Asking a question of an historical figure, and what it might be?

grahamg

grahamg

Old codger
Location
South of Manchester, UK
This was raised recently, and is perhaps well covered ground, but which historical figure would you choose, if it were possible to have a conversation with them, and what question, or questions, might you ask?

The historical figures coming to my mind are luminaries from the twentieth century, (or start of the twenty first in the case of Nelson Mandela), and maybe Dr. Martin Luther King jnr would be my choice, slightly shading Mandela, possibly because I only know of him from reading some of his written statements in the last twenty years, or things others said about him, and of course his famous speeches.

What I might ask him I don't really know, and you'd be in awe of him wouldn't you, but maybe I'd ask him about where he summoned up all the courage he showed during his campaigning(?).
 

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If I could have 2-way conversation with a historical figure it would be God. Although I pray my side of the receiving end is not always clear., but perhaps implied. Imagine God conversing with you in a way you understand? What would you say or ask God if you and Him communicated?

I request God-like love and understanding of all. I don't know what I would do with awareness as this, perhaps I am too old to manage such a gift? Yeah you are probably right I'm too old and too far gone to change things now.
 
In 1937, Winston Churchill told the Palestine Royal Commission: "I do not admit for instance, that a great wrong has been done to the Red Indians of America ( that term is now known as native Americans,) or the black people of Australia, (now called, indigenous Australians,). I do not admit that a wrong has been done to these people by the fact that a stronger race, a higher-grade race, a more worldly wise race to put it that way, has come in and taken their place." Quoting that statement I would ask him how he can square the circle that he thought that Hitler's racial theories of a higher race was so wrong.
I would also ask him if he still held that view, that India should still be under British control.
 
I would ask the Hawaiian Princes who brought surfing to Santa Cruz in 1885, "No laila, he aha kou manaʻo i kā mākou nalu? Manaʻo ʻoe ke hui pū wau me ʻoe?" :cool:
 
horseless carriage said:
In 1937, Winston Churchill told the Palestine Royal Commission: "I do not admit for instance, that a great wrong has been done to the Red Indians of America ( that term is now known as native Americans,) or the black people of Australia, (now called, indigenous Australians,). I do not admit that a wrong has been done to these people by the fact that a stronger race, a higher-grade race, a more worldly wise race to put it that way, has come in and taken their place." Quoting that statement I would ask him how he can square the circle that he thought that Hitler's racial theories of a higher race was so wrong.
I would also ask him if he still held that view, that India should still be under British control.
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Before doing so would you tell him every poll in the UK after his death up until this day, has produced the result that he was thought of as the greatest man of the twentieth century, and that his biographer Roy Jenkins, a minister from another party with access to all his papers, stated he was the greatest man in modern times to walk through the door of 10 Downing street?
 
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I'd love to be with Washington when he decided not to run again for President. I was taught the same old, tired things about Washington in school, Yeah, he was the FIRST president, -big deal. Yet, when you look at the track record of "revolutions", you replace one despot with another. Washington, could have easily proclaimed himself king, or emperor. That's the way 99% of all revolutions go. But he didn't. he respected the rule of law. In effect, he gave Americans the democratic republic, the USA. Americans owe this man everything. Did he know he was doing it?
 
Mr. Ed said:
If I could have 2-way conversation with a historical figure it would be God. Although I pray my side of the receiving end is not always clear., but perhaps implied. Imagine God conversing with you in a way you understand? What would you say or ask God if you and Him communicated?
I request God-like love and understanding of all. I don't know what I would do with awareness as this, perhaps I am too old to manage such a gift? Yeah you are probably right I'm too old and too far gone to change things now.
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I suppose some might think an important aspect of their religion is a discussion of the kind you suggest, and I admit someone suggesting just that lead me to post this thread, BUT, (there's always a "but"), I can only think of things I might say to people/leaders from relatively recently! :)
 
grahamg said:
Before doing so would you tell him every poll in the UK after his death up until this day, has produced the result that he was thought of as the greatest man of the twentieth century, and that his biographer Roy Jenkins, a minister from another party with access to all his papers, stated he was the greatest man in modern times to walk through the door of 10 Downing street?
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You are missing the point. You raised the thread: Asking a question of an historical figure, and what it might be. You didn't say anything about reputation. Is Churchill beyond reproach? He is after all that complicated jumble of mixed emotions that we all possess.
 
horseless carriage said:
You are missing the point. You raised the thread: Asking a question of an historical figure, and what it might be. You didn't say anything about reputation. Is Churchill beyond reproach? He is after all that complicated jumble of mixed emotions that we all possess.
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I may be missing "A" point, (whilst making my own).
Do you imagine Churchill was ever in a position whereby he felt above reproach, his wife Clemmy told him she couldn't bear the thought his staff didn't live him, (as a way of trying to persuade him not to handle his staff too harshly at the height of WWII, for instance, something his biographer Roy Jenkins suggested wouldn't have happened so readily to the German chancellor).
I doubt btw that Churchill would have had any difficulty responding to your questions, and I doubt too that you'd have walked away thinking your questions were so smart after all.I'm riled about Churchills reputation being traduced or diminished partly because I know in our UK schools he gets described as an "able/great orator" rather than a "great man", (my own nephew forming this skewed view when making Churchill the subject of his school project).
 
Not only would I ask questions, I would work alongside the figure I have in mind, and that figure would be Frederick Law Olmsted (April 26, 1822 – August 28, 1903), Landscape Architect and primary Designer of New York Central park, in addition to many other famous parks, as well as the grounds of Biltmore Estate.

Being the staunch gardener that I am and having the deep down love for all things trees, flowers, shrubs, and garden design and layout that I do, I would be in heaven.

800px-Portrait_of_Frederick_Law_Olmsted.jpg
 
I'm interested in English medieval history especially the period of the Wars of the Roses. I would like to talk to King Richard III who is accused of murdering the Princes in the Tower to find out if he really did give the order for them to be killed.
 

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