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pogrom

Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 9:19 am
by eberntson
pogrom (n.)

A devastation, destruction of innocent victims.


Was reading an article on Smithsonian site about how the Anglo-Saxons massacred Dane population in England in the 10th century and came across this word. The article referred to the Anglo-Saxon ruler was King Aethelred the Unraed (literally “the ill-advised”). Unraed apparently in not a English word.

Re: pogrom

Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 2:35 pm
by Perry Lassiter
Unraed is indeed usually unread in English, although historians do speak of Ethelred the Unready. I think the rhyme scheme is appealing.

Unfortunately Assad's program seems to include pograms, though Britain, at least, is unready to do something about it.

Re: pogrom

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 7:52 am
by call_copse
Once bitten, twice shy might be a useful maxim in this case - though I'd suggest it may simply reflect the thinking that it's a good idea to have a considered plan to ensure the situation is not made worse by whatever action is taken. That said the humanitarian case is clearly a lot stronger than 2003 - if the powers that be could explain why whatever they might be getting up to is a good idea then I - and I guess most UK citizens - would certainly support action.

Re: pogrom

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 8:21 pm
by Perry Lassiter
I was mostly punning. Currently there's surprising reluctance in the US among both conservatives and liberals. As you indicated, no one is sure what the outcome would be. We increasingly seem to be forced to choose between supporting a dictator or Sharia.

Re: pogrom

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 10:07 pm
by Philip Hudson
In Luke 14:31, Jesus insists that a wise leader does not go into battle without a win strategy. "Bomb them a little and they might straighten out a little bit," doesn't seem much of a win strategy.

Re: pogrom

Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 6:11 am
by call_copse
In Luke 14:31, Jesus insists that a wise leader does not go into battle without a win strategy. "Bomb them a little and they might straighten out a little bit," doesn't seem much of a win strategy.
Quite, well put sir. Whilst humanitarian grounds may be an acceptable reason to put our forces on the line, I'd personally expect a definitive objective that could be expressed in some manner, and a strategy to reach such.

Re: pogrom

Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 7:28 am
by Slava
Unraed is indeed usually unread in English, although historians do speak of Ethelred the Unready. I think the rhyme scheme is appealing.
Ethelred the Unready is a modern English name. Way back in his time, it was Æþelræd Unræd - which Wikipedia says is:
a pun meaning "Noble counsel, No counsel". The nickname has alternatively been taken adjectivally as "ill-advised", "ill-prepared", "indecisive", thus "Æthelred the ill-advised".