A popular image among many Brits is one of a few brave soldiers who stood together and fought to the last man at the battle of Isandhlwana.Maybe these authors imagined their fallen countrymen as their contemporary version of the Spartans.
But this is just revisionist history taught by those who would have their history portray anything other than men who ran at the first sign of a defeat.The memorial above honors the Zulu impi who taught the haughty Brits a thing or two about heroism.
Modern battlefield archaeologists have found no large groupings of ammunition, no mass graves, no signs of trenches - no signs to confirm the myth of the brave British soldier.
What has been discovered are the tell-tale signs of a group of men on the run.
Abandoned arms and ammunition have been discovered well past the site of the British camp in a pattern that would suggest an immediate retreat.
Next time you see a movie that tells the tale of brave British soldiers who fought to the last man - Just call "Bullshiggidy" on that ish.
(It's not "Black" History -It's World History.)
C'mon John lighten up; let those folks feel good about what happened. I'm sure if you went to the Custer's Last Stand battlefield that you'd find the same thing. I'm sure them fools was hauling ass too trying to save their miserable lives.
ReplyDeleteIt's "Black History Month" - I was just posting things I've been teaching my young cousins that they won't learn in school.
ReplyDeleteThey have to know that Slavery isn't our only history and that much of history was written for each dominant culture in an effort to create their own "gods".
Without being able to respect and be comfortable with themselves, they will never be able to interact with others in anything other than an inferior role.
I agree with your summation. If all they know is no one fought back out of slavery there's no pride to build upon.
ReplyDeleteWith all the Haiti business where are the lessons about how back in the day when Napoleon was kicking everyone's tail, some black guy on a small island whipped the French's tail and entered negotiations for peace with the Euro dictator himself?
ReplyDeleteAs for Custer, sure they dug in and had a last stand... because they were surrounded! I remember distictly the day in elementary school when taught about Custer for the 1 millionth time, that everyone else saw Custer as the hero. All this time I had thought this was an example of the one time when the Indians finally gave the soldiers what they had coming. It was a very confusing childhood moment.
Actually brohammas I remember reading somewhere that it's surmised that many of the soldiers in the five companies of men that were with Col Custer may have shot themselves when the end was near. I think that was the premise since so few Lakota were actually killed during the battle, only a couple of hundred I think. I don't blame them either, I wouldn't have wanted to be captured and tortured.
ReplyDeleteOften history is filled with bullshit.