Things everybody knows that are actually wrong

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Anyway back on track:

The Spanish Inquisition.

I hate to say it since it's sort of a backhanded defense of Catholicism, but the Spanish Inquisition wasn't anywhere near as remotely bad as the classic portrayals of it. Rather than the exquisite tortures one thinks of, the vast majority of those submitted to it were merely questioned and then forced to make some sort of public confession and apology for their "heresy", and maybe pay a fine. Very few people were executed and the infamous tortures weren't all that commonly used either.

[dead0man]

We need a special thread for "what I think everyone thinks that is wrong, but hardly anyone actually think that" thread.

You could add "and I'm only bothering to post here in this thread to make a little political hay"

[dead0man]

Anyway back on track:

The Spanish Inquisition.

Yeah but it gave us two of the better comedy bits in film/television history.

[GMantis]

Non-Russian languages were banned in the Soviet Union.

Ummm... who believes that?

Most of the English-speaking world, for example. Even reference books state this often.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

John Paul II was a progressive pope

[Hash]

John Paul II was a progressive pope

To quote Georges Frêche, the honourable President of the Languedoc-Roussillon, he was "an idiot".

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

John Paul II was a progressive pope

Once again:

LEARN THE PURPOSE OF THIS THREAD OR SHUT THE FUCK UP.

[GMantis]

John Paul II was a progressive pope

Once again:

LEARN THE PURPOSE OF THIS THREAD OR SHUT THE FUCK UP.

How doesn't this fit the purpose of the threat?

[patrick1]

John Paul II was a progressive pope

Once again:

LEARN THE PURPOSE OF THIS THREAD OR SHUT THE FUCK UP.

How doesn't this fit the purpose of the threat?

Because it is not what is commonly believed.  I loved the man but he was no progressive- on moral matters or politics.  He literally shouted down the leftists and liberation theologists.  His Nicaragua homily was a fascinating exchange.  "Silencio."  At the same time he spoke out against some of the tinpot quasi fascist dictators in C. America   

[GMantis]

John Paul II was a progressive pope

Once again:

LEARN THE PURPOSE OF THIS THREAD OR SHUT THE FUCK UP.

How doesn't this fit the purpose of the threat?

Because it is not what is commonly believed.  I loved the man but he was no progressive- on moral matters or politics.  He literally shouted down the leftists and liberation theologists.  His Nicaragua homily was a fascinating exchange.  "Silencio."  At the same time he spoke out against some of the tinpot quasi fascist dictators in C. America   

On the other hand, he greatly improved relations with other religions. This is certainly progressive.

[patrick1]

John Paul II was a progressive pope

Once again:

LEARN THE PURPOSE OF THIS THREAD OR SHUT THE FUCK UP.

How doesn't this fit the purpose of the threat?

Because it is not what is commonly believed.  I loved the man but he was no progressive- on moral matters or politics.  He literally shouted down the leftists and liberation theologists.  His Nicaragua homily was a fascinating exchange.  "Silencio."  At the same time he spoke out against some of the tinpot quasi fascist dictators in C. America   

On the other hand, he greatly improved relations with other religions. This is certainly progressive.

I would call it more strategic.  In a world with increasing godlessness you try to find some fellow travellers. 

[k-onmmunist]

It's 'liberal' to regulate and spend vast amounts of taxpayer money on the economy.

[GMantis]

It's 'liberal' to regulate and spend vast amounts of taxpayer money on the economy.

Read again the title of the thread.

[k-onmmunist]

It's 'liberal' to regulate and spend vast amounts of taxpayer money on the economy.

Read again the title of the thread.

I did.

[GMantis]

It's 'liberal' to regulate and spend vast amounts of taxpayer money on the economy.

Read again the title of the thread.

I did.

You think that everybody knows this?

[Psychic Octopus]

That JFK was very liberal.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

That Classical Liberalism and modern-day US libertarianism are actually the same thing.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The people that know this:

The Industrial Revolution started in Shropshire, of all places.

...tend to assume that the town in question was Ironbridge. No. 'twas in fact Coalbrookdale. The confusion presumably comes about because the Iron Bridge is so iconic and because the Gorge is now usually called Ironbridge Gorge. Actually, both Broseley and Jackfield are older than Ironbridge - the bridge itself was built to link Coalbrookdale with Broseley.

[Associate Justice PiT]

It's 'liberal' to regulate and spend vast amounts of taxpayer money on the economy.

Read again the title of the thread.

I did.

You think that everybody knows this?

     The idea that he refers to is a common notion for Americans to hold, though I think that people in most other parts of the world are aware of how silly it is.

[Psychic Octopus]

It's 'liberal' to regulate and spend vast amounts of taxpayer money on the economy.

Read again the title of the thread.

I did.

You think that everybody knows this?

     The idea that he refers to is a common notion for Americans to hold, though I think that people in most other parts of the world are aware of how silly it is.

Americans are a strange people. I also find it weird that the USA uses Blue for Democrats and Red for Republicans. I've always thought red is the color of the left.

[ilikeverin]

NO POLITICS IN THIS THREAD

[GMantis]

NO POLITICS IN THIS THREAD

But then it would lose most of its entertainment value

[minionofmidas]

John Paul II was a progressive pope

Once again:

LEARN THE PURPOSE OF THIS THREAD OR SHUT THE FUCK UP.

How doesn't this fit the purpose of the threat?

Because it is not what is commonly believed.  I loved the man but he was no progressive- on moral matters or politics.  He literally shouted down the leftists and liberation theologists.  His Nicaragua homily was a fascinating exchange.  "Silencio."  At the same time he spoke out against some of the tinpot quasi fascist dictators in C. America   

On the other hand, he greatly improved relations with other religions. This is certainly progressive.

I would call it more strategic.  In a world with increasing godlessness you try to find some fellow travellers. 

No. I don't think that was his motivation.

[GMantis]

John Paul II was a progressive pope

Once again:

LEARN THE PURPOSE OF THIS THREAD OR SHUT THE FUCK UP.

How doesn't this fit the purpose of the threat?

Because it is not what is commonly believed.  I loved the man but he was no progressive- on moral matters or politics.  He literally shouted down the leftists and liberation theologists.  His Nicaragua homily was a fascinating exchange.  "Silencio."  At the same time he spoke out against some of the tinpot quasi fascist dictators in C. America   

On the other hand, he greatly improved relations with other religions. This is certainly progressive.

I would call it more strategic.  In a world with increasing godlessness you try to find some fellow travellers. 

No. I don't think that was his motivation.

What was his motivation?

[ilikeverin]

NO POLITICS IN THIS THREAD

But then it would lose most of its entertainment value

I thought it was plenty entertaining before politics invaded.