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30 Wholesome Historical Facts They Probably Didn’t Teach You In School, As Shared By People In This Thread
History is far more than dates, big battles, painstakingly detailed lines of succession, and lists of technological innovations. History is the sum of all the experiences and interactions of humankind. At its core, it’s as much about large-scale processes as it is about individuals and the choices that they make, whether for good or for ill.
And though history is full of cruelty and evil, it’s also a testament to courage, goodwill, and charity during hard times. Curiously, what’s often absent from school curriculums is the fact that there have been countless examples of genuine empathy, wholesomeness, and humanity in the midst of war and misery. Members of the r/AskReddit online community shared some of these facts in the hope of giving everyone a fresh, more nuanced perspective about the past.
You’ll find the most heartwarming historical facts as you scroll down, dear Pandas. Upvote the ones that surprised you, and if you feel there’s something missing that you’ve read before, be sure to enlighten us all in the comments.
Bored Panda got in touch with Joe Pierre, MD, a professor of psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and the author of the Psych Unseen blog on Psychology Today. We asked him about the potential dangers of completely dehumanizing the enemy, and touched on the idea of 'moral injury' during wartime. You'll find his insights below.
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#1
Clark Gable nearly quit *Gone With the Wind* early in production when he found out that the set was segregated. He told the director that either they'd take down the "white" and "colored" signs, or they'd have no Rhett Butler. He also wanted to boycott the Atlanta premiere when he found out that his black costars could not attend. He only went after Hattie McDaniel (who went on to be the first black Oscar winner for her role in the film) urged him to go. He remained close friends with her for the rest of his life.
Lisa H 2 years ago
Especially back then when it was "normal". Couldn't have been easy.
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BetterBitterButter 2 years ago
There are people who say "those were different times". Yet there were always people who knew wrong was wrong no matter what Era it was!
Channon Doughty 2 years ago
No doubt! I think they get defensive because they DIDN'T do, say, or even think, anything of it.
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Scarlett O'Hara's Ghost 2 years ago
Hattie was Clarks plus one at the Oscars so she could go to accept her historical award
"Dehumanizing the enemy is a deliberate tactic of war that's intended to justify the killing of other people and assuage any moral guilt associated with doing so," Dr. Pierre explained to Bored Panda.
"The danger is that it paves the way towards abuses and war crimes," he said that this leads to the horrific treatment of civilians and even children.
RELATED:
#2
An African Maasai tribe donated one of their most precious assets to the United States during 9/11. Which was; 14 cows. To them his was their most precious thing they could give to America to heal.
That to me is wholesome right there.
3 Owls In A Coat 2 years ago (edited)
What happened to the cows AFTER they were gifted is an interesting story: “American diplomats flirted with the idea of shipping the animals to the Central Park Zoo. That proved too complicated. Then someone suggested selling them and using the proceeds to buy Masai jewelry for New Yorkers. But that seemed a little heartless. The indecision went on and on, and by Year 3, some of the Masai were feeling spurned. The cattle were growing fat — and going nowhere. In Masai culture, it is disrespectful to dillydally over such a gift…….Instead (of going to the US or being slaughtered), they will be blessed, and their offspring will be used to pay for education for the children of Enoosaen. To get the cow trust fund going, the Americans are donating 14 high school scholarships.”
troufaki13 2 years ago
I wonder what the US would have given them if the situation was turned...
XenoMurph 2 years ago
In all fairness the US does give a lot of foreign aid. More than any other nation. Especially to natural disasters.
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Amelia Schroeder 2 years ago
this reminds me of Mark 12:41-44. How kind of them to show us such goodwill.
Jelena Putinja 2 years ago
this s saddest thing I ever read - Massai have such big hearth - got to love them
Tina Quiñonez-Buggs 2 years ago
That's so beautiful 😪 ... I wonder where the cows are now or what happened to the cows.
#3
There was a huge fight about African Americans using the public pool in Mr. Roger's actual neighborhood so he made a episode on his show where he and a African American guest were sharing a kiddy pool and talking about being nice to people even if they look or sound diffrent. He taught a whole generation that rascim isn't fair or right.
This episode was filmed shortly after angry white people poured acid in a motel pool that was being used by Black families.
The actor in the show was supposed to be a police officer, and Rogers actually dried his feet.
The entire show was a very gentle and very subtle and ultimately very profound way of saying “f**k you” to bigots
Sanchi 2 years ago
Nice but hold up, people threw acid into a pool which others were using???
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A random marvel nerd <3 2 years ago
That African American guest was actually a very good friend of his, François Clemmons who as well as being black was actually gay! This was a time when being gay was not accepted, specifically in the Christian community in which Rogers was a minister. François also played a police officer, a strange role for a black man at the time. It was a subtle hint that anyone can be what they want to be and that race, gender, or ethnicity is irrelevant. Mr. Rogers really was radical, he sugar-coated the truth but still exposed children to it! The reason I know all of this is because I am currently doing a 5-month research project on Mr. Rogers and his impact on American society.
Tiny Dancer 2 years ago
Big fat upvote for the comment and the rad research project, right on! Too many so-called adults today didn't grow up with Mr. Rogers in their living rooms and it shows. My psyche was carved and honed by my buddies on Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Dressup, and the Friendly Giant and I'm awesome ;-)
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Praecordia 2 years ago
If there’s one thing that Ancestry DNA taught us is that racism is a crock of s**t. We are all pieces of each other and the only thing that separates us is money.
Doctor Strange 2 years ago
Mr. Rogers is one of the men I respect completely and absolutely. I wish I could be more like him.
Bluetoyou 2 years ago
Washing his feet was more than an important message to Christians at the time to. It is Biblical and shows honor to your guests. Mary Magdalene washed Christ's feet with expensive perfume and her hair.
Shyla Bouche 2 years ago
It goes even deeper than that. Washing the feet was the job of the lowliest servants. To be the washer of the feet was to be the lowest of the low. Mary threw away her dignity to was Jesus' feet, and Jesus did the same when washing the feet of the disciples. So Mr. Rogers was basically raising his friend above himself in an age where black people were often considered the lowest of the low. The subtlety gives me good goosebumps.
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Jacqueline Pie Francis 2 years ago
He was and is a blessing, a pure loving soul, with a quiet and gentle manner. We can all learn from him.
A random marvel nerd <3 2 years ago
Yes, they did, here's an image. BUT it was NOT in Mr. Rogers's neighborhood! It was actually at Monson Motor Lodge and the person who poured the acid was the owner, James Brock, and the reason they were in the pool was because of a demonstration against segregation. All of the children/protesters were arrested, 17 yr old Mimi Jones was one of them. Pool-639a0...5b59e3.jpg 
We also wanted to get the psychiatry expert's take on whether it's possible to 'balance' empathy for the enemy while also continuing to fight for what one's faction considers to be 'right.' Dr. Pierre noted that trying to look at 'balance' is the wrong approach here because of the brutality of war. Instead, it's important to consider the concept of 'moral injury.'
"Empathy can help us to 'play by the rules' of war, but so long as they're fought by killing each other, I'm not sure it really makes sense to talk about any kind of healthy 'balance,'" he told Bored Panda.
"In recent years, research in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has brought attention to the concept of 'moral injury' among soldiers," Dr. Pierre said.
"Moral injury arises when there's a kind of unavoidable cognitive dissonance between the sanctioned killing in war in the name of 'what's right' and universal moral standards like 'thou shalt not kill.' As we know all too well, war is hell, but for soldiers, the aftermath of war is often hell too."
#4
It's taught in Ireland but idk about the US. When we had the potato famine. Million of Irish were dying/emigrating. And the choctaw tribe heard of this and despite being extremely poor managed to raise I think around 200 dollars.
And now we've helped them out and raised 1.5 million to help them with covid 19!
Donkey boi 2 years ago (edited)
Kind of... The covid donation went to the Navajo & Hopi people, as a 'Pay it forward'. The Choctaw Tribe heard of the Irish famine just 12 years after they went through the 'trail of tears'. They heard that the US Government were accepting donations to send aid so, while still recovering from all that they went through, they started collecting donations. They raised a sum of $170 (equivalent of around $5k today), which was no small feat all things considered! The US government acknowledged in their donation report that the Choctaw gave the largest donation out of all the people in the US. BUT WAIT! IT GETS BETTER! In 1990 the leaders of the Choctaw Nation visited our fair isle to re-enact the Famine walk (a 102 mile walk) by the people of Strokestown. 2 years later, a few of our lot returned the favour and did a trek to commemorate the Trail of tears. A back and forth ensued, from trading art to setting up education scholarships. We are not friends, We are Blood! We are one people!
Agnes Jekyll 2 years ago
Well--this is beautiful. Thank you for telling all of the story. Really, after such horrors--government sponsored genocide--the Irish, Navajo and Hopi showed love and support for each other and to those that tried to destroy them--that they have survived and will continue to do so.
