Pirates of the past.

[Captain Kong]

Labour and the Lib Dems and the Greens are all for Europe and staying in for ever. No Referendum.
A nut case arrogant Labour MP Tristam something, said on Question Time on TV last night, our future lies in Europe. These people know nothing of our country before we were shanghaied into it. they are too young
Also they were Never bombed by the berstereds during the war when we fought the vichy french, italians and germans all alone.
After the war we manufactured for the world, we had 52% of all the worlds shipping, we lost it all when Europe took us over,
because the people listened to the LIES of our politicians
.Brian

[John Pruden]

brian if you sailed with anyone called tristram you would have one eye on him..? same old thing millionaire shareholders telling you how to live..?jp

[Ivan Cloherty]

On a more nautical note, Somali pirates have just release seven Indian seafarers who were captured on 28th September 2010, that's four years in captivity, wonder if these poor souls will get any help from their government when they return home to help them integrate back into their society, I doubt it. There are apparently still some 30 seamen still being held hostage by the pirates

[John Pruden]

ivan its disgusting the way the world has been towards these bandits/pirates the globe depends on trade carried by ships and 4 years probably starved beaten and threatened not knowing what tomorrow will bring must be a horrible experience . I suppose the shipping company has not helped any families out at this time? so sad for them.. jp

[Rodney Mills]

Re. Post #1:

Basically I agree with the first portion of "Google's" historical outline of The U.S. vs. the Barbary Pirates and the brief overview of the First and Second U.S./Barbary Coastal Wars. However, the magnitude of the tributes and ransoms paid out, though correct are a distortion of both fact and numbers. Baring in mind all European nations with ships paid tribute to the Barbary States to ensure safe passage through the Mediterranean. Britain actually paid it on behalf of its American Colonies prior to the War of Independence.

Upon achieving its independence the newly formed United States of America assumed its own liability.

On Dec. 20, 1777, Morocco's Sultan Mohammed lll ceased pirating American ships, and declared that American merchant ships would be under the protection of the Sultanate and could enjoy safe conduct along Morocco's coast, and a treaty of friendship was entered into and is still in effect to this day. This treaty stands as the U.S.A.'s oldest non-broken friendship treaty with a foreign power. Morocco was the first nation to recognize the U.S. as a sovereign country. The other Barbary States though continued to seize U.S. merchant ships.

For fifteen years after independence the U.S.--having few naval vessels to respond--paid annual tribute and ransoms for seized crew members, just as European countries did. Google's example uses this accumulation of monies as a percentage of one year (1800) income and arrived at a 20% figure, rather than saying, as an example, the United States paid 4% of annual revenue as tribute....As accountants would say to this, it's playing with numbers, and making the numbers support your argument. Perhaps an easier way to express it is, you pay a mortgage for your house for fifteen years but though your cash is spent we wont count it just yet but rather accumulate it and use the total fifteen years later. On that year your mortgage rather than being say 20% of your annual income is 250% or better of your income in that final year. Google's author would say you are obviously living beyond your means and should move out of your home.

The First War was basically a draw, but the Second War was a complete ass kicking by the U.S. and put the States on the road to becoming a world power. Proving to the world that the U.S. had the backbone, naval power to fight foreign wars on both land and sea, and win.

Substitute Scotland for the U.S.'s position, but bare in mind Scotland would be much wealthier than the U.S. due to revenue of income tax and oil, of which the U.S. at that time had neither.

Assumptions: Scotland achieves independence from Britain, and Sweden controls the North sea. European nations pay tribute and ransom. Scotland pays tribute to Sweden for 15 years. Sweden captures a Scottish merchant ship and demands ransom. The ship, crew, and accumulated 15 years tribute equals 20% of year 16. Scotland say's enough! It forms a navy and starts to build war ships. Four years later Scotland attacks Stockholm and fights on land and sea and beats Sweden. Three years later Scotland has a war with England, the mightiest country in the world...then, and fights to a draw. (the War of 1812). During this period Sweden is up to it's old tricks, attacking Scottish Merchant ships. Three years later, Scotland again attacks the Swedish homeland and kicks their butt, regains its captured ship and crew and demands and receives expense money for it's trouble.

