Pirates of the past.

Rodney, I consider myself to be a fair minded type of bloke, but quite honestly saw little to take umbrage at in Charlie's post, in fact it painted the USA in a very good light. Perhaps it was the last paragraph that upset you and although it may have been a generalisation I think it was aimed at politicians rather than the American public et al, unfortunately we are all saddled with these politicians, whether it be USA/UK and/or other European nations who seemed to have lost the will 'to lead' less they become unpopular or lose a certain denomination vote. May I most humbly comment that telling your friends in the USA that they are unpopular over here is not quite correct and not the way forward to engender mutual respect. Yes there will be people who knock the Americans, from all countries, by the same token I have heard many Americans degenerate the UK, especially England, in many instances how they pulled us out of the sh*t in both world wars, but I let it flow over me because I realise they have no realisation of the historical facts or the political manouvering that went on prior to and after both events and that some Americans still believed they were fighting the war of independence. There will always be things happening in our respective countries on both sides of the pond that amaze/disappoint us, and upon which we comment perhaps not in a sensitive way, but that doesn't mean to say we don't like them. Even our own children do things that amaze/disappoint us, and upon which we comment, but that doesn't stop us loving them.

Mention of the Barbary coast always brings to my recall the 4 to 5 pubs on the Cairns waterfront in the early and late 50"s. Some wise person nicknamed them the Barbary Coast and so it has always remained in my mind. However going back there a few years ago it bore no resemblance of years gone by, and was the height of sophistication and cleanliness and bore little resemblance to the days of the 6 o"clock swill and 6 deep at the bars by seamen and longshoremen. As regards the no no as to national descriptions why not just reverse the word and say bara. JS

Charley,

If you will re-read my post #45, you will see that I "Basically agree with the first portion of "Google's unidentified author's historical outline on The U.S. vs. The Barbary Pirates." I stated my case to prove the author was "playing with numbers. Had the article ended there I would not have been so pedantic or taken umbrage from the UNIDENTIFIED AUTHOR. In fact, you, as the poster, would have received a "Thanks and a Like."

Quote "Now we come to the second part" unquote. The author seemed to claim he had the knowledge and could read the mind of Jefferson who's been dead quite some time. The author claimed Jefferson's "greatest fear was that someday this brand of [Mozziehood] would return and pose an even greater threat to the United States." Pure speculation on the authors part...though the current threat to the U.S. and the rest of the world is real. I followed his instructions to Google...nothing I didn't know about Jefferson...He was an atheist, a slave holder, had a black mistress from who he fathered children, hated Native Americans--Indians, the red kind--remade the bible with a razor to remove all reference to miracles, the virgin birth etc. etc. and published same, yadder, yadder, yadder. But no reference to the current threat from Mozzies. I assumed the author assumed no one would Google...well wrong!

Then came further rot (from he or she, the author).

"Islams have brought about women-only swimming time at taxpayer-funded universities and public pools (sic.).

"Christians, Jews, and Hindus have been banned from serving on juries where [Mozzies] defendents are being judged."

I did not think that a simple "It is against U.S. law" would be a satisfactory response, so I proceeded to give a short lesson on U.S. Constitutional law to prove my argument.

Thus far the article was giving me a suspicion that it was originating from someone proselytizing on behalf of the Tea Party and used the historical facts to segue into far-right propaganda

The following ridiculous examples convinced me it was:

"Piggy Banks and Porky Pig tissue dispensers (?) have been banned from the workplace because they offend Islamic sensibilities".

"Ice cream has been discontinued from certain Burger King...".

PUBLICK SCHOOL are pulling pork from their menus...".

There are hundred times more Jews ( and Hindus) in the United States than Mozzies. The Jews are vocal, take crap from no one, and like me have, in the main, strong convictions and are opinionated...Guess what?....Pork has been on the public school menu for years, they aren't kosher...you don't like it, don't eat it. We are secular. However, you can pay and attend private schools that do offer special services.

The final paragraph convinced me this author was/is a right-wing nut case and has used the historical narrative to sucker the uninitiated into extreme right wing philosophy...not Republican philosophy, but extremism.

I bolstered my case by quoting our Constitution and Bill of Rights to show those claims for what they are , utter rot.

Please re-read my closing comments and tell me where I addressed you personally Charley. The personal pronoun you is both singular and plural. Had I addressed you by name then used the personal pronoun you, you Charley certainly would have the right to feel insulted. I was addressing all who yank bash.

I commenced next to give the reason for my two and a half year absence from this site and my ultimate return.

Now what I do fault you for Charley is though your other posts tell me that you are a thoughtful and intelligent person, how could you believe that Piggy Bank etc. nonsense? Are they and the others banned in O.Z., N.Z. and Britain? If they are I wouldn't comment about them without double checking, and then I think I would scratch my head, chuckle a bit and forget about it.

So the bottom line Charley is I can only send you (if I could) half a like, and half a thanks for post number one.

I trust I have answered your questions.

Cheers, Rodney (Poor old Roger got blamed)

Louis,

No problem with any paragraph in your post...I agree totally.

I do think though your last paragraph would be stronger if it said American/British voters....

