A lot of the humour in the sitcom Blackadder Goes Forth relates to the two characters of Lieutenant The Honourable George Colthurst St. Barleigh MC and Private Baldrick. Both characters are stupid, but in different ways.
Baldrick is lacking in intellect, whereas George is a former student of - if I remember rightly - Trinity College Cambridge. His stupidity derives not from a lack of intellect, but rather from an unwillingness to make proper use of his intellect.
Captain Blackadder does not come across as especially intellectual, but he is nevertheless smart enough to realise that he does not want to take an active part in the Great War, as doing so could result in death or injury. While he is undoubtedly selfish, he can list genuine self-interest among his virtues, unlike George.
Neither George nor Blackadder are able, when asked by Baldrick, to give a comprehensive explanation of why the Great War began, although both are able to get part way towards the truth. The simple fact is that Britain entered that war aggressively and therefore illegally.
The last surviving British soldier to serve in the Great War was Harry Patch, who was close to the truth when he referred to that war as legalised mass murder.
Some things do not change, and today Britain is still largely inhabited by people who are either stupid like Baldrick or stupid like Lieutenant George. Fortunately however there is still an element of Blackadder about, and that is part of the reason why, for example, Britain is not at war with Syria.
Update: I have replied to the comment below in a subsequent post: A reasoned approach to war.
You should explain exactly why you believe Britain entered the war illegally.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be nonsense both legally and morally to me.
Britain had longstanding mutual defence treaties with both Belgium and France when the German army invaded them, depriving them of their liberty and freedom. Quite rightly the British upheld their end of the treaties and responded to the German threat.
The Germans acted illegally, and with arrogance in invading France, and Britain (and Russia) responded rightfully, luckily for the world.
The reason Britain is not at war with Syria is because the British are tired of war which doesn't directly involve or require them. Furthermore, recent wars have been interferences in civil wars (Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq), which frankly, you can't win. Even if they were involved in a war in Syria, would it be a war WITH Syria?
It is easily arguable that not helping the oppressed Syrian people is shameful. Personally I say stay out of it, but the cost of that is massacres, chemical weapons use, torture and civil war for decades.
I have replied to this comment in a separate post:
Deletehttp://patrioticmusing.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/a-nationalist-approach-to-war.html