British History

If someone cuts up and bleeds a vagrant drunk to death in the streets of New York, this man is said to have been murdered. If a political figure, a stinking rich businessman, a mob boss, or at least someone with enough notoriety and popularity to land him or her a public article, these people are referred to as having been assassinated. I, for one, just don't understand what sets these terms apart, other than the difference on social status.

This is what has been said on the assassination of John Lennon. Being a local British music hero, he was referred to as being assassinated due to his popularity and his appeal to the masses. He was a main foundation of rock history, a fact that would be instilled and catalogued in the history books of Britain and the world. Yet, come to think of it, he was just a normal person, trying to make his own way through his music, and was murdered by a normal man named Mark Chapman. How normal would a name that goes by Mark Chapman get? Yet, the British people regard John Lennon as a true hero of British history more than a music hero.

But there are some who regard John's murder as politically driven. There are even those who support this wild claim with evidence. With this, I present you with a few bits of the evidence I got from my internet musings via my reliable internet connection, something I just can't live without. An article I have read tells of the secret codes to be found on the magazines and the books that were written before and after John Lennon's death. This article talks about John being more of a political icon than a musician, telling of his political positioning in the issues which were being addressed by the entire country back then. It seems that former American president Richard Nixon actually tried to send John Lennon out of the country because of John's public disclosures on US politics and the Vietnam war. Personally, I think it was because of John's song that seemed to have communist inclinations! Perhaps the secret of John Lennon's death is quite intriguing as it is interesting, but let us not forget that this man has also been said to be of the same substance as Gandhi and even Jesus Christ.

This was the term used to refer to the time in music history when rock and roll performers from the United Kingdom dominated the scene. These artists and their unique brand of music became very popular across the United States, Australia, Canada, and other parts of the globe. The invasion began in the mid-1960s, marked by the appearance of The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show. I was very young to remember the days of the Beatle-mania. My father only told me that after The Beatles broke up, there were other bands that sustained the phenomenon. The British Invasion continued up to the 70s with bands like The Rolling Stones, Sex Pistols, and The Clash.

But the part of the Invasion that I was more familiar with is the era of the 80s and 90s. With the birth of MTV in 1981, British bands were easily commercialized. I remember being a teenager as I sing and dance to the tunes of bands like The Police, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, and Culture Club. The 80s was known as the New Wave era, a term referring to a developed music trend born out of punk rock movement. British artists continued to become popular in the 90s. The Britpop movement in the mid-1990s was fronted by acts like Oasis, Blur, and even the Spice Girls. In the new millennium, we saw the rise of Coldplay and James Blunt.

It is just fascinating that the fairy tales that we have learned from our forefathers are deeply rooted at the real monarchs that existed several hundreds of years ago. It was this reality that awaken my interest in knowing about the kings of Britain. I thought that it would be useful enough that I learn of their contributions in world history. However we might have forgotten them, their influences are still apparent in the present society we are living in.

I could say that one of the most memorable is William III. Yes, he was the one who came from the Orange land. Contrary to our perception of kings, William is not so good-looking. His countenance might have scared any one. Besides, he has weak resistance, and thus was always sick. History says that he had been diagnosed with chronic asthma allergy. That is not surprising, for during the 17th century, most people have impaired respiratory system. Add to that the very cold weather in UK.

What really sets apart William from his predecessors is his determination to win any battle. He was good at horseback riding, and have mastered the art of strategem. He was involved in in the fight against Imperial France. Thanks to him, tyranny was put to end. He is probably one of the most liberal kings in Britain. I wish there are many of his kind in our present government.

Margaret Thatcher was the first woman prime minister and also the longest serving Prime Minister in the 150 years of the British parliament. She served as the head of the state from 1979 to 1990 and was named by history as The Iron Lady and was well remembered by every British citizen.