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Esme Love and Squalor 2 years ago
I’m a member of the Choctaw tribe (tiny percentage, but still a member) and this is a delightful bit of news.
Mrs Irish Mom 2 years ago
I am Irish and im probley here today because of the help they gave my distant family members 🙏
Aishling 2 years ago
Absolutely love this and not to take away from being proudly Irish and the good the Choctaw and the Irish did together, but does any one else see Pharrell Williams in the picture
Sasy 2 years ago
It really does look like him. In the vest with the watch chain :)
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Bluetoyou 2 years ago
I taught about it in Art class in the US. We were studying how art can be used to influence people's actions. To raise awareness of bad things going on so they can be fixed. It is also used to commemorate events that took place. 'Famine' (1997) was commissioned by Norma Smurfit and presented to the City of Dublin in 1997. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kindred_Spirits_(sculpture)
#5
During the Revolutionary War a British general left his dog behind during a chaotic retreat. When the Continental Army found the lost dog, George Washington had a messenger go under a truce flag to return the dog to its owner.
Joss 2 years ago
If only we could make the friendships and work things out peacefully and skip the war part :(
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Nora Rivkis 2 years ago
I wonder whether he'd have done it if the dog had belonged to a British private, though. High ranking officers tended to show respect to each other then, even across battle lines, but not necessarily to the men who followed them.
#6
Mr. Rogers always said he was feeding his fish out loud because he had heard that a little girl who was blind was worried about them. So he audibly said it so she wouldn't have to worry anymore.
Not really a historical figure, but one we all know.
Ines Olabarria-Smith 2 years ago
There’s a movie with Tom hanks portraying him.
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Rob Williams 2 years ago
He never made it across the Atlantic. I'd never heard of him before that Tom Hanks film a couple of years ago.
One popular example of historical empathy that most of you Pandas have probably heard of is the Christmas football truce that happened in 1914, a few months after the start of the First World War. In actual fact, it was a series of unofficial ceasefires leading up to December 25.
French, German, and British soldiers stationed in the Western Front went into no man’s land to talk, exchange food and souvenirs. Prisoner swaps and burials took place, as did carol-singing and games of football. However, fighting continued in some sectors. What’s more, as the war progressed, soldiers on all sides became increasingly bitter after the massive losses they endured. As a result, any further unofficial truces that followed were far smaller in scope and short-lived.
If anything, these examples from the pages of history are proof that charity, kindness, and empathy don’t stop the moment there’s a crisis or that war breaks out. Sometimes, it’s quite the opposite.
#7
John Stark, one of the rescuers of the remaining survivors of the Donner Party. Apparently this 220-pound beast of a man rescued all nine children by carrying them out of a deep sunken snow pit, and laughed and joked with them the whole time:
"In Summit Valley the remaining rescuers discussed what to do and took a vote to save only two of the children in Starved Camp. That might have been all they could manage. The others would have to stay behind.
John Stark could not abide that. That meant that nine people, mostly children, would die on the mountain, exposed to the elements down in a very deep hole in the snow. John Stark decided he would save all nine, “Already shouldering a backpack with provisions, blankets, and an axe, he picked up one or two of the smaller children, carried them a little ways, then went back for the others. Then he repeated the whole process again and again and again. To galvanize morale, he laughed and told the youngsters they were so light from months of mouse-sized rations that he could carry them all simultaneously, if only his back were broad enough.” Once they were out of the snow he would eat and rest he said, but not before. He saved all nine.
James Breen, one of those in the pit at Starved Camp later said, “To his great bodily strength, and unexcelled courage, myself and others owe our lives. There was probably no other man in California at that time, who had the intelligence, determination, and what was absolutely necessary to have in that emergency.”
Emma S 2 years ago
I recommend the book Hunger by Alma Katsu. Its a fictionalised version of the events.
Susan Reid Smith 2 years ago
The book about the Donner Party written by Michael Wallis is a very compassionate look at what happened, and the events and mistakes that resulted to them being snowbound.
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Jessica J. 2 years ago
Too bad they hadn't taken the deer and other food the local Native Americans tried to offer them, rather than shooting at them...
Lady of the Mountains 2 years ago
I hadnt heard this story, as much as i enjoy studying this time period. What a great guy
DonnerDinnerParty 2 years ago
To be fair, not every native tribe that was passed was friendly. In hindsight, wrong choices were made 😬
SageHare37 2 years ago
The facts of the story of the Donner party are definitely tragic. If you are curious and can handle a dark sense of humor, check out Puppet History on YouTube They have an excellent episode on the Donner Party.
#8
During World War II, a German fighter pilot spotted a damaged American bomber, and rather than shooting it down, he decided to escort it to safety. Decades later, the two pilots found each other and became friends.
InfiniteZeek 2 years ago
We only go to war for the greed, arrogance, and hunger for power of the rich and ruling class. Normal people just want to live and be happy.
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Zugspitz Maus 2 years ago
Wasn't this story part of an episode of NCIS? Gibbs' father was the American pilot and he was looking for the German pilot who had emigrated to the US.
Justme 2 years ago (edited)
Really good book called A Higher Call by Adam Makos. https://www.amazon.com/Higher-Call-Incredible-Chivalry-War-Torn/dp/0425255735
D,, 2 years ago
Yes, this really is a good book, even if you are not a reader of flight stories.
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Griffin Gould 2 years ago
I know this story, my dad has prices of both planes framed on the wall with a picture signed by both pilots. Really cool!
Quibli of the sandwings 2 years ago
I saw in the comments someone said that the guy on the right looks like bogart, am i the only person who saw the firt one and thought:”Chandler!”
Taylor Keane 2 years ago
Back then, it was true, not so much today... there is very little honor today
#9
Abraham Lincoln decided to grow a beard because of 11 year old Grace Bedell. She had written him that she thought he would look more handsome and less sad with a beard and women would tell their husbands to vote for him.
So he grew a beard and was elected.
On his way to his inauguration, he took a train and passed through her hometown in Westfield, New York and met her.
Anonymous Panda She/Her/Hers 2 years ago
He really did look sad. In every picture, statue or other representation of him I've ever seen he looks like he can't remember what it was like not to have the weight of the world on his shoulders. The beard masks that slightly but you can still see it if you look.
PissedOffProfessor 2 years ago
I think you can see it in soooo many former presidents' eyes and/or in their faces. Look at how Obama aged significantly, as well Clinton, Reagan, the Bushes. Trump was old and haggard when he was unfortunately elected and left the same way.
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Interesting_Astronaut 2 years ago (edited)
None of the greatest presidents lately have had a beard...
Ryker Pingree 2 years ago
The last time our president had a beard was in 1881!
Load More Replies...We’ve covered before on Bored Panda how people who are going through difficult times or have experienced them before, tend to be more compassionate and empathetic. Hardship can be the impulse that makes some people act more generously. When upheaval, chaos, and misery are everywhere, small acts of altruism are what can help us retain our sense of humanity and self. Kindness is also a way of establishing control in situations where we feel powerless: we do what good we can, with the resources that we have.
As for the reason why many of these wholesome historical facts are not well known, it all comes down to what stimulates people more. Though it’s a somewhat uncomfortable truth, most people enjoy reading and listening to stories that are more negative than positive. Kindness and wholesomeness don’t elicit responses that are strong.
During a previous interview with Bored Panda, Suzanne Degges-White, a licensed counselor and professor at Northern Illinois University, explained this phenomenon to us.
“When it comes to hearing information about the darker aspects of humanity, our brains experience greater stimulation when we hear stories of depravity than of kindness. It also has a ‘feel-good aspect’ for some folks as it normalizes and minimizes their own dark aspects or negative traits,” she said.
#10
Pirate ships were... actually pretty great, relatively speaking. They were *very* democratic and pirate crews were pretty well-cared for. Also they took sexual assault against women very seriously (i.e., they killed you for it).
Interesting_Astronaut 2 years ago
*Pirates of the carribean theme playing in everybody's heads*
Artsy Bookworm 2 years ago (edited)
Really. Absolute epic. Edit : If you like pirate stuff and sailing, the Liveship Traders trilogy by Robin Hobb. Total masterpiece. Long read and absolutely worth it
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Ben Stubbs 2 years ago
Pirate ships were amazing. Dysentry, Scurvy, Pox, clambering up masts in storms and swells, certain hanging if caught alive.... Arrrrrr them's the days
john s 2 years ago
Hey, it was the best two years of my life! Also the last two, but definitely the best. At least, better than being press-ganged by the English navy.
Load More Replies... arcane_gamer (they/them) 2 years ago (edited)
also, they would perform "trials" with exaggerated and humorous reports of their piracy, and they would be "executed" in lavish fashion, and i'm sure it would be a good laugh! :D
Thomas Bentley 2 years ago
well that's fun. the only complaint was the food, but there can only be so much done about that. **** will go again.