Now we come to the second part of Google's article, (no name is given for the author).

First: The United States is a Constitutional Republic. The Constitution and it's Amendments are not only the corner stone of our nation, they are the whole framework by which we exist as a nation, sacrosanct and indelible.

The Constitution divides our government into three separate units: Briefly here is a description of their major functions.

The Executive branch: The President. Who is Commander-in-Chief, may PROPOSE laws, but cannot put them into effect without the advise and consent of Congress.

The Congress: Congress consists of two legislative bodies. The Senate, consisting of two senators for each state and represent the interest of their home state. The lower house consists of congresspersons who represent the interest of the people of their individual states. There are one congressperson per 30,000 or less persons in a district which can be reapportioned by a mandated census every ten years. So a heavily populated state like California would have more representatives than Rhode Island a small less populated states. Congress can approve laws, raise taxes, and declare war. etc.

Judiciary: The Supreme Court: Eight justices and a chief justice who's only function is to safeguard the Constitution. All laws must conform to the U.S. Constitution and Amendments. The position is for life, thus, with no pressures from the outside (whims of voters). Replacement due to health or death are proposed by the President and must be approved by Congress.

Now if you can understand all the checks and balances of the U.S. system of government you will understand why the rest of the article is crap and at best a mish mash of facts to confuse the uninitiated or ignorant.

The United States does NOT have a national religion such as the Church of England. Though the U.S. is one of the most religious countries in the world (The Economist, Oct. 2014) it is secular.

Amendment l. of the Amendments to the Constitution: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; ...."

So segregated swimming for religious beliefs in public supported school or public swimming pool is illegal.

This law gives the freedom of an American to be a Mozzie, Jew, Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, or an atheist. The United States is NOT a Christian country. As a matter of fact it is against the law, as an example, to post the Ten Commandments in any public funded building or institution. You can do as you will in non-government funded institutions such as private schools, churches, mosques, etc. they are also covered under Amendment l.: "...or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press..."

Segregated juries are likewise illegal. There is just ONE form of law in the United States:

Amendment Vl.

"In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime has been committed,..."

Amendment Vl. cont,d.

"... In suite at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States than to the rules of the common law.

In other words Sharia or any other form of law for both civil and criminal is against the Constitution, and therefor illegal.

A Mozzie holy place may grant a divorce under Sharia law, but the couple are still married in the eyes of America; should either of the participants remarry a case of bigamy would exist, as it would with multiple spouses.

As to piggy banks, pork pig tissue dispensers, ice cream at Burger King...utter rot. I am surprised that anyone with a modicum of common sense could believe this...unless they want to!

As well as being secular the U.S.A. is a heterogeneous nation, we are a nation formed from all nationalities, creeds and colors and in general it works well.

The emigration laws have changed dramatically, to the extent, I as I was when I applied for permanent residency status, a cook with a wife, baby son and limited funds would not be accepted today. Gone are the days of "Give Me Your Tired Your Poor Your Huddled Masses Yearning To Be Free...." With the exception of a few given refugee status, it's only the best accepted today: engineers, doctors, computer scientists etc., who are sponsored by a company and are immediately beneficial to the country. Not too many Mozzies, the Arabian kind, are here, Iranians had to adjust, they had no choice, no returning to Iran after the Shah left...In any case the children have assimilated.

My last comments.

I left this site for two and a half years after two posts--following many yank bashing posts--crossed the line from awful to outright disgusting. That if directed towards Australian or New Zealand members would have caused an uproar and if on board ship being called "out on deck". What really hurt was the number of likes and thanks these disgusting diatribes received which only led me to believe "Yank" former British Merchant seamen were not welcome. I stopped financially supporting this site. I occasionally peeked in to see if their was any change in attitude. I was pleasantly surprised to read a post from a former "townie" of mine (Southend-On-Sea) Roger Dyer asking "why all the Yank bashing?" That caused me to think about returning, when I did, it seemed Roger stopped posting, which is a great loss to this site as he is not only thoughtful and highly intelligent in his postings, but a master word-smith. If you read this Roger, come back please and lend some balance to this site (I humbly apologize for the Chocolate ice cream wrapper).

