The Kaiser and a "Mediocre Man" Theory of History

Post by nixon_why69 » Mon, Jun 01, 2026, 12:59 PM UTC

vintermann wrote: post #79

inglor_cz wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is a very US-ian perspective. AFAIK he is still lionized in Latin America, and likely will continue to be, as he is a sorta-kinda the ur-founder of all those nations.

That may be true, but if so it will be a failure of education, and a tragedy of identity politics (was that gleeful rapist who was so loathsome even his own people sent him back to Europe in chains, really the best icon anyone could find to rally around?)

Post by nixon_why69 » Mon, Jun 01, 2026, 3:08 PM UTC

vintermann wrote: post #82

nixon_why69 wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US still celebrates presidents' day, near the birthday of early presidents who killed far more natives. Convenient to blame the non-anglo guy while most of the Spanish countries aside from Argentina didnt commit genocide to nearly the same extent.

We don't actually need icons to rally around, whether we're anglo or whatever else you may identify as.

Post by nixon_why69 » Mon, Jun 01, 2026, 5:01 PM UTC

vintermann wrote: post #84

nixon_why69 wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a "fish don't know they're in water" sort of statement. Every other country is rallying around icons but we know the real truth? The effort to blame Columbus ahead of our own presidents is all about protecting our own icons.

You don't have to rally around a country either. I'm not from the country you seem to imply with your "we" and "us" either way. I'm not protecting anyone's icons. It seems you're fishing for an identity politics argument.