[ubuntu-uk] UKTeam meeting update

[TheVeech]

On Wed, 2007-04-11 at 16:29 +0100, Robin Menneer wrote:
> 
> The British masses started to shout successfully for themselves after
> living in the trenches in the 14-18 war, and more so after the 39-45
> war.  Let's not put the clock back. 

No, lets.  History's crucial.  You wouldn't be thinking some of the
things you think or living in the world you're in without the brashness
of a scientist in the past century who had a healthy disrespect for
others.

What happened 10 years ago is significant because we thought we were
thoroughly above such things then.  Had we really learnt the lessons of
history Britain wouldn't have been vulnerable to such anti-democratic
tendencies that are always pending the conditions of their reemergence
(remember, some people had their houses trashed for having the 'wrong'
opinions while people were laying down teddy bears at Kensington
Palace!).

Today some of our politicians make similar mistakes in relation to the
Middle East that are more akin to certain states in the 30s and 40s than
our idealised view of ourselves (also don't forget that not everything
is clear cut: great as he was, Churchill was an establishment figure who
believed wholeheartedly in eugenics).

Who does the military even today have to swear allegiance to?  It ain't
me and you, Robin.  I don't believe in God or blue blood.  Whatever
happened in those Wars didn't change who the military swears that
allegiance to or adequately address the fundamental faultlines in
British society.

Linux inclines towards freedoms that extend beyond 'free of cost', so
for some to understand the wider issues is important (maybe people from
other cultures are more equipped to debate such things than us), and
history's got a role in that if for nothing else than to highlight the
fact that we're in a historical period that is influenced by selected
histories and will be superseded.