I was watching the History Channle and was really bothered by something I heard.

[OckhamsRazor]

Jon
a.k.a OckhamsRazor
St. Paul MN.

I was watching a documentary on the French Revolution and there was a history professor from Johns Hopkins University on it. He said the French was the most important event in Western history. I really feel that this was a silly thing to say. I get the impression that perhaps this guy is a liberal politically and it's leaking into his statements. That's about the only way I think that he could make that statement. In my opinion, Christianity and the Roman empire were the most important things/events in Western history. After that I would say the American revolution, which resulted in the liberation of billions of people world wide. After all, we'd all be speaking german right now if America didn't exsist.

Looking forward to your comments,

Ock

[Darth Executor]

Jon
a.k.a OckhamsRazor
St. Paul MN.

I was watching a documentary on the French Revolution and there was a history professor from Johns Hopkins University on it. He said the French was the most important event in Western history. I really feel that this was a silly thing to say. I get the impression that perhaps this guy is a liberal politically and it's leaking into his statements. That's about the only way I think that he could make that statement. In my opinion, Christianity and the Roman empire were the most important things/events in Western history. After that I would say the American revolution, which resulted in the liberation of billions of people world wide. After all, we'd all be speaking german right now if America didn't exsist.

Looking forward to your comments,

Ock

You mean world war two? Just so you know, not everybody benefitted from Germany losing WW2. Personally, I'd rather speak german than speak communist.

[Nicholas]

Jon
a.k.a OckhamsRazor
St. Paul MN.

I was watching a documentary on the French Revolution and there was a history professor from Johns Hopkins University on it. He said the French was the most important event in Western history. I really feel that this was a silly thing to say. I get the impression that perhaps this guy is a liberal politically and it's leaking into his statements. That's about the only way I think that he could make that statement. In my opinion, Christianity and the Roman empire were the most important things/events in Western history. After that I would say the American revolution, which resulted in the liberation of billions of people world wide. After all, we'd all be speaking german right now if America didn't exsist.

Looking forward to your comments,

Any event could have some affect on history, if the American Revolution hadn't happened why would everything be the same except for that?

[Harfelugan]

Looking forward to your comments,

Ock

Printing press beats em all !!!!!! Outside of the Jesus stuff that is .

[Hail Mary]

I was watching a documentary on the French Revolution and there was a history professor from Johns Hopkins University on it. He said the French was the most important event in Western history. I really feel that this was a silly thing to say. I get the impression that perhaps this guy is a liberal politically and it's leaking into his statements. That's about the only way I think that he could make that statement.

Ock: Doesn't it seem lately that the history channel has aired more UFO stories than good programs about, uhh, history?

Anyway, about the professor, the producers probably called several "experts" before deciding which to interview and which to air. One good way to make sure they pick you is to say "This is the MOST important event in the history of history, blah blah, yada yada." That's sure to get you on the air, then you can plug your book, and be famous and retire to the Alps.

I hate to be so cynical about this, but many times I think its more about notoriety than history.

[OckhamsRazor]

Any event could have some affect on history, if the American Revolution hadn't happened why would everything be the same except for that?

Before we entered the war, the UK was losing the war. They were victims of the Blitz Krieg. They would have enventualy been invaded by the Germans. The United States turned the tide of that war. Americ's resources, man power, engineering, coupled with the UK's millitary and engineering was more than the Germans could take on. Admittedly, the fight with the Russians put a great strain on Germany's resources. With the combined efforts of all the countries we beat Hitler. I would say that the one country in the equation is the only one that cannot be done with out. The United States is that country.

I would go further in pointing out that the US is the first country to ever attempt to build a bi-racial society (Stephen Ambrose/ To America). I think that the US makes enough food to feed every person on the planet a 3000 calorie a day diet. I could be wrong about that. I know that we are the society that gives more interms of charity by the citizens than any other country.

Sincerely,

Ock~

[Conductor42]

Jon
a.k.a OckhamsRazor
St. Paul MN.

I was watching a documentary on the French Revolution and there was a history professor from Johns Hopkins University on it. He said the French was the most important event in Western history. I really feel that this was a silly thing to say. I get the impression that perhaps this guy is a liberal politically and it's leaking into his statements. That's about the only way I think that he could make that statement. In my opinion, Christianity and the Roman empire were the most important things/events in Western history. After that I would say the American revolution, which resulted in the liberation of billions of people world wide. After all, we'd all be speaking german right now if America didn't exsist.

Looking forward to your comments,

Ock

The founding fathers *almost* made German the official language

[!Fluffy!]

The founding fathers *almost* made German the official language

Wow.
Really?

[CatholicSage]

Well, if I had to pick the single most important event in Western history, it certainly wouldn't be the French Revolution. I would probably pick Alexander's conquest and hellenization of much of the known world, and his young death. Or perhaps the rise of Christianity,speaking in secular terms, that is; obviously from a Christian viewpoint Christianity was the most important event.

[Hail Mary]

Before we entered the war, the UK was losing the war. They were victims of the Blitz Krieg. They would have enventualy been invaded by the Germans. The United States turned the tide of that war. Americ's resources, man power, engineering, coupled with the UK's millitary and engineering was more than the Germans could take on. Admittedly, the fight with the Russians put a great strain on Germany's resources. With the combined efforts of all the countries we beat Hitler. I would say that the one country in the equation is the only one that cannot be done with out. The United States is that country.

Not really, the UK handed the Nazis their first big defeat in the Battle of Britain. Once the Luftwaffe was beaten, there was really no way for the Nazis to make it across the channel, so the UK was pretty much safe from invasion after that. We (the US) definitely helped out a lot, but it was the Brits that saved themselves.