Frank Ropen 2 years ago
They took sexual assault seriously? Sure? https://www.history.com/news/henry-everys-bloody-pirate-raid-320-years-ago
Felicia Dale 2 years ago
Well… they were relatively democratic but they were also very destructive of people and ships. Pirates were generally better off than when they were on merchant or military ships but a big part of this was how outrageously horrible those ships could be. Pirates’ basic ideas were so more humane than the status quo that it’s easy to lose track of how heinously they behaved in other ways.
surprised pikachu 2 years ago
im pretty sure that pirate crews also did the sexual assaulting.... theyre werent all good guys
Guile main 2 years ago
This is literally what ONE Piece is all about. The pirates are better people who fight against the corrupt government, while also seeking a giant treasure
#11
The India Pakistan border is one of the most disputed ones in the world, giving rise to the world renowned hostilities between India and Pakistan. There was a time once, a prominent Indian singer (namely Lata Mangeshkar) had gone to perform a concert for the soldiers there. As soon as the show began, Pakistani troops started firing rounds in the air, yelled obscenities and said," We want to hear her voice too!!" So indian forces turned up the speakers and pointed them towards the border. Pakistani forces returned the favour when prominent Pakistani singers came to perform for them.
BetterBitterButter 2 years ago
She passed away earlier this year and the fans on the both sides mourned her. She had a career of eight decades.
Mulberry Juice 2 years ago
She was loved and respected by people all over the world
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Roxanne D'souza 2 years ago
Talking about the border, there's one specific place called Wagah Border which has a ceremony every evening at before sunset. Crowds gather on both sides from India and Pakistan to watch the Pakistani rangers and Indian Border Security Forces put up a show - where they are theatrical, play patriotic songs, address the crowds and perform high kicks and drills. During the end of the ceremony the borders are opened, flags are lowered and the opposing sides even share a handshake as spectators cheer. It's pretty cool to watch.
Totally happy Panda 2 years ago
I thank you, on behalf of my fellow country people, for sharing this wholesome information with everyone
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Vinita Talaulikar 2 years ago (edited)
Lata Mangeshkar is famous playback singer of India. Addressed as Nightingale of India and Queen of Melody. Her whole family has melodious voice. Her 3 sisters Meena Khadikar, Asha Bhosle, Usha Mangeshkar and brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar, all are God gifted.
#12
The Chicago public library originated with a donation of books from Queen Victoria following the Great Chicago Fire, she assumed the city's library had burned down.
Interesting_Astronaut 2 years ago
I see someone upvoting library, I upvote them.
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Heather Talma 2 years ago
So had it not burned down or was there not a library in the first place? It's unclear.
“Whether it's greed, anger, promiscuity, and so on, when we hear just how bad someone else has been, it can make us feel better about our own tendencies towards the dark side traits. It also lets us imagine vicariously what it would be like to be ‘that bad,’” the professor pointed out to Bored Panda earlier.
“It's kind of like watching all the true crime shows—we enjoy being scared, we enjoy seeing into the minds of people doing things we never would, and it's exciting and novel to see just how far people can go in terms of their dark sides.”
It’s important to be aware of this and to make yourself look beyond just negative news stories and historical facts about brutality and misery. History isn’t just black, it’s also white, and varying shades of grey: the past is as nuanced as the present. And people don’t stop being people during times of crisis.
#13
There was a Scotsman named Bill Millin who stood on the beaches at Normandy during D-Day calmly playing the bagpipes as shells and machine gun fire streaked past him. The Germans didn't shoot him because they figured he must have been insane.
Scott W 2 years ago
Actually in Scotland they wore a full length ball gown with sequins
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Henry Russell 2 years ago
this reminds me of a person who whena bomb exploded nearby his house killing 22 people he sat in the wreckage witha violina dn played for 22 days in the middle of a war zone. a reporter once asked if he was insane and he replied you calling me insane why dont you call them insnae for blowing up our city. his name was vedran smailovic
Emily Elizabeth 2 years ago
They had a point. Scots are batsh!t. I'd know- my parental grandma is from Scotland and her entire side of the family is bonkers lmao
Dan Padgett 2 years ago
Never mess with a Scots woman. My mother is 4'11" of compressed rage
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Ronnie Beaton 2 years ago
Piper Millin played himself during the Sword Beach landing scenes of the movie "The Longest Day".
#14
There was a dog in ww1 that helped sniff out mustard gas named Sargent stubby.
Xenia Harley 2 years ago
A pit bull. They get such a bad rap, but are awesome dogs. I have one that is the sweetest, least reactive dog I ever had! If he is on a leash and another dog is barking like it's going to rip him apart, he just stands calmly on leash. (We walk/hike a lot and this has happened several times, not that I subject my dog to that!)
Debra McGeorge 2 years ago
My pittie is just as calm and sweet. They’re the best dogs going!
Load More Replies... Miss Frankfurter 2 years ago
It’s an amazing story, but why must we drag our innocent animals into our wars? So many came back from Iraq and Afghanistan with PTSD from all the loud shelling.
Šimon Špaček 2 years ago
He was not named Sargent Stubby, he was named Stubby and Sargent was his rank that he got after saving his company multiple times and finding german spy. When he returned to US, he had higher rank than his owner.
Lisa H 2 years ago
Omg, can we all just take a moment to appreciate the name "Sargent Stubby" because that is the best animal name of all time!
Atreïdes 2 years ago
“Sergeant” wasn’t just part of his name, he actually semi-unofficially promoted to a sergeant for his heroics, interestingly
Load More Replies... #15
Napoleon was once nearly killed by being trampled by hundreds of rabbits.
Someone added:
He organised a hunt to celebrate a victory. But the guy got tame rabbits instead of wild ones. Instead of running when released they looked directly to who they recognised as the guy in charge (napoleon) because they knew the guy in charge meant food. Long story short they all charged him, he ran, he got trampled and severely injured.
I couldn't make this sh**t up if I tried.
Kel_how 2 years ago
Bunnies can be very forceful! And if you've ever been thumped by one, you know his injuries were real.
der sebbl 2 years ago
When we wanted to clip his nails one of our bunny kicked my then gf in the stomach. She needed some time to catch breath
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Duncan 2 years ago (edited)
He wasn't trampled! After the victories of the Imperial troops in 1807, France and Russia made peace. To celebrate this, Marshal(general) Berthier would organize a rabbit hunt. The rabbits were bought up and would be released on the domain where the hunt would take place. On the farms where Berthier had brought the rabbits, however, the animals were used to contact with people and were even fed by them every day. When Napoleon and his party entered the grounds, they saw hundreds of rabbits hopping towards them. Overwhelmed by the huge troops of the big-eared quadrupeds, Napoleon had to retreat for the first time in a very long time.
KDS 2 years ago
It’s not made up. And yes it is very hilarious it makes me think of that scene from Monty Python’s and the Holy Grail.
Load More Replies... glowworm2 2 years ago
It was for the bunnies! No bunnies were harmed. Just Napoleon!🤣
Load More Replies... Eastendbird 2 years ago
Now all I can think of is Bishop Brennan in Father Ted - did the bunnies nibble Napoleon's Cape too?
#16
The doctor who invented surgical gloves, did it because he was madly in love with a nurse. After performing surgery she'd come home with hands rough and red from blood. He invented the gloves to protect the woman he loved, and every time I watch Grey's anatomy I think about that.
Cat Chat 2 years ago
Just, please don't push kids out the window for it (Game of Thrones reference for those who do not know).
Load More Replies... InvincibleRodent 2 years ago
I love this one- someone once added to this the comment "He loved her to the point of invention", and I feel like that's really sweet.
Louise Clarke 2 years ago
The woman who invented windshield wipers, invented them to protect her husband
Annie Persson 2 years ago
Anyone else read that as "doctor Who invented..." ? No? Just me, then?
Mary Kelly 2 years ago
her hands were actually rough b/c they used to have a fine mist spray of phenol flowing over the patients during surgery to prevent infection...the phenol solutions caused her to have terrible sores...rather than replace his nurse, he developed the gloves to protect her hands...and, when people began sterilizing the gloves to prevent the spread of germs, they no longer needed to spray phenol over patients during surgery...win-win-win
#17
Norway sends an Xmas tree to London every year in thanks to the help we gave them in WWII. It's put up in Trafalgar Square.
Gin. No tonic 2 years ago
And for the past two years Londoners looked really hard into the mouth of a gifted horse.
Lily from England 2 years ago
Love the generalisation. 🙄 I happen to be extremely grateful.
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Agamemnon O'Neill 2 years ago
Halifax, NS also sends one to Boston every year for their aid in the 1917 Halifax Explosion.