Cheers, Rodney

#53, 'how could you believe that Piggy Bank etc. nonsense? Are they and the others banned in O.Z., N.Z. and Britain?' As a matter of fact Rodney YES is the answer. A percentage or our schools, restaurants, TV cartoons, food stores and even our nursery rhymes are all effected. As far as I'm aware NZ offers only halal lamb to it's residents. May be moving there next year and you can bet your bottom dollar I will not be buying it. When my eldest daughter got married last month the "Dome" in Edinburgh specified it did not purchase halal meat so I booked there for the reception. With respect I really do not think you have a true concept how dire it is over here. Most of the food stores stock halal meat and cater for their every whim. I only buy meat direct from the butcher shop, I am assured it's killed in a humane way and it comes with a providence....how long for I dread to think.

Roger there is no mention in my post of my believing anything,some of the historical fact i have read before but the so called silly stuff you mention if you read the news papers at all,since all these recent happenings all over the world there are a number of so called silly things that the do gooder's are trying to ban such as recently here in Australia there wanting to take black out of sheep and ******** is another also mention of the exclusion of the word Jesus and many more but them i mention i read in the morning paper here just a few days back.Things we all grew up fairy tales that was told to us by our parents and other family members and also at school all being changed so we don't offend upstart religion's.They come to the western countries for a better life,once they arrive they want the same stand-over conditions they left there own country for,how crazy is that! Also Roger from news items both radio ,TV. and newspaper articles in past twelve months of the mossie's insisting and getting women only swimming baths both in U.K. and Australia,
I put these articles what i receive in emails from ex seamen around the world who were shipmates and remain in touch with me and most of them i haven't seen in over 50 years, because i find them interesting and they do draw debate which is what this excellent site is all about.What ever conclusion you draw from this article is your choice Roger No one denies you that choice, but you must have a lot of time on your hands to dissect it down to the finest point,only wish i had that much time on my hands!My days our not nearly long enough! No hard feelings here what so ever!Cheers Charlie

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There is an example here in my post were asterisk have been inserted instead of the word of a doll what has been enjoyed by children from around the world for generations.

The 'Yanks' if I may use the term do appear to have a much more open approach to the various religions on offer in USA. "that' season is approaching fast here and again despite warnings from the gov some schools have banned Carols, nativity plays etc. But they are schools where the majority of staff are basicaly left wing socialists.
Rodney a Question without notice.
In your Motels and Hotels do the Gideons place Bibles as they do here?

#56 Charlie, will you stop calling Rodney Roger, poor old Roger must be wondering what he's done.

#53 Rodney if you lived here ( a visit does not show the everyday picture) you would be astounded by what the PC brigade get up to in 'the name of others' trying to change children's stories, nursery rhymes etc and also getting the word 'Christmas' banned and also Christmas changed to the 'Festive season' in case it upsets the minority diverse religious groups of many denominations. These minority groups have pleaded with the PC brigade not to complain on their behalf. I don't believe the true picture is shown in the foreign Press and certainly not in the fine print of USA publications, as they have enough home grown problems to worry about. We are not far off in having 'Thought Police', many people think we have it already, as the police are only too willing to take an innocent remark and turn it into something other than it was. Even four and five year olds have been labelled racist by some police forces for remarks made by kids at kindergarden who have no idea of what they have said, but heard it somewhere and not necessarily from their parents. We are fast becoming a 'Walking on eggshells' country, where Baa baa black sheep nursery rhyme has been banned from schools and replaced by baa baa green sheep (because baa baa white sheep would be considered xenophobic) thousands of kids are now becoming fodder for psychologists and psychiatrists as they scour the countryside for these mystical green sheep and the stupid school authorities go along with this nonsense and in most cases it is instigated by schools in their 'embrace all policies'. We now live in a country of 'You couldn't make it up'

Finally will you and Charlie stop trying to score points, we all have failings here and now, as we also had in the past, we lived with these failings for hundreds of years because we didn't have instant access and we lived in harmony, well apart from the war of independence, lets call it a draw, shake hands and think of something nautical, say something like the Skandy Bar in Valparaiso!

it might be roger do.s not want and why should he answer is he going to be baited to fuel the fire?? to live in the united kingdom at this time is a joke!!!! the british are thick skinned the rests skin must and most cases is like sh.thouse paper..my name was put in the hat on one particular site and through no fault of my own booted off one site through someone's ego lets not drop down to that level we are far better than that lot please..jp

To Marion, Charley, John in Oz, Louis, Ivan, John in England, J.P. et. al.:

My last comments on the Google ARTICLE: Where does it mention Britain, Oz or N.Z.? The article was obviously written by an American, about America, and directed towards Americans.

I admit I was not aware of your (collective) unbelievable P.C. laws, enacted by your elected representatives on behalf of the majority of voters--an assumption by me, and I am willing to be corrected if my assumption is incorrect.

I am certainly willing to learn about your individual political systems, as I left the U.K. at an early age; my six and a half years in Oz were for fun not for politics, as were my many visits to N.Z..

I am going to take my own advise from my second epistle to Charley, now that you affirm these P.C. laws are in existence in one shape or another in your countries, "and then [now] scratch my head, chuckle a bit and forget about it."

I thank you all for your comments. Consider yourselves all thanked and liked.

On to other posts and cheers to y'all. Rodger...oops! it's Rodney