“It is a complete education reading this web site. Here was me thinking it was these cheese eating surrender monkeys, and all along it was the Austrians.

And some French use the term ‘Viennese’ to refer to their croissants.

“He then stands up and pulling away layers of flesh, reveals himself as ‘Rumbold’.

This will, probably, be the last line in the last ever epidode of ‘Heroes’.”

Ha ha ha ha.

“I think it is almost a respectable position to see the Battle of Vienna as one of the turning points in European History?”

Traditionally it has been but the notion of seminal turning points has lost some its luster in modern historical research, and I have to agree. The Ottomans had overextended themselves and one of the reasons why they retreated to Asia Minor was because of the fear of being attacked there. In psychological terms it was a massive blow, but in reality it was somewhat less than that. The Ottomans struggled on until the 1920s, but their decline was a long one, having (arguably) started in the late 16th century with the destruction of their fleet at Leptanto, and their overextension into the continent proper.

“Sorry, I also meant to say, great article!”

Thanks you very much- I do always enjoy your comments.

Sorry, I also meant to say, great article!

It is a complete education reading this web site. Here was me thinking it was these cheese eating surrender monkeys, and all along it was the Austrians.

You can just about imagine the QI episode where Stephen Fry asks the fiesty wee Irish guy where croissants come from, and.

He knows he’s wrong, But he says it anyway, he says:

“France”

And Stephen Fry says, with that supercilious look we all secretly admire:

“Wrong”.

He then stands up and pulling away layers of flesh, reveals himself as ‘Rumbold’.

This will, probably, be the last line in the last ever epidode of ‘Heroes’.

****——****

Rumbold, joking apart, I think it is almost a respectable position to see the Battle of Vienna as one of the turning points in European History?

I know, had the nail been lost, etc… But it probably did make a difference, don’t you think?

It reminds me of another forgotten battle, Kursk.

“Maybe she knows that is where croissants came from too (the Viennese made pastry in the shape of the Islamic crescent as a way of mocking the Turkish besiegers, and it became a popular food).”

Excellent. That’s why they taste so nice.

Generally all baked goods and various assortments of pastries.

Its because of jokes like that that I am signing this online petition to have blogging considered a capital offense.

*Points to the corner where you will sit for the rest of the day.

Thanks for that trivia. Croissants are just flour and butter. Its so fattening, its smells fattening.

That’s quite a cool random piece of info, must remember.

You dont think that was a very strange thing for her to say and that she is only appealing to very ignorant contemporary European sensibilities about what is going on in Europe today? I mean the Europe of the 17th century probably looked more like Iraq does today. How did it believe in itself when it was in constant war over nation, church, and territory?

I agree with you- half the seventeenth century states hated the Hapsburg coalition that beat the Turks, with even Catholic states such as the French refusing to help relieve Vienna. I think that she is partly trying to appeal to contemporary prejudice, but also has probably not really studied the actual battle and knows little about it apart from the fact that the Muslims were beaten by some Christians. Maybe she knows that is where croissants came from too (the Viennese made pastry in the shape of the Islamic crescent as a way of mocking the Turkish besiegers, and it became a popular food).

Just because she is under threat doesnt mean she too isnt a threat.

http://www.reason.com/news/show/122457.html

“Seventeenth century Europe successfully repulsed the Ottomans because it believed in itself.”

You dont think that was a very strange thing for her to say and that she is only appealing to very ignorant contemporary European sensibilities about what is going on in Europe today? I mean the Europe of the 17th century probably looked more like Iraq does today. How did it believe in itself when it was in constant war over nation, church, and territory? Perhaps it believed in itself too much. Does she want Europe to go back to believing in itself the way it did in the 17th century? It may come at a cost, mainly a certain self critical faculty.

Confidence is one of those strange things where its nice to have to sometimes but its stupid to have it when youre stupid.

Just call him Anur from now on ! He’ll get it.

Sorry we are all so ignorant. Thank the imaginary Lord you are here to enlighten our darkness.

http://anask.wordpress.com/2006/10/29/who-is-she/

She’s an apologist for terrorism, end of story.

This them and us approach is a sure fire way to increase problems and thus be able to say I told you so.

This is why community engagement is so important to counter such sentiments on all sides. This is why the grassroots work is vital.

Don’t be fooled by right wing writers claiming to expose anti-semitism, much of the community problems are caused by firebrand writing which leads to issues then they say we told you so. Causing community friction leads to problems no matter which communities are at odds with each other.