Randolph Croft 2 years ago
Every year, since 1945, the Dutch royal family sends 100's of thousands of tulip bulbs to Ottawa, Canada, in gratitude for Canadians having sheltered the future Queen Juliana and her family during the gNazi occupation of the Netherlands during WW2. It's pretty great. And the festival is amazing.
Sasy 2 years ago
I like the idea that the tree may not be the best tree, because it would show that not only is it a gift and gesture of thanks, but it represents the struggles of nations, and stands tall and proud no matter what it has been through, that to me is awesome. Bring on the trees no matter how many needles fall to the ground, how many branches are bare, show me that you are still there no matter what ♥
Cat Chat 2 years ago
Yes. It shows that even though the world was facing difficult times, and even though their priorities were (should I say "likely" or "I'm sure"?) the health and economy of their nation, they still kept up with the tradition of sending thanks in whatever way they could.
Load More Replies... bill marsano 2 years ago
Halifax does likewise re Boston, which immediately responded with emergency aid after the explosion of a munitions ship in Dec. 1917 leveled much of the town, killing 1700 and injuring 9000.
#18
When persecuted Zoroastrians from Persia came to the kingdom of Sanjan in the West coast of India as refugees, the king wasn't sure if he wanted to offer them refuge. So he sent them a full glass of milk implying his kingdom is full.
The leader of the Zoroastrians added some sugar to the milk and sent it back to imply the refugees would become part of the kingdom and make it sweeter.
They got to stay, and though are a micro-minority, they are one of the most successful community which has left its imprint on every aspect of India.
Cookie 2 years ago
Indeed (You know it’s spelled great, not grate, right?)
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Artsy Bookworm 2 years ago
They are known as Parsis here. And yes, there are many many famous and talented Parsis in India
Disha Nath-Sepoy 2 years ago
I'm married to a Parsi man. When open-minded, they are the most fun! It's only the fanatics (from any side) that ruin religion.
Mary Kelly 2 years ago
stood outside one of their temples to see a "sky cremation"...which have really been negatively affected by the decline in vulture populations in india
#19
When the Pharaoh Mentuhotep II's harem daughter died around 2050 BC, he mourned. She was only five years old.
Her tomb, touchingly, was inscribed with the pet name "Myt." This is translated to "kitten."
keighterz 2 years ago
Why did the poster say “harem daughter?” I was curious so I googled and learned nothing so I assume it just means his daughter.
Artsy Bookworm 2 years ago
I think it means the girl's mother was not his wife but a concubine.
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Charlotte Sandoval 2 years ago
How?? A father showing eternal love for his daughter isn't wholesome? What is your definition, then?
Load More Replies... #20
In 2006, while the Ivory Coast was in the midst of a civil war, the opposing sides agreed to a ceasefire so that they could all watch the World Cup. The break in fighting paved the way for a peace agreement a year later.
Interesting_Astronaut 2 years ago
During WWI, germans and brits ceased fire on Christmas day to exchange gifts and play soccer (football)
Ben Stubbs 2 years ago
I once went to a football match between Cote Ivoire and Gambia (in Gambia). The Ivorians scored first, and all hell broke loose, bottles and cans were thrown by the Gambians. The Ivorians replied "No, no that is bad!. The Gambians responded "We're sorry" The match ended 1-1 x
Luna Crow 2 years ago
Wow! Yet another major difference between football and American football. Major US football games are likely to result in some level of riot, regardless of which team wins or loses. Really disgraceful
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OnAFreakingRollercoaster 2 years ago
War sucks. For everyone. No matter the cause. Thank goodness the ceasefire ✌️
The Phantomvessel 2 years ago (edited)
Football has a big affect on what people will do. Glad in this case it was peace
#21
The F1 German grand Prix, in 1976.
After Nikki Lauda crashed, while hitting a barrier and catching alight, rival drivers: Arturo Merzario, Guy Edwards, Harald Ertl and Brett Lunger all stopped their cars and ran to Lauda's aid. There are many such instance of this happening during the '50s right through the '80s, of championship drivers forfeiting a win to save a rivals life.
Mario Strada 2 years ago (edited)
I remember those days very well. I was a kid then and I was very much into Formula one, GT Endurance and what today is called Moto GP. The number of riders and driver that died in gruesome fashion was amazing. Today we'd be completely shocked by it. Watch old videos and see racetracks with dudes just walking around the side of the track. Today management would have a collective heart attack. It got to a point where I stopped putting up posters of racers and riders because it seemed they met an untimely death every time I got a poster from a magazine. And yes, it was common for other drivers to stop and help, because they knew workers were poorly trained and usually not strategically placed. Also, crashing wasn't the driver's main fear. It was being trapped in a flaming car. Remember that only a decade earlier, they wore no seatbelt because they preferred to be flung from their cars.
Sans Serif 2 years ago
My son is named after... Jim Clark and Colin Chapman.
Load More Replies... Gin. No tonic 2 years ago
I assume that there were none/less such instances later on, because the safety was greatly improved and it became unnecessary.
Ludwig Michiel 2 years ago
Indeed, I think one of the last times such a thing happened was in 1992, at Spa, when Ayrton Senna stopped to aid Eric Comas who had crashed heavily during qualifying https://youtu.be/sbTrNKBAfI8
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Rob Williams 2 years ago
Back then they felt it was, actually, 50/50 whether or not they would survive the weekend.
#22
I'm an Indian. Only after a lot of research on the internet, I came to know that homosexuality was very normal in ancient India. The sculptures, the poems are just so GAY. Only after the advent of British colonialism, those stuff became taboo or even a crime here. It's a shame that they don't teach that in school considering how accepting ancient India was.
Thomas Bentley 2 years ago
like in old germany, a 15th century? king (fredrick the great?) was bashed for playing "second fiddle" in a relationship with a french king. not for being gay but for being submissive.
EJBWritesBooks 2 years ago
"We're embarrassed about the king's relationship." "What, because he's with a man?" "Of course not, because he's a bottom!" - Dialogue between two medieval merchants
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Roxanne D'souza 2 years ago
Same as women's sexuality and partial nudity. All of that was so normal in ancient India. After British colonisation our ancestors were taught shame and were ridiculed so much for how they were. Now the India boomers are gatekeepers of women's modesty and what is acceptable to wear and how much skin is too much skin.
Artsy Bookworm 2 years ago
Yes! Ancient civilizations and other historical place in India have so many sculptures, paintings and carvings depicting partially or fully naked women, men etc. How ironic is it that present day India is much more backward than ancient India
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Disha Nath-Sepoy 2 years ago
Honestly, Christianity ruined everything! Think about ancient Greece, how normal sexuality was, in all its spectrum glory.! Religious fanatics have ruined everything and sadly continue to do so.
Niki A 2 years ago
History is so GAY in general. Everywhere you turn people who are gay, trans, etc. Let's face facts, religion trained us to believe this was bad. History teaches us people are different and it's nothing to get excited about. Hell, even the decor of the ancient days depicts it!
Lilly-Ann O'Connor 2 years ago
The last maharajah of india's son apparently had queer experiences in the army, after colonization. How I know? The museum he opened told me
#23
During the crusades when Richard the Lionhearted had a fever, all he wanted at the moment was some fruit and a cold drink. His enemy, Saladin, the Sultan of Egypt who had seized control over Jerusalem, heard the news and sent him peaches, pears, and a shipment of ice from a mountain. When he heard that King Richard's horse had been killed, he sent him a bunch of new horses and a stable boy.
The Scout 2 years ago
Those two opponents were mortal enemies, but they seem to have had great professional respect for each other. And they were used to this kind of games. There is a famous tale of Richard awaking one day in his heavily fortified and guarded bedroom, seeing a cake on his nightstand - left by one of Saladin's Assassins as a message "See? We could have killed you if we wanted to..."
Luna Crow 2 years ago
So, are we really sure they were actually fighting? Or flirting? ;)
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Wintermute 2 years ago
Ah, the privilege of rich powerful men. I'm sure the same consideration was extended to the poor dirt farmers who were forced to fight on the pain of damnation when they got a boo boo too, right? No, it's just the despicable disdain for humanity in the guise of honor. Pretty standard for history tbh.
Stro Bro 2 years ago
Not trying to be insensitive at all, but the poor had nothing to do with this. Saladin and Richard had genuine respect for one another for their military genius.
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Jordi Sharpe 2 years ago
What is the Joker without Batman? Lex Luthor without Superman? The Sultan clearly recognized his equal and wanted to keep him alive out of that weird affection some psychos feel for one another.
#24
On Christmas Day 1914, Both of the sides of WW1 celebrated Christmas together with songs and games. This type of celebrations happened over the whole front in Belgium and France. The soldiers talked to each other like they weren't in war together. Many soldiers wrote in their diary that they didn't expect the enemy to be so kind and friendly and that they wanted to meet with them when the war was over.
But a few days later, the leaders of the armies found out about the celebrations and forbid any future meetings between the two sides. They were a few attempts to reconnect (during Easter and Christmas) but the soldiers who attempted were punished or killed.
