Be very proud to be British Because...

[Parinor]

Eh i just typed it into good and got wy too many different things...what is it?

[Silentus]

Heres an excerpt from NPR: (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4123120)
"On Oct. 25, 1854, during the Battle of Balaclava, the British army suffered staggering losses that were quickly etched in history -- and myth. School children who have never heard of the Crimean War remember the Charge of the Light Brigade.

NPR marks the 150th anniversary of the event, memorialized in Alfred, Lord Tennyson's famous poem. Tennyson, the British poet laureate at the time, described the battleground as "the Valley of Death."

But however brave it may have been, the charge was a military mistake. Following the wrong orders, a light cavalry brigade of 600 to 700 men attacked enemy forces despite being surrounded on three sides by heavy Russian artillery. In seven minutes, 110 men died." <added by Silentus: The number of killed and injured varies greatly but it was a slaughter none the less>

So whats the value of this? Those guys were bravely followed incorrect orders that were mangled due in part to personal squablings of their commanders. Keep in mind that 110 dead in 7 minutes doesnt sound like much in todays age of automatic weapons, but this was 1854 and was not a movie - in other words, a whole different ball game. This was guys on horses (with swords and maybe pistols) vs howitzers.... Kinda like Pedestrian vs Bus if you take my meaning.

Heres a detailed account of the battle if you really care
www.rickard.karoo.net/articles/battles_lightbrigade.html

[Misty512]

The Charge of the Light Brigade...one of many examples of why there WAS a British Empire.
That spirit no longer lives in Great Britain anymore. Its spiritual succesor...The good ol' US of A. Slam me all you wish, but its my view.
(Clarification : Of course the USA cannot be quite so cavalier in its umm..."conquests" in the modern world, but the strength of purpose exists nonetheless.)

[taylor]

another truely good reason to be british only in england such a great band came out known as....;

IRON MAIDEN

[Silentus]

Up the Iron!

[Barfly]

Hehe.... good old Iron Maiden.
Strangely enough I seem to be the only one who thinks that the first Maiden albums ("Iron Maiden" & "Killers") are the best.

[taylor]

heh knew id get that response, and hey all their albums are great, if you really think so much more of the first albums get the early days part 1 dvd sweet live concerts, including live at the Rainbow! another great place in britain lol

[Silentus]

I dunno, I mean the first coulpe were darker but Bruce's vocals are just plain superior to that first guy. Doens't really matter much anyway - that is a concert band if ever there was one. Even if you dont like metal, a Maiden show is something to behold. I've seen them 2ce and will again happily any time they are within 200 miles - unfortunatly a bunch of US twinks have pissed them off and thier attendance here has never been as big as some places so I might not get to