Sunday Open Thread: St. Crispin Day Edition
by PubliusToday is St. Crispin Day, anniversay of the Battle of Agincourt, fought in 1415. The outnumbered English, employing superior technology and tactics, destroyed an overwhelming French force.
Today is also the anniversary of the Charge of the Light Brigade, from the Battle of Balaclava in 1854.
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Both are Incredible events in military history. Ranking with them as extraordinary events in the annals of conflict are Pickett's Charge, and the 82nd Airborne Division's crossing of the Waal River in Holland in September 1944. The Light Brigade took roughly 40% casualties. Pickett's Charge resulted in 60% casualties to his division. The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment and the 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion paddled in broad daylight across 400 yards of river in canvas boats straight into machine guns, landed, and then took the north side of the Waal River Bridge at Nijmengen, Holland. They took 50% casualties. Cornelius Ryan, author of "The Longest Day," and "A Bridge Too Far," called it "A second Omaha Beach landing." Robert Redford played Major Julian Cook, the 504th's CO, in the movie. http://www.usaaftroopcarrier.com/Holland/H-Waal%2...
Since this is an open thread…
Obama is now trying to marginalize global warming 'naysayers':
http://motorcitytimes.com/mct/global-warming-nays...
"What's he that wishes so?
My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin;
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day."
One of the greatest monologues in the history of theatre…
Henry V: Come, go we in procession to the village. And be it death proclaimed through our host to boast of this or take the praise from God which is his only.
Fluellen: Is it not lawful, an please your majesty, to tell how many is killed?
Henry V: Yes, captain; but with this acknowledgement, That God fought for us.
Found this at TownHall:
Responding to rumors that Fox News will be cut from the annual White House Turkey pardoning ceremony press pool, White House Press Secretary confirmed the story in an exclusive with The Huffington Post. "Look, turkeys and Foxes just don't get along, and for the sake of the freed birds, we thought it best not to include a news organization with the word Fox in it," noted Gibbs. "On a more serious note, allowing Fox to join the press pool even for something so frivolous as the turkey pardon confers a certain legitimacy to what we all know is an illegitimate news organization," added Gibbs.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by DRIP USA and AZ grassroots, Big Government. Big Government said: Sunday Open Thread: St. Crispin Day Edition: Today is St. Crispin Day, anniversay of the Battle of Agincourt, f.. http://bit.ly/O7ytq [...]
Do you have a link?
While we learn from history, history is ongoing as we speak. The Administration has declared a National Emergency. In those battles of the past, heavy casualties were suffered, on all side. By the time this Administration is through, WE, are going to know how Custer felt…………
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/1614...
"You will see that with the Executive Orders already in place, combined with the provisions of the Violent Crime Control Act, with the stroke of a pen Obama can suspend the Constitution, the Judiciary, Elections and in effect declare himself president for life.
The next step In the wannabe dictators plan is to declare Martial Law, confiscate all privately owned firearms, round up all dissenters and move them to detention centers. Also there will be detention centers for those who have the H1N1 virus"
As Lord Obama (peace be upon him) forces upon we the people ever more socialist tyranny let us use the words of the Immortal Bard to remind our rulers that we Americans are free men before God. In the peroration Shakespeare has King Henry give his troops before the escalade of Harfleur (the assault that ended the siege that preceded Agincourt) there is a lesson a free people must eternally be prepared to teach tyrants:
Dishonour not your mothers; now attest
That those whom you call'd fathers did beget you.
Be copy now to men of grosser blood,
And teach them how to war.
King Henry V, Act 3, Scene I
What do you think our Founding Fathers would do if faced with the raising tide of socialist tyranny?
What city do you think good Muslims will nuke first?
did you see this?
http://oathkeepers.org/oath/
Yes, I did.
There are a lot of good people out here, still ready to stand up for what is right.
greatest monologues in the history of theatre…
video version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAvmLDkAgAM
I LOVE Branagh's film version!!!!
Excerpt from "Henry V" as written under laws and regulations specifying how the First Amendment is to be interpreted soon coming to a government and approved political party neighborhood watcher near you:
"We few, we ridiculous few,
We band of mothas.
For he/she (choose one with no intent to judge or stereotype, or otherwise impose a role or imply judgment based on on gender or sexual orientation, respecting the lifestyle choices of all stakeholders)
to-day that sheds his/her blood (or preferably sweat/perspiration in an attempt to de-militarize heretofore violent propensities inherent in historical English literature that have led us to become warlike and undeserving of further consideration as the New World Order according to Marx and Obama is to be instigated)
with me Shall be my brotha (or sista if preferred but respecting whichever lifestyle decision each participant shall make);"
Our liberals are in a metaphorical, “Charge of the Light Brigade.” 40% casualties would be nice as they charge headlong into the American voter in 2010.
Today is also the 65th Anniversary of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, or, what was popularly called at the time, the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea. It was the largest naval battle in history. The key Battle of Suriago Strait and the Battle off Samar specifically took place on this very day — October 25th. Moreover, the Battle of Leyte Gulf was the first naval battle in which the Imperial Japanese Navy employed the organized use of kamikaze attacks on American ships, a clear indication of increasing desperation on their part. Another indication of the turning tide was that during the battle we actually had more sea-going craft employed, than they had aircraft.