Now I pose a question. Why the Yank bashing? It seems to me you will jump for joy if the most stupid claims are made against the U.S., never question the validity, its called schadenfreude (malicious glee) when anything pops-up and one, without thought or checking facts, mentally jumps for joy, especially at Americas in fact or perceived misfortunes.

Now let me tell you something, the U.S. is the only nation in the world that like the English, the Royal Family, and everything about it and its people. America's second favorite is Australia, and thanks to the Lord of the Rings movies New Zealand is the latest flavor.

My friends are amazed when I tell them how unpopular we Americans are in England, that most think we are too fat (true at 32% of our population, but Britain with 29% is catching up fast and leads the way in Europe), that we can't spell correctly or speak English correctly, that our time is over and we are crumbling fast ( it sounds like wishful thinking from where I sit), that we "Yanks" are always starting wars, yet we only came into the last two World Wars when it was almost won so we could make Hollywood happy and make war movies. Forgetting such epics like The Cruel Sea, The Colditz Story, The Hasty Heart, Cockelshell Heros, etc. etc., all great movies by the way, as were a lot of American war movies...at least by box office receipts.

So let's make a deal...have a go at the U.S. if you are sure of your facts, but stop posting stupid undocumented drivel and plain old yank bashing, and I'll stop getting p@#$ed off and I will enjoy this site as it should be...veterans and current seamen and friends of the sea, all having a yarn around about cocoa time all over the world.

To those who couldn't make it to the end, yet still want to yank bash, I apologize for the lack of pictures and the long words.

CHEERS, Rodney

[Captain Kong]

Thanks for that Rodney,
I learned something tonight. very interesting post. and your comments about our Roger Dyer is very good , having been a beneficery of his wonderful hospitality in NSW, OZ.
Cheers
Brian

[gray_marian]

#45, Mmm Rodney, 'stupid undocumented drivel and plain old yank bashing,'
I'm truly sorry you have been offended by Charlie's post. I don't think for one moment that was the intention.....If anything to me it was the Mozzies who got it in the neck. So perhaps it was a piece of unmitigated propagandar, mistakes are made, now you have clarified......... thank you. However as a Brit domiciled here I do wonder if other's realise just how bad it is living here with a percentage of mozzie fruitcakes that appear to be hell bent in distrupting and destroying our British standards and what's left of them. Never mind the threat of terrorism to boot, [Which we ALL share]That why I think quite a few members thanked Charlie for his post the mozzie mindset hasn't changed one iota all through history, whereas the rest of us are all trying to move on. Of course stand to be corrected for talking for the others.

Regarding Roger, it would be lovely if he were to write more, always enjoyed his entertaining and well written retorts and posts, unfortunately like a few others we don't hear so much from them now, that however is their business, their previous contribution is sorely missed.

[Charlie Hannah]

Roger it's got me beat why a post like this upsets you so much,with so much violence happening in the world to day.and one place's an article of things happening in the far distant past upsets so much,i am puzzled were you get the idea i am having a go at the yanks.As i mentioned at the start it's got me beat.

[Louis the fly]

I must admit in many of my posts I have been critical of the U.S. Unfortunately for the peoples of the world a country is defined by it's leaders.
After the years of Bush, Cheney etc. the standing of the U.S. around the world is at an all time low. Thousands are still dying today because of their misrule.
The covert activities of the C.I.A., past and present in staging coups to remove democratically elected governments to be replaced by right wing military dictators cannot be justified.
Many of us also remember the horrors of Vietnam, napalm and the chemical weapon Agent Orange dropped on women and children.
The American voters must demand change from their politicians to live in safety and peace.

[John Pruden]

is there any country in the history of the world with clean hands I cant think of one? jp