[EvoUK]

The French Revolution was one of the big turning points in recent western history, I'd definately say that much. But then again any programme discussing the most important event would basically be one of opinion.

[TheOneAndOnly]

Before we entered the war, the UK was losing the war. They were victims of the Blitz Krieg. They would have enventualy been invaded by the Germans.

Actually, no we wouldn't. Hitler didn't have the military capacity to launch an invasion of Britain. Think about D-Day, how difficult that was. Now reverse it, and instead of having a clear channel for the US/UK/Canadian vessels and amphibious landing craft to sail through, imagine a powerful navy prowling the coast of Britain. The German high command never attempted an invasion because they knew it wouldn't be successful. Operation Sea Lion was never going to happen. The British were so worried about the threat of invasion at the time because of faulty intelligence. We thought they had more aircraft than they actually did.

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclop...ation-Sea-Lion

News | Article

In wargames conducted at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst after the war, which assumed that the Germans had total air superiority, the Germans were able to establish a beachhead in England by using a minefield screen in the English Channel. However, after a few days, the Royal Navy was able to cut off supplies to German troops in England, and they were then isolated and forced to surrender.

© source where applicable

...and no, we wouldn't all be speaking German if it wasn't for America.

The United States turned the tide of that war.

In the Pacific yes. Britain and allies were doing miserably until America entered, and US supplies and resources were greatly needed for the British and SSoviet war effort. In Europe, the most significant war was between Germany and the Soviet Union. This was where 25+ million Soviets died. The battles of Berlin, Moscow, Kursk, Stalingrad etc were arguably the most important of the war.

Americ's resources, man power, engineering, coupled with the UK's millitary and engineering was more than the Germans could take on. Admittedly, the fight with the Russians put a great strain on Germany's resources. With the combined efforts of all the countries we beat Hitler. I would say that the one country in the equation is the only one that cannot be done with out. The United States is that country.

The German's were far more preoccupied with the Eastern front than the US, UK war. The war with the Soviets was a total war of annihilation.

I would go further in pointing out that the US is the first country to ever attempt to build a bi-racial society (Stephen Ambrose/ To America).

What does that mean? America had slavery long after the British Empire banned it.

I think that the US makes enough food to feed every person on the planet a 3000 calorie a day diet.

I heard Brazil is currently the largest food manufacturer.

In my opinion, Christianity and the Roman empire were the most important things/events in Western history.

Undoubtedly Christianity was important. However, is Christianity an event? Maybe the historian was talking about specific events. In which case Constantine's conversion would be important. The first call to crusade by Urban II in 1096 really shaped European relations with it's neighbours for the next thousand years. The Battle of Hastings in 1066 flipped England's polarity froma Nordic focused nation into a latinized, francophone nation, whose rivalry with France set in motion the rise of the nation state.

After that I would say the American revolution, which resulted in the liberation of billions of people world wide.

Really? The American Revolution was undoubtedly a major event in history. I think Americans tend to overplay the whole "fighting for liberty and justice" angle. Americans don't tend to mention the thousands of American patriots who fought for the motherland (England). They've been villified into a small clutch of cowardly traitors and other charicatures.

After all, we'd all be speaking german right now if America didn't exsist.

What language would you be speaking if England didn't exist?

[TheOneAndOnly]

I would probably pick Alexander's conquest and hellenization of much of the known world, and his young death.

How about the Punic Wars, which set the Mediterrenean under (greek influenced) Roman control for centuries, and shaped the future of Europe. Had the Carthaginians won, the Mediterrenean world would have been one of blood sacrifices (I heard the Phoenicians were into human sacrifice) and Phoenician domination, which means no Roman rule in Judea. From a secular point of view that means no reactionary religious thinkers and anti-Roman political dissidents. I.e. No Jesus.
I would like to see what Europe would have been like had the Carthaginians won the Punic Wars. They probably wouldn't have gone on to dominate Europe as much as the Romans did, but I expect they'd spread their weird culture across the world like the Romans did theirs.

[Darth Executor]

In the Pacific yes. Britain and allies were doing miserably until America entered, and US supplies and resources were greatly needed for the British and SSoviet war effort. In Europe, the most significant war was between Germany and the Soviet Union. This was where 25+ million Soviets died. The battles of Berlin, Moscow, Kursk, Stalingrad etc were arguably the most important of the war.

The americans saved the soviets' butt by giving them equipment. There is no way Russia would have beaten Germany if it wasn't for the US, regardless of how many stupid tactical mistakes Hitler made.

[Thomas2003]

Jon
a.k.a OckhamsRazor
St. Paul MN.

I was watching a documentary on the French Revolution and there was a history professor from Johns Hopkins University on it. He said the French was the most important event in Western history. I really feel that this was a silly thing to say. I get the impression that perhaps this guy is a liberal politically and it's leaking into his statements. That's about the only way I think that he could make that statement. In my opinion, Christianity and the Roman empire were the most important things/events in Western history. After that I would say the American revolution, which resulted in the liberation of billions of people world wide. After all, we'd all be speaking german right now if America didn't exsist.

Looking forward to your comments,

Ock

From the humanist point of view the French Revolution was a great thing - it revolted against history itself proposing to remake all things in man's image, for example, they even started the calendar over. It is man rising to the pinnacle of his claim to be god, and this is a great thing in the reprobate mind, because they cast down everything - all foundations. Humanist man is rootless man, anything that ties him into history he hates because it then defines him and and he is unable to define history pursuant to his own terms. If he can pull himself up by the roots he is liberated from the tyranny of creation, then he can prove to himself he is a god by redefining all things in terms of himself.