Born Margaret Hilda Roberts on October 13, 1925 to a grocer shop owner Alfred Roberts and Beatrice Roberts nee Stephenson. She did very well in grammar school until she attended Somerville College in Oxford in 1944 to study chemistry. Her political career bloomed in 1950 and 1951 elections as the youngest woman Conservative candidate, and when the party won the election in 1970, she served as Secretary of State for Education and Science. She headed the Conservative party in the 1979 elections where the incumbent prime minister James Callaghan lost, and Thatcher took office.

Thatcher's had so much to do with the United Kingdom that we know today both economically and culturally. She attempted to cut back the role of the state in business, and dramatically expanded home ownership, all of which were intended to create a more entrepreneurial culture, and also aimed to cut back the welfare state and foster a more flexible labor market which she believed would create jobs and could adapt to market conditions.

I bet my life, as well as the one I got waiting for me after my death, you know either a lot or something, anything at all, about Jack the Ripper. No, he's not a character from a European fairy tale, and neither is he a mythical being from the mind of Homer. There have been numerous movies and tv programs about the man, which usually sensationalized the truth, turning him into a monster, and in the late 1800s he went by the name of Jack the Ripper.

In the late 1800s, 7 unsolved murders haunted the streets of London, and these murders were so brutal it caused panic in the ranks of the law enforcers back then. The dreaded AIDS virus was not an issue yet, but promiscuity among the people was nothing new. The victims of Jack the Ripper were all prostitutes, and he, supposing he was a man, mutilated and murdered them, leaving them out in the streets of London for all to see.

I believe Jack the Ripper was one of the first serial murderers, if not the first, to ever roam the Western world. Jack the Ripper even sent letters which taunted law enforcers back then of not being skilled enough to even know his identity, and these letters usually had attachments such as bodily ornaments from the victims. Speculations, up to this day, pointed out that Jack the Ripper was either a doctor, a woman, a man fantasizing himself to be a woman, a man of royalty, or even a supernatural being, and the case is yet to be solved, thus adding mystery to the richness of Britain's history.

Among the most celebrated groups of Samaritans is the Salvation Army. When inequities and famine ruled over Britain, concerned British women spent time and dedicated themselves in helping the needy. The Army aimed at saving lost souls. No, they were not military men. The weapon used by the Army is none other than faith.

Love your neighbor as you love yourself – this commandment has become the strictest maxim of the organization. It was founded by a Methodist named William Booth. His beloved wife, Catherine, has greatly influenced the formation of the organization. The couple strove in promoting the equality between male and female. But, at first the English Church was hostile at the activities of the organization and even called it anti-Christ.

However, the army was unstoppable and continued their mission. The organization would conduct meetings singing praises to God. They would go about searching for the deprived and extend a helping hand. Aside from saving women from brothels and stopping white slavery, they openly expressed their views against the unemployment, child labor, and forced labor. In the end, their hardship gained the sympathy of the people, and in no time they became a charity institution.

Who can ever forget England's Rose, Princess Diana? She is every bit a princess. She looked regal in everything that she did. However, the most important thing is that she has the purest of hearts. Periodicals and news coverage followed every charity event or deed that the lovely Princess Di engaged in. She could have been a very generous Queen of England, had she lived longer.

Princess Diana died when she was only 36. Her death came in the year 1997. She was with a friend, Dodi Fayed, as well as the latter's chauffeur. The three died from the fatal car accident that occurred in a Paris tunnel. Reports said that the car crash was the result of the paparazzi tailing the car that Princess Diana was riding that fateful night.

Heart surgeons did everything in their power to save "England's Rose." However, the angelic-looking princess died after she had cardiac arrest despite all that the doctors did to redeem her life. Truly, the death of Princess Diana is a great loss for the people of Britain. However, Britain struggles to maintain its status as a powerful country. Who knows? There might be future "Princess Dianas" in the making. We just have to wait and see.

I forgot the name of the stand up comic that said Britain has produced music greats while America only has Michael Bolton. He's most probably British, as you have guessed. Well, he's not entirely wrong if you may ask. Yes, the Americans had the rhythm and blues, and now, rap music. But Britain was the birthplace of rock and roll. You need proof? The Beatles is the proof. There are no arguments about that.