Enuya 2 years ago
Just another proof that it's the governments who want war, not the citizens and soldiers.
Kyla Eisler 2 years ago
It was because if they saw their enemies as humans, they may not want to fight anymore. You can see it in all the propaganda posters that the Germans were portrayed as monsters, basically. So it made it easier to go to war against a monster, but once the soldiers realized that the guy they're trying to kill has a wife and kid like they do, they may defect. So yeah, "fraternizing with the enemy" became a thing there after. :(
Load More Replies... Eastendbird 2 years ago
There's a story, of one of the meetings being between a German and a Scottish regiment, as they talked, a barrage of fire was heard on the British side (nearby but not close enough to hit anyone) and the Germans were immediately suspicious. Until one of the Scots said "That's no us, it's the bastard English!"
Fabian Bernard 2 years ago
Was lucky enough to visit remains of ''tranchées'' in the Vosges. Soldier of both sides were so close to each other that they sometimes played chess together, while waiting for stupid orders of killing each others....Source : our historian guide
Billy Harrelson 2 years ago
Imagine if the soldiers had looked at their commanding officers towards the end of the truce and said "you know what, it's just not worth it." They had the firepower, they could have changed the world.
OneHappyPuppy 2 years ago
And another great song by Sabaton - Christmas truce. This stunt was attempted again but the "higher-ups" made sure it never happened again by heavily shelling the enemies positions right before a major holiday to avoid any kind of new truce, and/or even moving the soldiers to other fronts because hey they're at war and they wanted killing... Humanity has no place in war for them.
#25
The Candy Bomber. After World War 2 ended and Berlin was divided, the UK and US dropped food into west Berlin by plane. One Pilot, Gail Halvorsen started to donate his candy rations to the children and soon other pilots started doing the same. To let the children know that it was his plane - the one with the candy- they would "wiggle the plane's wings" before the drop. Word spread and more and more children would come and it started a new PR campaign and started to change the mindset that Americans had of giving food aide to Europe. I always thought the story was really sweet.
juni 2 years ago
Gail Halvorsen died earlier this year. One of those planes, called candy bomber in english, or Rosinenbomber in german is still on display in Berlin. It used to be at the old Tempelhof Airfield. Now it's at the Deutsche Technikmuseum. The soviets cut Berlin off all land or water connections to West-Berlin from 24 June 1948 - 12 May 12 1949, it officially ended 30 september 1949. It's estimated Berlin would have run out of food after a month. For almost a year 2,2 million people had to get everything brought in by plane. Every three minutes a new plane would come, drop down, drop whatever material they had on board, coal, food, building materials, up to 12.849t per day, and 1398 planes during 24 hours. The Luftbrücke helped the people of Berlin survive the winter that year. The pilots were british, us-american, french and australian, from new zealand, canada and south africa. If you want to get the feels read the wikipedia article. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Blockade
RajunCajun 2 years ago
Because of this story, I would always have candy in my flack jacket anytime I was off the compound in Bosnia. I wanted to give any kid I saw candy so maybe make their day a little better.
Markus Holstein 2 years ago
Known as the "Raisin Bombers" in Germany because among the candy rations were packets of raisins. One is on display suspended from the facade of the German Museum of Technology, Berlin: https://www.berlin.de/binaries/asset/image_assets/5875948/source/1566560543/624x468/
(Un)Inspired Aspiring Author 2 years ago
I remember learning about this in school this year, it wasn't too long after that lesson that he died, everyone was sad learning about his death
#26
For 30 years, Canada and Denmark were fighting a brutal "war" over an Island in North, by leaving their own homemade whiskeys and troll letter.
Luna Crow 2 years ago
Also maybe who can best the other musically, or in a dance-off
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Miss Frankfurter 2 years ago (edited)
Maybe there needs to be a joint petition to both governments to restart the war. Soldiers from both countries could head up there at Christmas and have a party then go back to “fighting”. I’ll bet the troll letters from Canada would be hilarious. 🇨🇦💞🇩🇰
Randolph Croft 2 years ago
There's talk about a jointly owned building with a Customs and Immigration Office and Tea Room. It would have one official from each country, who'd take turns serving tea/cleaning up.
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SageHare37 2 years ago
I'm imagining really good bottles of plunk and Monty Python-esque trolling letters.
Peter Kovak 2 years ago
Why for God's sake aren't all the wars like this one? The World would look sooo different.
#27
Horton Hears a Who was written for a Japanese friend of Dr. Seuss immediately following WWII. He wrote it as an allegory about the importance of forgiveness and humanity in a time where much of the world was still bitter at Japan for their role on the war. Horton represents the United States who speaks up for Whoville, the Japanese, to remind them that "a person is a person no matter how small."
Harvey Vostrejs 2 years ago
Unfortunately Seuss also created some horribly racist propaganda against the Japanese during ww2. He also cheated on his wife while she was passing due to cancer.
Literal Pigeon 2 years ago
Unfortunately, he was pretty racist to Japanese people in general. He made mocking comics of them, drawing them with squinty eyes.
Atreïdes 2 years ago
During the war, when he was paid by the government to make propaganda for them
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Kelly Jones 2 years ago
Doesn’t jibe with his otherwise racism “A 2019 survey of Seuss’ works found that just 2 percent of human characters were people of color — 98 percent were white. Portrayal of and references to Black characters relied heavily on anti-Blackness and images of white superiority, the study found. In “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street,” a white man is shown holding a whip above a man of color and the elephant he's riding on. In “If I Ran the Zoo,” a white boy holds a large gun while standing on the heads of three Asian men. “If I Ran the Zoo” also features two men from Africa who are shirtless, shoeless and wearing grass skirts while holding an exotic animal“ https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1259330
Jaclyn Minzell 2 years ago
Too bad anti-abortionists grabbed onto that phrase and made it cringy 😑
Al Padilla 1 year ago
And yet, his story "Sneeches" may be the best story ever about abolishing social inequality.
#28
Every year the Province of Nova Scotia sends a Christmas tree to Boston as thanks for aid after the Halifax Explosion
Falcon on Dizzy 2 years ago
I believe that the Halifax explosion was the largest non-nuclear detonation ever, correct me if I'm wrong, but it holds the record to this day
Becky Samuel 2 years ago
I think the Beirut explosion of 2020 may have topped it.
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Christos Arvanitis 2 years ago
I live north of Boston. A few weeks ago, right off of the highway pulling out of a gas station I saw this HUGE tree on a flatbed with a sign on it that said https://novascotia.ca/treeforboston/ . Behind the tree on the flatbed was a regular old work truck that said "Nova Scotia DPW" (DPW = Department of Public Works). It was really exciting to see it en route from Canada! It arrived in the city a short bit later.
Miss Frankfurter 2 years ago (edited)
Also, every spring the Netherlands sends thousands of tulip bulbs to Ottawa in thanks for our help in liberating them during WWII as well as sheltering the Queen during the war. Wher e she lived was designated as a part of the Netherlands, so technically she was still there. PS: I accidentally hit Report while I was typing. I don’t know how to cancel that, so if it does get reported IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.
Agnes Jekyll 2 years ago
Ottawa also ceded the maternity ward she was giving birth in to Netherlands during the delivery of her child so that her child would be a Dutch citizen.
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Matthew Baird 2 years ago
The tree we sent them this year was from Christmas Island. True story https://beta.ctvnews.ca/local/atlantic/2022/11/2/1_6135611.amp.html
David McMullin 2 years ago
If I remember correctly, the anchor of the ship that exploded was found several miles away.
Agnes Jekyll 2 years ago
Yes! In a park (I don't know which came first, the park or the anchor)--it's so deep in the ground (and so heavy), it will never be moved
Load More Replies... #29
After Commodore Perry forced the opening of Japan to foreign trade, Japan signed many unequal treaties with Western nations. 1888, Mexico signed another treaty with Japan, but Mexico viewed Japan as an equal. The 1888 Mexican-Japanese treaty was the first time a Western nation treated Japan as an equal. In the late 1930, facism was advancing through the world and no one dared to oppose it. Except for Mexico. Mexico was the only country that openly protested against the Japanese invasive of Manchuria, the Italian invasion of Ethiopia, Italian and German involvement in the Spanish Civil War (along with the USSR), and finally, the German annexation of Austria.
the Return of Bruno 2 years ago (edited)
I believe the author means Mexico was the only country that protested ALL of those actions. I first read it to mean the only country to protest ANY of them and immediately thought of too many counter-examples to count. Mexico's position in the Spanish Civil War is hardly exemplary; just a few short years after Mexico massacred tens of thousands of priests, nuns, and catechists, Mexico was eager to watch such a bloodbath develop in Spain itself. Not very wholesome that Mexico was siding with the Soviet Union on that one.
the Return of Bruno 2 years ago (edited)
I wanted to check my facts, here: Alvaro Obregon was an absolute dictator and bloodthirsty tyrant who abolished all forms of opposition. But he had been assassinated; in his stead, Abelardo Rodriguez, Pascual Rubio and Plutarco Calles fought for control of the Mexican government. Calles continued the war against the Catholic Church, despite never officially becoming president. Mexico would remain a one-party dictatorship until 1988; Only in 2000 was the first opposition-party candidate elected. The Soviet bloc ended its war against Christianity before Mexico did.
