
If you want to know about clearances read up on the Inclosures Acts.
If you want to know about how children in Scotland are taught to hate listen to Ba’al.
Node
I’ve noticed that many here react very strongly when they are told that Corbyn, and by extension the left, are unelectable in this country. I think deep down you know it..
“Your point being?”
My point being you asked if I lived at Ulbster then posted a link to tenants being evicted on the Ulbster Estates, which weren’t at Ulbster.
So I’ll take bets from any of you that Labour lose the next election under Corbyn, as you think I’m being disingenuous.
Disingenuous? Toi? Perish the thought!
1. If Corbyn has any sense, he’ll find a rather younger, talented and smileyfaced not-too-lefty to deal with the PR. He’ll stick to the policies which opinion polls are finding more popular (like scrapping Trident – how the hell can we justify the cost of keeping it? There isn’t even an economic argument for it unless you’re Raytheon), and he’ll work the Labour room to impress on it that there’s absolutely no point in having two Tory parties.
2. The Labour voters who were seduced by UKIP will have had five more years to realise that it’s fraudulent. And they’re going to buy anything that doesn’t smell of hedge fund.
3. And the SNP will probably often vote with him, which will make for lively times, but may dispense with the need for Labour to have an absolute majority. They won’t vote for mimsy little-Englanders like Kendall.
So, thanks for the vote, Anon, and I’ll add mine.
2. He may lose the next election. But if he’s clever with the
Ba’al: “Yours is probably less likely to wheelie when pulling away, as it is a lot heavier, I gather. ”
That’s right – it is pretty hard to get the front wheel in the air. No traction control, but a bike weighing in at well over 600lbs is a form of traction control in itself. It is a heavy bugger, I’ll admit.
But it’s splendid for doing great distances without any apparent effort, and also long and comfortable enough for 2-up over many hours and hundreds of miles. Most bikes aren’t that pillion friendly for the misses, particularly if she has fairly long legs.
Its got a very good range, electrically adjustable fairing, heated grips and fitted panniers (which actually work), ABS and electrical outlet (cig lighter socket) all as standard. You might want to look at them, plenty around in good nick.
*
At this stage, I don’t think we need worry about being off-topic.
Giyane
Yes it’s terribly convenient to be able to say that when a Muslim commits a crime he is no longer a Muslim. It absolves Muslims from all crimes!
For those of us who aren’t Muslims the very earthly hogwash you believe in is man-made, and what Muslims do in the name of Islam is the responsibilty of them and their beliefs. There is ample material in the Islamic holy texts to make extreme interpretations of Islam and without any authority or institution to tell them otherwise those are just as valid as any other. So yes Muslims do kill Muslims, and very frequently.
My point being you asked if I lived at Ulbster
I said “Ulbster, maybe?” and linked to an article about Ulbster Estate, having previously been talking about other Caithness estates which had been cleared, in contradiction of your(wrong) assertion that only Sutherland had been cleared. I probably overestimated your mental agility there, sorry. And I can keep nitpicking for hours, Fred, just like you.
Incidentally, you have just accused me of incitement to hatred. Chapter and verse, please. This hatred thing is something you seem more than handy with yourself. What precisely are your criteria for defining it? I may read your reply. Be careful.
I think the empirical Highland clearances and the enclosures acts of the 19th century should all be repealed, zero’d, Fred, because they do not belong into the 21st century, these lands should be for all. A nominal compensation should be paid by the lardy lairds into a charitable cause with aims to re-inhabit these landscapes.
I include national trust land as well, for far too long have we given large landowners ample tax relief for the land they can’t maintain anymore, for the houses that crumble and for the use of the land that comes for free.
Why should we cram, up on less than 3% of land in the UK to enable this national asset to stay aloof, inhabited by a few privileged who do all their business in Jersey /equivalent tax haven, leeching, as fed up so clearly said earlier on, ‘parasites on our backs’.
Well “lively times” are all well and good, but the point here is whether a left-winger is electable or not. I’ll take a hundred quid from you that he is not. Or do you agree?
Leftists rising from human rubble to credible or semi-credible electability are just cock-teasers like Bernie Sanders. They help auger the notion that representative government is possible, if not probable. Such Leftists seem not to recognize how they are being used by the Establishment liberals.
Nevermind
Nobody actually wants to live in the Highlands except people with money and time on their hands. So you take it from the rich and turn it into a state asset, “for the people”, and then what? The land is good for what exactly? How are your ordinary people going to earn a living once this land has been parceled out? Where is the infrastructure going to come from? Have you thought about this even or do you just have a chip on your shoulder?
Notice his 12-step program does not include foreign policy.
http://www.sanders.senate.gov/agenda/
Komodo – I’ll sweeten the deal for you. You can pay my winnings to MAP.
It just highlights how very different bikers’ requirements are, Glenn, doesn’t it? Although being far too old for it, I still have the cafe-racer ideal in my head, sadly. And although loathing Harleys with a passion, a properly-designed litre V-twin fits the bill for me – I’ll never be able to afford a Vincent. I would only carry a pillion if I hated him/her, admittedly, and the standard seat’s only bearable for 100 miles…by which time looking for fuel is a good idea because the tank’s too small. But it’s a superb back-road commuter, fine (with flat bars) in traffic, (*allegedly*) does over twice the legal limit, and it looks rather nice. No change planned in the near future, anyway.
