Opinion of Cassius Clay, both the nineteenth-century abolitionist and the boxer?
Both interesting and rather entertaining individuals - the former's activities in Russia as Minister there in the 1860's and his influence upon Russia's stance on the Civil War were something that I wasn't aware of in the slightest.
Opinion of Cassius Clay, both the nineteenth-century abolitionist and the boxer?
I am more interested in his opinion of Gaius Cassius Longinus.
Was always my favourite character in
Julius Caesar. Historically speaking, unlike Brutus, he actually had a brain ('yes, let's not kill Mark Antony, what could possibly go wrong'?!)
Virgil or Homer?
Which one work of Classical literature would you take with you to the island on Desert Island Discs?
Opinion of Sir Ronald Syme?
What do you think the effects of devolution have been?
Would you describe yourself as a Tory?
Why the Constitution avatar?
I would probably take Livy's histories because they are very, very long and thus would give me more reading material (I believe the Penguin version comes in about five volumes, although perhaps that's cheating). If I was to go for something that I think influenced me in a meaningful way it would unquestionably be the
Iliad.
With regards Syme, I've never read any of his works in full; I do remember making use of him on a couple of occasions in that rather cheeky lazy undergrad way of sticking an argument made by him in an essay introduction in order to signpost what I'd be arguing against ('academics in the 1930's wrote the darndest things' type stuff'). Obviously a great historian, fairly dated perhaps, but that happens to the work of almost every historian so that can hardly be held against him.
I'm not a fan of devolution, to put it mildly. I'm not a fan of federalism generally, across all systems, given that it's a recipe for national policy gridlock and special pleading by every other region, but at least in the case of, say, the United States, Switzerland or Britain's ex-settler dominions, all of those adopted federal systems in order to facilitate unification. In our case, we appear to have adopted devolution in order to facilitate
disunification, as devolution has become an endless auction by which the devolved governments are promised more and more powers until we reach the point where it's legitimate to ask what the point is of there being a United Kingdom at all. I have plenty of other criticisms of devolution (the way the national parties tend to send their F Teams to the devolved parliaments; the fact that Welsh children will now be taught using a substandard curriculum because they live on the wrong side of the River Severn), but the fact that people claim that it 'strengthens the Union' when it manifestly does the opposite is probably the biggest. Of course, could devolution have been prevented and can it be unwound? To do the former would have been tough in Scotland's case and the latter is probably impossible now, but that doesn't mean I won't continue to object to the concept.
I would consider myself a Tory because, whilst I think that the Conservative party is an awful, useless institution, there really is nowhere else to go for somebody like me and of my background. These days I'd probably, on balance, consider myself closer to Labour on public spending, but, you know, I could never
be a Labour person convincingly (plus, obviously, I don't agree with Labour on Europe, the constitution, 'the social issue', taxation
et al). I took the Constitution avatar simply because it was distinctive (I was briefly an Other iirc) and, of course, C stands for Conservative.
Opinion of Cassius Clay, both the nineteenth-century abolitionist and the boxer?
I am more interested in his opinion of Gaius Cassius Longinus.
Cassius who was your favourite candidate in the Yankee president election 2016? Like out of everybody who ran so including Gilmore and O'Malley etc?
Who is your favourite non-British poster? If it's Olawakandi then who is second?
Disraeli or Gladstone?
What's the worst city in England? Liverpool? Bristol?
I seem to remember that I supported John Kasich unironically because I felt he had the best chance of all the Republican candidates of actually winning the election and seemed like a relatively serious politician. Of course, I ironically supported Trump from the moment he came down that escalator and then supported him somewhat less ironically in the general election.
Too many good non-British posters to name really. You've got all the greats like Averroes, Nathan, Cathcon, Johnny Dule, Santander, Antonio
et cetera. I was pleased to see the return of DavidB as well.
Undoubtedly Disraeli, not even a question. More politically attractive and more personally attractive.
I've always found Swindon to be a seriously grim place with few redeeming features, but I think this this is a commonality amongst large towns in the south of England (Reading, Luton Slough
et cetera), as opposed to something inherent in Swindon itself. Milton Keynes has always weirded me out because it looks like an American town that's been plonked in the middle of the UK.
Upon entering this thread I suddenly realized that many of the most traditionally right-wing neighbourhoods and areas of Rome are along the Via Cassia. How do you feel about this?
Proud, and I'm sure Gaius Cassius Longinus would be too
What is your opinion of Roger L'Estrange?
Royalist=Automatic FF. Hadn't heard of the man prior to your question (for some reason I've tended to avoid the Restoration period in my reading down the years). Agree with his royalism, disagree with his opposition to toleration for Catholics. Was also interested to see that he did a translation of the works of Josephus.
Weren't you studying computers at some point?
Computers are the work of Beelzebub.