Load More Replies... #30
Ringo Starr once decided the Beatles didn’t need him and decided to take a holiday with the intention of never coming back.
When John, Paul and George found out they went all the way to where he was staying just to convince him to come back.
Freakears replied:
As I recall, he got sick of all the bickering during the recording of the White Album (so it's actually Paul playing the drums on the first few songs). When Ringo came back, his drum kit was all decked out with flowers.
Salsa Ambiguity 2 years ago (edited)
George is apparently the one who decorated his drums with flowers. The two of them were extremely close -- Ringo even said George was not just his favorite person in the Beatles but his favorite in the whole world. Paul and John adored Ringo too, though -- if you don't believe me just look at their hug in Get Back after George quit. That's three brothers right there. It's also a myth that John said Ringo wasn't the best drummer in the Beatles. He said more than once that Ringo was the best drummer in the world and even sent him a postcard sometime after the breakup telling him exactly that. There was a LOT of drama and conflict within the Beatles but as Paul says they were brothers and brothers always fight.
Apatheist Account2 2 years ago
As Jasper Carrot commented: Dear old Ringo. He wasn't the best drummer in the world. He wasn't even the best drummer in the Beatles...
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Cal the dragon (she/her) 2 years ago
For some reason sometimes these guys remind me of Imagine Dragons. Well, they are one of the Dragons' inspirations...
Cal the dragon (she/her) 2 years ago
And I feel like one of/all of the Dragons would decorate Platzman's drums with flowers... hmm...
Load More Replies... #31
When Richard II was crowned King of England in 1377, he was only ten years old. After the ceremony at Westminster it was tradition for the king to progress through the streets to his coronation banquet, so people could gather around and see him. Well, Richard was too small, surrounded by all his guards and retainers, so instead of walking, his tutor Simon Burley picked him up and carried the little king on his shoulders. At some point during the walk, Richard (called Dickon by his family) lost a slipper and was allegedly later chastened by his mother. Idk it's wholesome to me that little kids are little kids, even when it's the middle ages and they're king of England.
OnAFreakingRollercoaster 2 years ago (edited)
Where in the Dickons did you lose your shoe, Dickon 🤔
Mulberry Juice 2 years ago
It’s hilarious how everyone has these expectations of royal children to not act like children as if they aren’t talking about a 4 year old
#32
The man that shares Muhammad Ali's birth name, Cassius Clay, was a staunch abolitionist representative in Kentucky pre civil war. He was notable for starting an abolitionist newspaper(that he armed with *two* cannons and several small arms to defend it with), fought off several pro-slavery attackers throughout the years, and pressured Lincoln to free all slaves in America. Plus, his house was broken into when he was in his 80s, I believe, and he killed one attacker and wounded another before they fled. The man was a legit badass who fought for what was right in a place that no one would have blamed him for keeping quiet, and to me, that's pretty god damn wholesome.
Rodive95 2 years ago
Wait I don’t get it Mohammed Ali did this or someone else named that did it?
Dispatcherqueen 2 years ago
Muhammed Ali was named Casiuss Clay, after the abolitionist, Cassius Clay
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Who cares what I think, but... 2 years ago
Should have retained his original name in honor of this great person!
#33
That dogs have really always been man's (humans') best friend. Archeologists have found many inscriptions, the most touching of which is, "*I am in tears, while carrying you to your last resting place as much as I rejoiced when bringing you home with my own hands 15 years ago.”* More here: [https://www.littlethings.com/ancient-dog-memorials/5](https://www.littlethings.com/ancient-dog-memorials/5)
setsuriseikou 2 years ago
https://littlethings.com/pets/ancient-dog-memorials/2146676-9
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Tamra 2 years ago
The purest, simplest love I have ever experienced is that of a dog. They're good people. ☺️
surprised pikachu 2 years ago
as someone who just had to put down their dog of 13 years, this almost made me start crying
#34
The Danish citizenry saved many Jews during WWII, and despite being occupied by the Nazis, it was the covert subversive activities of each individual that made it successful.
sleepy bean shaped bugcat 2 years ago
i read this at school as part of the curriculum
Load More Replies... #35
During the early years of the Ottoman Empire, Muslims, Jews and Christians fought side by side and considered each other as brothers.
Thomas Bentley 2 years ago
wow, the past was a more united place during troubles such as the founding of an empire than entire countries are during a cold outbreak on steroids.
Nathan Pogorzala 2 years ago
And then someone decided to be a d**k and now we are stuck in this mess.
Laura kelly 2 years ago
If you weren't a Moslem you paid higher taxes. That's it. There's a well known church in Cappadocia, central Turkey, that has both Moslem and Christian symbols on its facade, attesting to the neighborly feelings between the two.
#36
We sometimes find roof tiles in places such a Pompeii with animal prints in them, possible accidents from when they were being created. Just the little things like this that remind one of how not too different the ancient world was to today.
setsuriseikou 2 years ago
How dare you! It is with the outmost elegance that the graceful beings bestow their blessings upon us lowly humans' various items.
Load More Replies... Agnes Jekyll 2 years ago
There's a house from the 1700s near me, and the sun-dried bricks have paw prints in them.
#37
My Balkanic friends have told me that the bitter combats of the wars after the break up of Yugoslavia used to stop because both sides liked watching Mexican soap operas.
Gin. No tonic 2 years ago
Show soap operas 24/7 then! Get everyone glued to their TVs, so that they forget to fight. Telenovelas are so dramatic that if you miss one episode, everything might be changed and you don't know what's happening anymore.
Kel_how 2 years ago
Oh, you'll know what's happening...the long lost and/or dead twin will show up, someone will be pregnant by a person other than their spouse, and someone is plotting to murder another character. :P
Load More Replies... Lyuben Petkov 2 years ago
it is true that in ex Yugoslavia, many people speaks Spanish and Turkish only because of the soap operas.
Momma Panda 2 years ago
My dad was in the war from '91-'95 mostly on the first lines of the battle. If I remember correctly they had only radio, and no tv access. Maybe his person was talking about reserve soldiers who have never seen the battlefield sitting in their barracks.
#38
That during the battle of Monte Cassino (WW2) The Germans and Allies agreed to a ceasefire so the medics could heal. Medics from both sides helped each other and exchanged supplies.
During WW1, there were multiple instances of massive troops on both sides mutinying and refusing to fight each other. The funny part is, neither side knew the other was doing it. British troops would refuse to fight, and the German's never knew, and vice versa. Just one attack at the right moment, and history could change. Also, this happened in the latter part of the war.
There was a buisnessman named Schindler, who convinced the Nazi's to allow him to use concentration camp workers. Instead of producing mass weapons, he saved thousands, and went to high ranking parties with top brass to convince them he was succeeding. I once read he bribed some camp guards to allow the prisoners access to all the food storage once the war was winding down and the Nazi's left the camps. He died, but is the only member of the Nazi party that is on a plaque and regarded as a hero in Israel. Rip
Marie Dahme 2 years ago
Oskar Schindler was named Righteous Among Nations as well. Look up Irena Sendler also named Righteous Among Nations by Israel. Her and others working with her were responsible for smuggling out about 2500 orphans and other children from Jewish families out of the ghetto. Thousands of people and their children and their childrens children owe their lives to these people. There were hundreds of other people through out the war that helped the Jews. Among all nations, Poland has been honored with over 7,000 people who have been bestowed the title of Righteous Among Nations.
#39
Pennsylvania was founded by Quakers who believed that the "light of God" shined in everyone regardless of ethnicity or religion. They were known for treating the indigenous people relatively well and welcomed the first synagogue in North America in Philadelphia.
Harlan Bleiler 2 years ago
And now the “city of brotherly love” has at least 1 murder every single day
Michael Largey 2 years ago
This might say more about the availability of guns in the US than it does about Philadelphia.
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Fat Harry 2 years ago
The small city of Wells (used as the village in the film Hot Fuzz!) has a pub called The Crown, and there's writing on the outside explaining how it was there that Willliam Penn (after whom the state is named) and his followers gathered there before their journey to the Americas. Around here is the UK's Quaker country.
aubergine10003 2 years ago (edited)
I don't think this is entirely true. The first synagogue in North America is in Newport, Rhode Island. https://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/colonial/jb_colonial_jewish_1.html#:~:text=On%20December%202%2C%201763%2C%20members,of%20a%20thriving%20Jewish%20community.