Ben donut-eater
You can be sure that with Corby foreign policy will consist entirely of I/P affairs, in line with the obsessions on this blog.
Anon – was distracted. Final point in my last would have said that I don’t really care whether Labour wins or not. If it’s an effective opposition, that would be a good start. The SNP has built up its support steadily and carefully, LeftLabour needs to do the same. So no takers on your bet, and MAP can be assured of my continued support.
“I’ve noticed that many here react very strongly when they are told that Corbyn, and by extension the left, are unelectable in this country.”
The words “bull” and “crap” come to mind:
http://danielmargrain.com/2015/07/22/dont-believe-the-hype/
The Guardian: May dodges questions about MI5 failure to act on MP paedophile fears: Home secretary refuses to say whether she asked security service about why it did not follow up suspicions that MP had ‘penchant for small boys’.
Sounds as if May is being questioned about her actions — or failure to act — while she was serving as Home Secretary (i.e., since May 2010). So it looks as if the MP in question was still alive in May 2010. Article suggests who the MP in question may have been:
Peter Morrison died in 1995. William van Straubenzee died in 1999. Peter Hayman died in 1992. Leon Brittan of course died earlier this year.
Anon1:
If your knowledge regarding British politics is as accurate as the rest of the garbage you spout, Corbyn will be a raging success. The ridiculous ‘too far to the left’ argument is totally irrelevant in the current political environment. Anyone with an ounce of common sense understands that there is no choice between Burnham/Cooper/Miliband and the Tories. The Blair interference just about wraps it up for Corbyn. A three pound signing on fee is worth it just to piss him off.
‘A drop in the ocean compared to Muslim on Muslim violence. In fact I’d bet that’s fewer than the number of Palestinians killed by Hamas this year.’
Don’t bet, do some research. The number of Palestinians killed by Hamas is not a statistic you can use to mitigate crimes by Israel. Having said that, the Israeli tactic of compromising Palestinians and then using them as informants is the primary reason for many deaths in Gaza, just as it has been throughout history,. Traitors are routinely killed purely as a deterrent to others. Comparing this to an Israeli raid in the middle of the night where the victims are usually unarmed young men is odious.
A minister in Blair’s government was apparently being investigated for child sex abuse at a children’s home in Lambeth until the investigation was stopped. The Mirror: Blair government was briefed about police paedophile probe involving Labour minister BEFORE it was halted.
Leon Brittan was a Labour MP and then a Labour lord during Blair’s tenure as prime minister, but he was never a cabinet member, as far as I know.
Apparently, the Official Secrets Act has been invoked to prevent people in the know from speaking about the investigation and how and why it was stopped:
A no-taker then.
Anyone else want to put their money where their mouth is on the electability of Jeremy Corbyn?
“I think the empirical Highland clearances and the enclosures acts of the 19th century should all be repealed, zero’d, Fred, because they do not belong into the 21st century, these lands should be for all. A nominal compensation should be paid by the lardy lairds into a charitable cause with aims to re-inhabit these landscapes.”
None of history really belongs in the 21st century. When you look at history much of it was the same all over Britain. Ireland, Wales, England they all have their tales of the oppressors and the oppressed. Few of us are descended from the oppressors, we are nearly all the result of the oppressed, few of us are from the families of the generals, just the rank and file privates.
Yet history is so often used to divide and separate the common man, used to sow hatred and animosity.
Andy
“If your knowledge regarding British politics is as accurate as the rest of the garbage you spout, Corbyn will be a raging success. The ridiculous ‘too far to the left’ argument is totally irrelevant in the current political environment. Anyone with an ounce of common sense understands that there is no choice between Burnham/Cooper/Miliband and the Tories. The Blair interference just about wraps it up for Corbyn. A three pound signing on fee is worth it just to piss him off.”
For someone with a political blog (albeit just another wordpress one that nobody reads) who sees himself as very knowledgeable about British politics, the above paragraph, though full of garbage like “anyone with an ounce of common sense understands”, is remarkably devoid of substance, such as why it is “ridiculous” that Corbyn should be considered unelectable. “Totally irrelevant in the current political environment” is another vacuous statement without any meaning. Are you a student Andy?
“None of history really belongs in the 21st century. When you look at history much of it was the same all over Britain. Ireland, Wales, England they all have their tales of the oppressors and the oppressed”
Ah no but the Scotch oppressed are special. A grievance culture combined with a national chip on the shoulder that have given rise to an enormous sense of entitlement.
Anon1.
In your opinion, how deep was Thatcher’s involvement with paedophilia? Was she ‘just’ a facilitator, covering it up while allowing it to continue, or was she also a perpetrator?
“A no-taker then.”
Taken and defeated. It helps to be able to read and understand the link I posted.
Lysias 4.05pm. Brittan was a Tory MP not Labour.
He became a peer in 2000 when Bliar was PM.
Mary, sorry, I was thinking of Janner (who was never a minister). Brittan in fact was a minister, just not in Blair’s government.
Before the Acts of Union, Scotlands population wad around 25% of Englands. It is now around 9%.
The Highlands also supported around 25% of Scotlands population. This was a war like clan system, a threat to Englands northern border, when it was at war with the French. The Highlands are now virtually empty.
Apart from Fred.