Who doesn't know John, Paul, George, and Ringo? If you don't, then that's probably a sign that you need to move out of the rock you are living under. John and Paul were old friends in Liverpool. They decided to make a band. And the rest was history. They are considered one of the ultimate rock legends as they are one of the first international bands to break through the world market and appeal to audience of different races. As you know, John Lennon was quoted saying that they are more popular than Jesus. It was probably true. Anyway, did you know that Paul McCartney is a lefty? He's a real musical genius to be able to play a guitar on his left hand. And that Ringo is the oldest and youngest Beatle? He was the oldest by age but the youngest, because he was the last one to join the band. There are many crazy stories about the Beatles. Whatever they are, I'm pretty sure it's one of the reasons why tourists keep coming to Britain.

Perhaps, the most famous personality that Britain has produced through the years, aside from the Beatles, would be King Arthur. The legend of King Arthur is one that is loved by people of all ages. There have been arguments and researches whether King Arthur really existed. The fact remains, though, that King Arthur's story is one that people will always love through time. There have been animations, movies, poems, and books that have been written about the man.

Among the most known stories about King Arthur was when he took out the Excalibur from a rock or anvil which made him the god's chosen one to be the King. There is also a story about King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table's quest for the Holy Grail. But perhaps the most intriguing story ever accounted about King Arthur was the love affair between his famed knight, Lancelot and his queen, Guinevere. You probably also must have heard about the wizard, Merlin, too. King Arthur's story endures up to now because of these stories that tell about his greatness, both as a ruler and as a warrior. Real or not, King Arthur will still be the story that children nowadays will tell to their children in years to come.

In Britain, every nook and cranny is symbolic. Being home to the one of the world's earliest civilization, British countries will always remind us of a history that is fraught with battles lost and won, of kingdoms that rose and fell, and of people that died and flourished through the test of time. For a while, I once thought that the British only fostered Indians because India has been once a British colony. But, in fact, Britain is one of the world's biggest melting pot of races, ethnicity and languages.

So when I happen to pick up one of those old paperback novels in which the setting was in the abbeys and cathedrals of Britain, I can't help but pick out one particular place that struck me as splendid. Although the abbey being described in the novel was purely fictional, it reminded me of Westminster Abbey. This abbey is a place where the most notable British personalities were buried, and is now one of the most-visited burial sites in London.

Westminster Abbey is still one of the most popular spots in England, often called "The House of Kings". An inspiring place indeed, with its huge courtyard (cloister), sanctuary, Poet's Corner, book shop, museum and chapel all in one sacred place. With its stained glass windows, the Westminster Abbey is also reminiscent of the by-gone Gothic era, when the trend was to decorate the churches with colorful glass design schemes etched with Gothic images.

Classic England has been the setting of numerous literary pieces. Tales that involved friendship and romances have been witnessed by the city streets of this beautiful country. The street of England also holds a great mystery involving the murder of five English prostitutes in November 1888.

Jack the Ripper is perhaps the world's most famous killer in the history. Compared to modern serial killers like Ted Bundy or John Wayne Gacy, Jack the Ripper would just seem like a perverted nutcase with nothing else to do. Why then is Jack the Ripper held as a symbol of terror? Simple, his story is the representation of whodunit. Many have tried over the years to uncover the mystery of Jack the Ripper's identity but all has failed. To this day, no one has a clue who the enigmatic murderer really is.

Britain was derived from the word "Britons," which is a Celtic tribe that inhibited the island more than 2000 years ago. Phoenician traders were the ones who gave the tribe it's name.

After the Gallic Wars, the southern part the island became a part of the Roman Empire. As the Roman Empire weakened, the area was abandoned. Without the support of the Empire, the Britons could not help but succumb to the Germanic tribes' invasion. One of the Germanic tribes were called the Angles, which incidentally is where the name "England" came from.