Ben Stubbs 2 years ago
Fantastic! They treated natives "relatively well" then spread their word of God to all. Except f**s, slaves and everyone else that wasn't white, "Christian" and borderline fundamental.
#40
Xenophon’s “Cynegeticus” is a book about hunting with dogs. He goes over popular dog names in Classical Greece and constantly refers to his dog Orme. Apparently whenever he would walk into his house, Orme would jump up on him and the only way to calm her down was to let her lick his face.
#41
The only reason the pilgrims stopped at Plymouth Rock was they were running out of beer. They had to grow barley and hops.
Adele Maestranzi 2 years ago
The first stop was Provincetown, Massachusetts. Plymouth was the second location they chose.
#42
In the Second World War, British Lieutenant-Commander Gerard Broadmead Roope was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross because a German Admiral who witnessed his gallantry in action wrote to the British and recommended the award.
Donkey boi 2 years ago (edited)
The fella had a peashooter, saw 2 destroyers and decided to attack, they ran (trying to draw him into a trap), he knew it was a trap but followed. He saw the German flagship cruiser (which was about 12-13 times the size of his ship), let the chain of command know where it was, then... decided to try and sink it! all of his torpedoes missed, he got shot to heck and back, was on fire and thought 'Sod it! I'll ram them!'. The man's testicles were bigger than his ship!
Fat Harry 2 years ago
That's one way of looking at it. The other way is that he was foolhardy and needlessly risked the lives of his entire crew on something for which his ship was utterly unsuited.
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#43
An actually true fact about Liechtenstein is that Switzerland accidentally "invaded" Liechtenstein during a Swiss army exercise when some soldiers got lost and accidentally walked into Liechtenstein. On two separate occasions. So Switzerland has accidentally invaded Liechtenstein, twice.
Alexander Smith 2 years ago
Switzerland: Sorry we invaded you again. Liechtenstein: It's okay wanna brew before you head back to camp?
#44
Within his fifty-year diary of the Hundred Years War in the fifteenth century, chronicling endless rapes, murders, and pillage, an anonymous writer in Paris found time to record that there was particularly heavy snow one year, and the citizens made some damn impressive snowmen. He also never fails to tell us whether the year's wine was good or bad (1424 was a winner) and complains when he can't get his hands on any fresh cherries or 'soft cheese from Brie'.
#45
At the battle of castle Itter 30 German and American soldiers, along with French prisoners held at the castle, fought side by side against the SS soldiers who laid siege to the castle
Randolph Croft 2 years ago
That would be a potentially great film. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Castle_Itter
#46
During the Second World War, many Nazi prisoners were sent to Canada to be detained in POW camps till the end of the war. The stories told by the prisoner is nothing short of pure wholesomeness. Many of the prisoners were treated so well, they chose to stay in Canada after the end of the war.
Irishwoman abroad 2 years ago
Nope, Canadá is part of the British Commonwealth, so the nazis were their enemies too, but they treated them well.
Load More Replies... Thomas Bentley 2 years ago
as apposed to the canada that practically inspired the geneva convention.
Miss Frankfurter 2 years ago
A Canadian wrote the UN Charter of Human Rights. Of course there are many countries who pay absolutely no attention to it.
Load More Replies... arcane_gamer (they/them) 2 years ago
was about to make a comment on "why are nazis being treated well?" but i realized it meant people who were imprisoned by the nazis
Miss Frankfurter 2 years ago
Nope. Those who were imprisoned by the Nazis were treated horribly. Yes, we treated them well and some did decide to stay. We 🇨🇦 just can’t stoop to the lowest common denominator.
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Herb Sennhenn 2 years ago
They were treated pretty well in the US, too. The family farm was just a couple of miles from a camp and since my dad and grandfather both spoke German, they had prisoners work as day laborers. I have a letter that one of the prisoners sent to my grandfather after the war asking for a job so he could come back to the US. https://www.amazon.com/Stalag-Wisconsin-Inside-Prisoner-Camps/dp/187856983X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=WBAOIPVW9P7&keywords=stalag+wisconsin+inside+wwii+prisoner+of+war+camps&qid=1671035195&sprefix=stalig+wisc%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-1&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc
#47
There is a lion statue in Venice that has Viking runes graffiti on it.
#48
Georgi Zhukov, a famous soviet military leader, was introduced to Coca Cola by the American Dwight D Eisenhower. Zhukov liked it, but he couldn’t drink it because it was too American. He ended up asking if they could make it look more like vodka. Eventually, they did, and sent him 50 cases of clear coke.
Benita Valdez 2 years ago
I miss crystal pepsi. heck I miss any cola made with real sugar but then again, if they used real sugar I'd probably be drinking it and in excess; I rarely drink colas
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Analyn Lahr 2 years ago
One, Eisenhower was an American President (perhaps you just forgot to type the word), Two, when the he'll did they make clear coke? And why doesn't it still exist?
Alexandru Bucur 2 years ago
He wasn't the president in 1945 (he got elected in 1953)... But he was Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe so of course he got to meet Zhukov who was his Soviet counterpart...
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#49
When ww2 was concluded the US military doubted the field reports of their own commanders to such an extreme degree that they ended up using the German field reports that are still used to this day as historical reference. And they say victors write history, literal opposite
#50
Tutankhamun's most prized possession was his meteoritic iron dagger. Museum visitors are impressed by the gold.
Thomas Bentley 2 years ago
gold was more common in those days but the small dagger was in his coffin with him.
#51
When the Persians conquered Babylonia, they let the Jews return to Jerusalem and built them a new temple.
#52
Captain Morgan actually existed. The face of the well-loved rum "Captain Morgan" brand was a real guy. He was a Welsh privateer who fought alongside the English against the Spanish in the Caribbean in the 1660s and 1670s. His first name was Henry and was knighted by King Charles II of England. His exact birth date is unknown, but it was sometime around 1635. He died in Jamaica in 1688, apparently very rich.
Charl Marx 2 years ago
From my hometown, we have a number of things named after him, streets/pubs etc. His family owned the local stately home which is now part of National Trust and occasionally hosts pirate themed events.
#53
Besides during ww2 Qantas airlines has never had a fatal commercial jet plane crash since its formation in 1921
janan3s 2 years ago
As was already stated in 'Rain Man'. But what puzzles me is why Japan and Mexico are highlighted here......
Da Heng 2 years ago
Its the other post! The one about Mexico treating Japan as an equal
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Donkey boi 2 years ago
Well, commercial jet aircraft weren't really used until the 1950's so I'd argue that they have never has a fatal commercial jet plane crash at all!
Matthew Baird 2 years ago
Looks like Quantis has only crashed in Japan and Mexico. Seems Japan was ok, Mexico perhaps a rougher landing?
#54
Admiral Yamamotto wanted to avoid going to war with the US because he attended Harvard and Yale and knew the American people would not react well to the attack on Pearl Harbor. He tried to get the Japanese government to change their minds on attacking America but since it was the Imperial Army controlling politics he still had the Navy prepare for Pearl Harbor
Adam Jeff 2 years ago
I don't think you needed to go to Harvard to know that Pearl Harbour wouldn't be taken kindly.
Alexandru Bucur 2 years ago
Actually, the Japanese high command thought destroying the US fleet at Pearl Harbor would demoralize the US citizens and they'd force their government to sue for peace... Yeah, they were that far off. Yamamoto saw clearly what was going to happen and pretty much told them he could guarantee six months to a year of Japanese supremacy in the Pacific before the momentum would change and the US will slowly get the upper hand. And, sure enough, seven months almost to the day later, the Battle of Midway rolls around...
Load More Replies... Nathan Pogorzala 2 years ago (edited)
"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve". And with much pain, regret and lives lost, we bulldozed them. Not only to avenge our own, but also to make them pay for what they did to the millions and millions of citizens under their occupation.
Michael Largey 2 years ago (edited)
The Japanese's main target at Pearl Harbor was the four American carrier fleets. There were usually two at home at any time, but the Japanese hoped that they might find three or even all four there. As it turned out there were none. All four were elsewhere that Sunday and remained intact. When Yamamoto received this information the next day, he turned to his staff and said "Gentlemen, we have just lost the war."
Ben Stubbs 2 years ago
'Muricans its "Harbour" with a U, same as colour. Please don't ignore the letter U. Otherwise, you'd be the SA (aka brownshirts) x
surprised pikachu 2 years ago
i'll spell it however i want to. Silence european
Load More Replies... #55
Stalin started a save the puppy campain during WW2 all dogs that couldnt fight were sent to damaged families around the USSR free of charge
Matthew Baird 2 years ago
Stalin starved 5 million to death, no amount of puppies makes up for that! https://www.britannica.com/event/Holodomor
Nathan Pogorzala 2 years ago
Hear, Hear. I hope that piece of s**t is being flayed in hell.
