Category Archives: History

Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II

Posted on 2012-02-07 by Andreas Moser

Since February 1952, Elizabeth II has been the Queen of the United Kingdom and a few other Commonwealth countries, putting her into a league with other long-reigning heads of state like King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, Muammar Gaddafi in Libya or … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Politics, UK | Tagged British monarchy, Elizabeth II, monarchy, Royals | 7 Comments

Desperate Ken Livingstone invokes Hitler

Posted on 2011-08-19 by Andreas Moser

In Germany, there is an informal rule in political debate: if you have to invoke a Nazi-comparison, you have lost the argument because you have displayed that you have no serious arguments left. By these standards, Ken Livingstone, the Labour … Continue reading →

Posted in History, London, Politics, UK, World War II | Tagged Adolf Hitler, Boris Johnson, Godwin's law, Hitler, Ken Livingstone, Nazis, Winston Churchill | 8 Comments

Peace Camp at Parliament Square in London

Posted on 2011-06-18 by Andreas Moser

I wonder if the participants of the “Peace Camp” at Parliament Square in London have ever noticed the irony of protesting against all kinds of wars under the amused eyes of Winston Churchill. The “Peace Camp” is a continuous protest … Continue reading →

Posted in History, London, Military, Photography, Politics, UK | Tagged Boris Johnson, Churchill, democracy, demonstration, foreign policy, House of Commons, Houses of Parliament, irony, pacifism, parliament, Parliament Square, peace, Peace Camp, protest, protests, Sir Winston Churchill, war, Westminster, Winston Churchill | 9 Comments

Mubarak doesn’t get the point.

Posted on 2011-02-11 by Andreas Moser

President Mubarak’s speech on the evening of 10 February 2011 was not only a disappointment to Egyptians and the world, but it will be remembered as one of the worst political speeches ever. Poorly written and delivered, filled with platitudes, … Continue reading →

Posted in Egypt, History, Israel, Military, Politics | Tagged Hosni Mubarak, Mubarak | 4 Comments

Film Review: “The King’s Speech”

Posted on 2011-01-17 by Andreas Moser

The film “The King’s Speech” depicts the speech problem of King George VI (reign 1936-1952) and how he struggled to overcome his stammering with the help of Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue. Now if you think that this is a bit … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, History, UK, World War II | Tagged Churchill, Cinema, Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Hitler, movies | 7 Comments

A literary explanation of the US housing bubble.

Posted on 2011-01-11 by Andreas Moser

I am currently reading – among other books – “Parrot and Olivier in America“, a novel by Peter Carey which is based on Alexis de Tocqueville‘s travels to the early United States of America and his research for “Democracy in … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Economics, History, USA | Tagged Alexis de Tocqueville, credit crisis, debt crisis | 3 Comments

Film Review: “The Specialist” about the Eichmann Trial

Posted on 2010-12-18 by Andreas Moser

Last night, I attended a screening by the Birkbeck Law Society of the film “The Specialist” about the trial of Adolf Eichmann in an Israeli court in 1961. The film, by Israeli director Eyal Sivan, works with original footage from the … Continue reading →

Posted in German Law, Germany, History, Holocaust, Human Rights, Israel, Law, World War II | Tagged criminal law, Eichmann, Mossad, Nazis | 14 Comments

Die Pogromnacht und das Leid der Palästinenser

Posted on 2010-11-11 by Andreas Moser

Beim Gedenken an die Opfer der anti-jüdischen Pogromnacht vom 9. November 1938 konnte sich ein Redner, Alfred Grosser, die Forderung nach der Anerkennung des Leids der Palästinenser nicht verkneifen: Man könne von keinem Palästinenser verlangen, “daß er die Schrecken der Attentate versteht, … Continue reading →

Posted in Germany, History, Holocaust, Israel, Politics | Tagged Nahostkonflikt, Nazis | 74 Comments

Fireworks for Bonfire Night 2010 at Blackheath in London

Posted on 2010-11-06 by Andreas Moser

Every first week in November, all over Great Britain fireworks are lit up for “Bonfire Night” to commemorate the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. A group of English Catholics around Guy Fawkes had conspired to kill King James I and to … Continue reading →

Posted in History, London, Travel, UK | Tagged Blackheath, Bonfire Night, English history, fireworks, Gunpowder Plot, Guy Fakwes, Guy Fawkes Night | 4 Comments

Messing with Mythology

Posted on 2010-11-03 by Andreas Moser

Having no inclination for product placement, I still have to tell you what came to my mind when I was shopping for shaving equipment recently. I saw Gillette‘s “HydraGel” (pictured left) innocently sitting on the shelf, and I was just … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, History, Language, Libya | Tagged Greek mythology | 4 Comments