Subject: English language - discussions

Hitler's grandmother was Jewish! Add that to the amazing facts.

He also used his grandparents graves for howitzer practice, if legend is to be believed.

He was a sick puppy there is no mistaking that.

@ everyone:

As a student of history I simply cannot keep my mouth shut. So please forgive me for adding my bit.

In terms of military casualties, that is, soldiers (in the broadest sense of the word) who died in the war, Russia contributed by far the most. (Which is in no small part due to the way the Russians fought, but even if you do take that into account, the numbers are staggering.) In terms of killing, Russia also did by far the most. (Even if they needed an exceptional winter for it.) Yet my take on it is that it's way too easy to say the Russians won the war. The UK probably ensured the Allies didn't lose the war. The most crucial bit of fighting was therefore done by the British. This couldn't have been done without the involvement of the USA, however it must be noted that an incredible amount of private US capital did go to germany, even as late as 1944. Yet capital isn't the same as ready made equipment. I'm sure you understand by now what I'm getting at: this was a team effort. A very rough team effort at that, much mistrust and competition between the allies ensured it never was anything close to efficient, but eventually it was enough.

@ Borkos: A lot of your article smells very much of nationalistic bull crap. I don't know enough to point to specific untruths, but the general feeling I get is not a good one. Furthermore, the Polish participation in the Shoah is something also not very widely known, but still very much a fact. I would advise caution on that part.

Furthermore, the Polish participation in the Shoah is something also not very widely known, but still very much a fact.

Are you serious? What kind of participation? From what I know, most Polish people were trying to hide the Jews before the Germans, even though it was punished by death sentences by the Germans.

As for nationalistic...well I'm not sure it's true, I based on books written by non-Polish authors, the one and only Polish one is a book which is mostly about the statistics and squadron specifications :)

That is not correct mate but it is also not the opposite.
There are many reports and historical perspectives indicating VERY different angles to this. However, this thread about the beatiful English language has been hijacked enough and could really do without anyone delving into the assessment of Polish participation in the Shoah during WWII.

Since we are discussing the English language, I thought of another subject - the American omission of the second part of two word common phrases. For example:
'Pissed off' - has turned into simply 'pissed' - That insurance rep turned up for work totally pissed! :)
'Passed away' - turned into passed - Mr.X passed right in front of the hospital yesterday, what irony. :o

That is not correct mate but it is also not the opposite.

I know they there were certain individuals who terrorized Jews in order to get their money, or some who were telling the Germans where the Jews were hiding, but still I think that the PL society did, in general, ok...as far as I know, though I'd like to hear other opinion, maybe some facts are just not well known in Poland. I never studied this subject so my knowledge about it is pretty shallow.

If it's possible, we can continue this topic on sk-mail..:)

You've got mail.

@RogIronfist: with all due respect: I've an enormous amount of research in this particular subject. Yes, there are a lot of different views, but facts don't lie. (The Germans didn't succeed in destroying all of the evidence.) The number of people actually working in or for the death camps for instance isn't something you can 'explain away'. Furthermore, the genocide was a widely known fact. There is no country on the continent with a 'great' record. Police forces massively collaborated everywhere. Poland wasn't an exception by any means. It's also something you have to see in perspective. Right and wrong isn't easy in a war as complicated as WW II. For us it's 'clear' the germans were the bad boys. For a lot of people the Russians were worse. I'm sure you get the picture. It's sickening, but sometimes nearly understandable.

I do agree however on not going any further off topic. I'm more than happy to continue this discussion by mail. If you want I'll go and dig up my bibliographies, although I must say that I eventually focussed on the persecution of - or the lack thereof - homosexuals.

@ Borkos: A lot of your article smells very much of nationalistic bull crap

This thread is here as far as I can see to help people who speak English as their second language correct their English. The content of the articles is pretty much irrelevant.
(edited)

Maybe you should look further? One thing doesn't necessarily exclude another. Furthermore, Borkos brought it up as an issue himself in his reply at wdp. I gave an honest review of it. Whether or not he wants to do anything with it is completely up to him. The dear knows I've ignored a lot of criticism on my own pieces. Then again, I've also used a lot to my benefit. Writing is more than just getting the grammar right.

Maria Anna Schicklgruber....His Grandmother was Catholic what is known about her is based on church and other public records.....It also states she worked for a Jewish family.

Writing is more than just getting the grammar right.

Writing is, but the question was "can you correct my grammar", not "can you write this for me ?"

Ok, now another question from me:

hackneyed - is it a BrE word, or UsE?

BrE

maybe it's both

Thanks guys, one more question :)

Is it possible to say:

I was smitten with his diligence.

...or does smitten come only when one talks about the electric current?