Load More Replies... (Un)Inspired Aspiring Author 2 years ago
If I'm remembering right, he's still responsible for the most deaths ever (20 million, I believe) Still an awful person, even if he did care about animals
Irishwoman abroad 2 years ago
I think Chairman Mao may have beaten his record, sadly.
Load More Replies... #56
Under a Supreme Court ruling in the 1800s tomatoes are considered a vegetable because you can’t make a dessert out of it. The ruling came from California having tariffs on fruits because at the time it was believed only people with a bit of wealth could buy fruit because they were only really used to make a dessert. Tomatoes where part of the tariff so people protested and the Supreme Court removed tomatoes from the tariff meaning they aren’t a fruit in the eyes of the law
kathoco 2 years ago
It was in New York. In fact, imported tomatoes were taxed as vegetables. One of the importers took the government to court because he claimed that tomatoes were a fruit and should be taxed at the lower rate. Thus, he was owed a refund. The court recognized that tomatoes were a fruit from a botanical point of view but that in actual usage, they were used in the same way as vegetables - not to make desserts but as part of a salad or main dish. Thus, they should be taxed as vegetables. I teach this case in my forensic linguistics class.
Dave Freeman 2 years ago
Thanks for sharing this. I found the historical context very helpful.
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Garry Cowan 2 years ago
Not exactly the same but something sort of similar happened with Jaffa cakes here in the UK ..it was about them actually being biscuits
Fat Harry 2 years ago
Yes. Chocolate biscuits are considered "luxury items" so fall under vatable goods. Cakes are not. McVities (the Jaffa Cakes people) actually baked a regular cake sized Jaffa cake to demonstrate the Jaffa Cakes are cakes, not biscuits, and so VAT exempt. Incidentally, the difference between a cake and a biscuit is that biscuits go soft when they go stale, but cakes go hard!
Load More Replies... #57
The Republican party was founded in opposition to a piece of pro-slavery legislation called the Kansas-Nebraska act
surprised pikachu 2 years ago
for a website that claims its "chill and nonpolitical" i sure as hell see a lot of politics
#58
That the first known civilization where the woman was the head of the house was the Minoan Civilization of Crete, but it got destroyed by the tsunami made by the Santorini's volcano explosion in 1613 BC. Also, it's an urban myth that Socrates said that the north part of the island that got sunk because of the tsunami was Atlantis.
Marie Dahme 2 years ago
I believe I read that the Iroquois nation is also a matriarchal society. I think they predate the Minoan civilization as the Bering Strait land bridge was crossed about 25,000 years ago. Can a panda verify this ?
Elladine DesIsles 2 years ago
It is true that there are/have been multiple Indigenous societies that could be described as matriarchal, matrilineal, or otherwise non-patriarchal, at least in some respects (keeping in mind that those terms have a range of interpretations, and that gender politics are not necessarily universal throughout all aspects of a given society). The timing is rather more complicated, though. Neither the Iroquois nor any of the others existed as such at the time our ancestors migrated across the Bering Strait. That is believed to have occurred in several waves, and the descendants of those migrants spread throughout the Americas over many generations and diversified into several hundred distinct nations with vastly different cultures and social organization. It would be difficult to precisely date when specific, non-material cultural traits emerged, since pre-colonization written evidence is limited in most cases.
Load More Replies... (Un)Inspired Aspiring Author 2 years ago
Oh! I learned about this in Love and Olives! (Great book, go check it out if you can)
#59
In 1952, Albert Einstein declined an offer to become the second president of the State of Israel.
Brandie Litchfield 2 years ago
Could you imagine how that could have affected his legacy? I think Einstein would have created a fairer society, especially considering this was only a few years after the nakba.
#60
Bloody Mary may have imprisoned her half sister Elizabeth in the Tower of London to create karma for her mother's imprisonment for life, but Mary actually released her and made up with her right before her death, for they became friends in that short time.
Zane Denny 2 years ago
She was dying and knew the protestant half-sister was going to take over, and wanted to save her legacy/Catholicism in England.
Irishwoman abroad 2 years ago
So many mixed up versions of the truth here and in the comments!! 🤦♀️Mary's mother, Catherine of Aragon, was not imprisoned for life, Henry VIII divorced her and declared Mary illegitimate. She fought for the throne after his death and beheaded Lady Jane Grey, who only reigned for 9 days. Mary died at 42, and Elizabeth became Queen of England. Mary was known as bloody Mary because of her persecution of Protestants, killing over 300 of them, even though Henry had killed thousands of Catholics and Elizabeth killed almost 20 as well. The Mary killed by Elizabeth was Mary, Queen of Scots, who made a play for the throne as well and was beheaded for treason.
Ben Stubbs 2 years ago
Nope. She imprisoned, later beheaded her distant cousin (and 9 day queen - no, not Liz Truss, but Lady Jane Grey). Mary herself was imprisoned and beheaded by order of QE1
Nicole Weymann 2 years ago
Bloody Mary/Mary I/Mary Tudor is not the same as Mary Stuart/Mary, Queen of Scots. Bloody Mary was Elizabeth I's elder half sister, daughter of Henry VIII by his first wife Catherine of Aragon, died in 1558 (probably cancer or ovarian cysts). Mary Stuart was a first cousin once removed to Queen Elizabeth I, later imprisoned by her and beheaded.
Load More Replies... #61
There was a ruler way back in ancient times, and he was convinced he could control everything under his rule including the sea. He marched his troops out to the sea and asked it to obey him. A big wave came in and knocked them all down.
Thomas Bentley 2 years ago (edited)
That was King Cnüt (with the ü because of bored panda censoring) (not king c**t, I spelt that wrong in history class) and some sources say he did that to prove he cannot control everything. others say he was a cracked up as Trump, but as an english kid, I hope the former is true.
Taff Thomas 2 years ago
I rather think this, or rather the true version shared by Thomas Bently, IS taught in schools.
#62
Columbus had a beloved cat named Nicholas, and he actually only chose to sail with a Spanish flag because Queen Isabella famously loved cats.
Adam Jeff 2 years ago
Well, and the fact that the Spanish paid for all his ships and crew, but sure, cats
Ben Stubbs 2 years ago
Nonsense. The Genoese wouldn't pay for his trip, but the Spanish would. Nothing to do with cats
#63
Until the invention of submarine warfare, it was widely considered an abominable war crime to sink a ship and not try to save its crew. Sinking civilian shipping was completely off-limits if preparations were not made to rescue the entire civilian crew *and* transport them to safety at a port somewhere. It is still technically considered part of customary international law, but it wasn't enforced in WW1 or WW2 because both sides committed this war crime. *Tu quoque* (Latin meaning "you too") was a valid legal defense in war crimes trials. No Germans could be convicted of a war crime if they could show that the Allies had committed the same crime. An attempt was made to charge a German admiral for having a submarine attack merchant shipping and not save the drowning crew, but he was not convicted, because British and American naval forces had done the same thing.
Michael Largey 2 years ago
In the Battle of the Bulge, German commandos dressed as GIs caused chaos behind American lines. This is a death penalty offense. But after the war those Germans were saved when the Allies had to admit that they had been doing the same thing.
Alexander 2 years ago
It has long been common practice to rescue the crew of enemy sunk ships, including in Uboot Warfare and on both sides in World War II, but at some point there was a nasty incident where a German Uboot that had just surfaced to rescue an enemy crew, was spotted by an allied bomber, attacked (and I think was sunk too). When the German naval warfare command was informed of this, the admiral in charge (I think Dönitz) became so angry that he immediately banned all submarines from rescuing enemy crews on the grounds that if the Allies even attack men who try to help, they are not worth risking ones life for.
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OnAFreakingRollercoaster 2 years ago
Pandas why don't we all go out and make more wholesome history starting today💪🤗♥️
Dustin West 2 years ago
Doing nice things to/for people when they either really need it or least expect it is what it takes sometimes to make me happy. The other night I won at a casino and randomly gave each person next to me each $100. Honestly I think that made me happier then winning. Before I left I was going to play one last machine but instead gave the $20 to a person that was just watching other people play. I know for a fact that made me feel better then if I had put it in a machine. What's weird is I get embarrassed so the interactions are very brief. I don't know why giving to strangers is so embarrassing but rewarding at the same time.
OnAFreakingRollercoaster 2 years ago
Pandas why don't we all go out and make more wholesome history starting today💪🤗♥️
Dustin West 2 years ago
Doing nice things to/for people when they either really need it or least expect it is what it takes sometimes to make me happy. The other night I won at a casino and randomly gave each person next to me each $100. Honestly I think that made me happier then winning. Before I left I was going to play one last machine but instead gave the $20 to a person that was just watching other people play. I know for a fact that made me feel better then if I had put it in a machine. What's weird is I get embarrassed so the interactions are very brief. I don't know why giving to strangers is so embarrassing but rewarding at the same time.
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