If you had a time machine what event in history

**Lord Ovaat** · 05-16-2004, 05:40

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Simply because Isandalwana was a massacre, nothing to see there other than well documented bad military decisions by the British and ferocious force by the Zulu's. However I would love to just be in the middle of the garrison at Rorke's Drift and just see the awesome strength the Zulu's had, coupled with the tremendous courage of both sides and the sound tactics of the British. It is just a classic fight and I would like to meet the very courageous men who fought that day.

Well, Pard, I think you might be able to see some unparalleled acts of courage and heroism at Isandalwana. The Brits gave out all of the VC's to Rorke's Drift participants to help the public transfer attention away from Chelmsford's debacle. It was said that one could follow the lines of retreat by individual companies by the orderly rows of their dead. I think the one thing that always impressed me about the British rank and file, was their grit and professionalism IN SPITE of a rather lackluster performance by their officers at times. During the Colonial Period, British officers routinely underestimated their adversaries, but Tommy never seemed to. He just got the job done. Kipling's Barrackroom Ballards is my favorite book of poetry. Considering he never served, his understanding was pretty profound. Of course, the same can be said of Stephen Crane and his Red Badge of Courage. Greater courage is often exhibited during defeat than victory. Had they been laggered, they probably would have held. No real truth in the ammo box controversy; they were just caught in the open and overwhelmed. Sad. It's usually the best and bravest of any society who are the first to fall in war. So, here's to Tommy Atkins.

**JAG** · 05-16-2004, 05:50

Lord Ovaat, yes the courage displayed there was no doubt equally on show at both battles, point taken.

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]How are you going to be able to see the battle without seeing death and destruction?

I have not said that I wouldn't merely that, that is not the reasoning behind wanting to see the battle, to bring this up as some form of objection to my desires is somewhat ... Strange.

**RisingSun** · 05-16-2004, 06:41

JAG is a fan of Rorke's Drift?

Seems we have more in common than I thought. Men of Harlech, stop your dreaming...

This brings up a question- can we be harmed by flying projectiles? If so, I might want to find some place safer. If not, I'd visit humanity's greatest triumphs through history. Rorke's Drift, Thermopylae, Battle of the Bulge, Gettysburg, Yorktown, Midway, Wake Island, Waterloo, Austerlitz, Jena, Luectra, Pharsalus, Alesia, Actium, Marathon, etc.

Then I'd wander around prehistory. I always loved palaeontology.

Can we go into the future?

**Lord Ovaat** · 05-16-2004, 06:59

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Men of Harlech, stop your dreaming...

Can't you see their spear points gleaming?

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Can we go into the future?

You have a computer and an imagination. You can go anywhere you want

But since I've spent most of my life either worrying about the future or dwelling on the past, I think I'll just stay here and live for awhile. Let me know what it's like.

**Kaiser of Arabia** · 05-16-2004, 14:54

I'd bring some M-60's to Hastings and knock of william the conquerer.
I want to change history, dammit Kill the Norman Kill Kill KILL

Oops, did I say that?
-Capo

**Cazbol** · 05-17-2004, 11:53

Assuming I couldn't be harmed by anything, I'd go back 60 million years and watch the last 2 weeks before the big meteor hit and then the first 2 weeks after.

Barring that, visiting Athens at the time of Socrates and the like would probably top my list.

**Idaho** · 05-17-2004, 15:14

I'd definately go for prehistory. Check out Tanzania a million years ago or something. Or watch the Jomon people first establish settlements in Japan across the land bridge from Korea.

**Tricky Lady** · 05-17-2004, 18:21

I'd like to see the city of Tenochtitlan and witness the official welcoming of the Spanish Gods by the Aztecs.

**BDC** · 05-17-2004, 19:28

I'd like to go back and see Constantinople at its height, the library of Alexandra and the Pyramids when they were first constructed.

**RisingSun** · 05-17-2004, 23:32

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Can't you see their spear points gleaming?

See their warrior pennants streaming,
to this battlefield...

Lord Ovaat, that's why we don't let people like you go back in time. We like the past the way it is, thank you.

**nightcrawlerblue** · 05-18-2004, 00:06

Hmmm. probably the death of Christ.

If not that then some kind of great battle. Gettysburg maybe? Maybe a battle that decided something important in ancient Egypt/Rome... With an M16... And a bulletproof vest...

Imagine facing the Egyptian chariots tumbling towards you. You get out your M16 and let 'er rip Horses and soldiers fall as they try to reach you. You've allied yourself with one force and as their forces distract the main defenses you pick off every guard on the walls Your forces are victorious and you capture the castle You alone defeated half of the enemy's force.

Could be a topic for a novel...