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Post by larryhauck on Jul 3, 2009 14:33:46 GMT
To all American Hayley fans. HAPPY 4TH OF JULY How about this scenario? What if Great Britain and the Colonies had settled their dispute and combined as a single nation. The possibilities are endless. The geography would have possibly presented some problems. But the U K is no farther away than Hawaii. How about posting your thoughts on this. Larry |
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Post by larryhauck on Jul 3, 2009 15:16:37 GMT
It would be nice to have a Queen.
Larry
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Post by Jono on Jul 3, 2009 15:32:16 GMT
Cool idea Larry, But wow imagine the difficulties faced by the centralized government....where ever that would be? London I guess. It would be hugely impractical...I wonder how the massive empires worked in ancient times?? Happy July the 4th, Americans.  Jono |
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Post by roger on Jul 3, 2009 15:38:27 GMT
It would be nice to have a Queen. Larry Here you are, Larry: Happy 4th July to all our American friends. Roger |
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Post by Richard on Jul 3, 2009 15:56:14 GMT
Hello America! Best wishes from London, Richard  |
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Post by postscript on Jul 3, 2009 19:25:52 GMT
To all American Hayley fans. HAPPY 4TH OF JULY How about this scenario? What if Great Britain and the Colonies had settled their dispute and combined as a single nation. The possibilities are endless. The geography would have possibly presented some problems. But the U K is no farther away than Hawaii. How about posting your thoughts on this. Larry We were a single nation--you broke away! Seriously, perhaps you can maintain a light-hearted thread without becoming political but I'm not so sure! Good luck! Peter S. |
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Post by larryhauck on Jul 3, 2009 21:01:53 GMT
Hi Peter,
I thought I added just for fun to the post. Obviously I didn't. In no way did I intend to make this a political issue. Great Britain and the U S are best of friends. Without each other we would perhaps have had a much more difficult defeating some common enemies. Even Sir Winston Churchill was one half American.
I have a huge respect for Great Britain and the tenacity of it's people. I come to your wonderful country as often as I can. I will be back again in December.
You're right the colonists did break away from England; but look at the bright side. Had it not been them this huge country could have fallen into a lot worse hands.
England was a pioneer developing such enormously important things. I'm a former Navy man and I think that England's development of the aircraft carrier was an enormous accomplishment. It changed the course of modern warfare. It's aircraft were second to none. Also to be competitive in the world both past and present technologically is a marvelous accomplishment give the size of the U K.
The U S speaks English and our court system is modeled on English law.
Sorry I went into this long monologue; but I felt it necessary to let you all know my post was not based on anything but a way for us to have some fun and to let my feeling be known about your great country.
Larry
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Post by I-H-F on Jul 3, 2009 22:06:03 GMT
Hmmm, I don't think I could comment on this without crossing over into politics, so I don't think I'll bother.  |
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Post by martindn on Jul 3, 2009 22:45:37 GMT
No, we don't want to get into politics, since it is really of no importance anyway. But it causes wars and all sorts of problems.
The fact is that we are still friends, despite historical animosities. That is what matters. That is why we can all wish our American friends all the best for their national day, even though it celebrates a breaking away from British control. I think there is still a special bond. And it extends to other countries that were settled from Britain too, which is why our Hayley was welcomed in Washington DC last July 4th to take part in the celebrations, And she is a Londoner as well as a Kiwi.
So I would like to wish all our American members and friends a happy Independence Day. God Bless America!
Martin
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Post by larryhauck on Jul 3, 2009 23:56:33 GMT
Hi Martin,
You're absolutely right. Politics is not to be taken seriously. What happened 200+ years ago was certainly none of our doing.
To repeat what I said to Peter----I never intended this thread to be any thing but a fun exercise.
Larry
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Post by larryhauck on Jul 4, 2009 0:02:41 GMT
Hmmm, I don't think I could comment on this without crossing over into politics, so I don't think I'll bother. I think I've created a Frankenstein. As I have said to Peter and Martin---I never intended this thread to be anything but fun. Lighten up everyone. From now on I'm limiting my posts to subjects that only concern Hayley. Larry |
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Joe
Administrator
Supporting Hayley since 2003!
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Post by Joe on Jul 4, 2009 0:09:43 GMT
Thanks everyone for their 4th of July best wishes!
Because the 4th falls on a Saturday, I had Friday as the day off from work. As a result, my Friday felt like a Saturday!
Enjoy your celebrations, my fellow Americans!
Joe
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Jillian
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Post by Jillian on Jul 4, 2009 0:48:00 GMT
Happy 4th of July!  In answer to your question... well, I guess it's sort of the same as wondering what Australia would have been like if we were colonised by the French instead of the British -- or if the Dutch had bothered to stick around instead of thinking, 'Oh, hell no!' and taking the first ship back to cooler, greener European territory. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifI don't pretend to know much about US history, but I rather gather that the history around the War of Independence has significantly contributed to the US identity in such a way that it would be very difficult indeed to imagine the nation without it. By way of comparison, the USA was declared independent in 1776, right? That's 12 years longer than since the first settlers reached Australia in 1788. So we've created a nation as we know it in less time than what Independence has affected the USA. By way of a more extreme comparison, Australia only shed the status of a 'colony' in 1901 (108 years ago) and already there's no question of Australia being anything but its own nation. I think New Zealand only became independent in 1907 (102 years ago). Ha, ha -- the rather tenuous point I'm trying to make is that so much can happen in the blink of an eye so as to make it almost impossible to imagine an alternative. Sorry, I can get a bit carried away with all of this -- I think history is fascinating. Finally in answer to your question, I suppose the closest example would be Canada. I'd like to go to the US one day -- I think it would be very interesting. From what I've read it's a nation of incredible diversity. |
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Post by Jono on Jul 4, 2009 2:07:26 GMT
Hi Larry,
I didn't find your question political at all. It was an interesting question, and maybe if you had asked it back in the 18th century there would have been political sensitivities surrounding it.
I think both England and USA are great countries. This country definitely adopts a lot from both countries.
Jillian, Australia and New Zealand have both considered breaking away from the commonwealth, and becoming republics... We are surely independent countries, but it's funny that we are all under the same constitutional Queen. I'm also very interested by history, but it sounds like you have studied it?
Jono
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Jillian
Global Moderator
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Post by Jillian on Jul 4, 2009 2:43:38 GMT
Hi Jono, You're right, if you look at it from a cultural/historical perspective it isn't political. I think that if it resulted in a monarchy vs republic debate it would be, though. Studied history? Nah... good old Wikipedia to the rescue!  |
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