As for the Battle of Agincourt on St. Crispin's day in 1415, during the Hundred Years War, there are considerable disputes as to the size of the "overwhelming" French force. A recent historian, Ann Curry, claims that the French may have only outnumbered the English and Welsh (Harry was a Welshman) forces by a ratio of 3-2, while other estimates indicate that they outnumbered Harry's forces by as much as 20-1.
Both technology (deadly use of long bows & angled spikes or stakes) and location (between two thick tree lines, thus preventing them from being flanked) certainly played a part in the outcome. But also playing a key part was the heavy rain (which slowed down the French cavalry-like attacks, as well as slowing down the heavily armored French troops). And, there may well have been an initial hesitation on the part of the French — specifically when the English forces were moving their initial defensive line forward. For a short time did not have their angled stakes or spikes poles in place, as they were moving them forward as well. Then too, the French forces expected quick victory and many of the nobles were right up front. Considerable numbers of them were killed in the initial assaults, which also contributed to the panic in the rear.
Coincidentally, on this day — on the 65th Anniversary of the largest naval battle in history — yours truly was born.
And, for the non sequitur of the day, James Carville was born on this day in 1944 as well . . . in Ft. Benning GA.
Today seems to have been a day of David v Goliath matchups…
(asterisk indicates victor)
Agincourt
British*: 6,000
French: 36,000
Charge of the Light Brigade (Battle of Balaclava)
British & Allies: 4,500
Russian*: 25,000
Battle off Samar
American*: 6 escort carriers, 3 destroyers, 4 destroyer escorts; total displacement 78,462 tons
Japanese: 4 battleships, 6 heavy cruisers, 2 light cruisers, 11 destroyers; total displacement 212,658 tons (Japanese battleship Yamato alone displaced 71,659 tons)
Ossama's next step has to be nuke, he/they have to top 9-11. Its gonna be harder to stop with Obama in office attacking the CIA with Atty. General "rat face" Eric Holder. These two wimps are always talking about how courageous they are. Couple a pencil necked wimps is all I see.
screw the socialist english turds
I thank God that I was born at the time, so that I could serve in Pres. Reagan's and Pres. Bush's 41 Marine Corps (87-93) that had the BACKING of two Presidents that knew what a strong military meant.
Non nobis, Domine, Domine
Non nobis, Domine
Sed Nomine, sed Nomine
Tuodam Gloria
Psalm 115:1
Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13FrLGB_oK8
Non Nobis Domine by Patrick Doyle. Always gives me goosebumps.
KING HENRY V: Do we all holy rites;
Let there be sung 'Non nobis' and 'Te Deum;'
The dead with charity enclosed in clay:
And then to Calais; and to England then:
Where ne'er from France arrived more happy men.
"On a more serious note, allowing Fox to join the press pool even for something so frivolous as the turkey pardon confers a certain legitimacy to what we all know is an illegitimate news organization," added Gibbs.
What's illegitimate are the czars and the fraud in the White House.
Harry was a Welshman? His father was a Lancaster, his mother a Bohun, both English. What have I missed?
Many think 2010 & 2012 will Save us, Dont be too Sure, I ANTICIPATE Massive Fraud. These people will be out for Blood we must be READY. Thurs the Internet was attacked, next Talk Radio, then Fox News. When will the Tanks and Water Cannon Roll Out?
Well, I wish Beloved Leader good luck if that's what it comes to. He may well get more than he expected.
Sorry, guv'ner, but you're wrong about Balaclava and even about the Light Brigade. While they were certainly chewed up, the cavalry did make it all the way to the guns to retake them, and some of the British chased the Russians all the way to the Techernya, all while Russia's attempt to break the Western Allied siege were repulsed. Granted, they took some pillboxes and a few guns, but HARDLY a Russian victory.
A far earlier and more famous battle was fought in France 69 years before, with an invading English force outnumbered by a French army, having the arrogance to assume they could easily finish off the invaders. The Battle of Crecy was fought on August 26th, 1346 and it was ever more significant than the battle of Agincourt, for two reasons: the mass deployment of longbowmen and the first use of cannon firepower by the English side and the end of chivalry in the battlefield, long held by both sides for over 2 centuries.
The English and Welsh longbowmen decimated half of the French and auxiliary forces most of the afternoon and by the end of the battle, a third of France's finest knights, French nobles and foreign nobles alike were wiped out. Edward III won the battle and parts of France for England. Historians would say what happened in the Battle of Crecy altered the course of modern warfare.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAvmLDkAgAM
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.
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Then I shall have to update my references. In my defense, my primary interest is naval, not cavalry.
Airborne!
I would add Mogadishu to the list of great battles in history.
Here was my meaning:
FLUELLEN.
Your majesty says very true: if your majesties is
remembered of it, the Welshmen did good service in a
garden where leeks did grow, wearing leeks in their
Monmouth caps; which, your majesty know, to this
hour is an honourable badge of the service; and I do
believe your majesty takes no scorn to wear the leek
upon Saint Tavy's day.
HENRY V.
I wear it for a memorable honour;
For I am Welsh, you know, good countryman.
FLUELLEN.
All the water in Wye cannot wash your majesty's
Welsh plood out of your pody, I can tell you that:
God pless it and preserve it, as long as it pleases
his grace, and his majesty too!
HENRY V.
Thanks, good my countryman.
. . .
Henry was indeed born in Monmouth Castle, Monmouthshire, Wales, on August 9, 1387.
what picture is this?