Neville Chamberlain’s handing the Sudetenland to Hitler.
“Oh, he’ll be fine once he has this little patch of land.”
Boy, it would have been ironic if he had died in the Blitz.
Nah. The Sox had already choked by that point by allowing the Mets to tie the game. They would’ve had very little chance even had BB made the play.
Maybe not the biggest, but the majority ruling in Gore v. Bush deserves mention. Regardless of your political views, the legal gaffes and semi-truck-sized loopholes in that thing should have gotten Scalia et al laughed out of the courtroom.
“Hey, I’m suddenly in favor of the equal protection clause, even though I was opposed to its use in the previous three thousand other cases that came before the court! But maybe I’ll change my mind again after this ruling is over…”
When Mr. Hitler said to Mrs. Hitler, “Let’s go upstairs, honey, I’m feeling saucy tonight.”
Eating the apple.
I’m not sure of the date, or who the emperor was, but China turned inwards on herself and withdrew funding from ship building and exploration, just as the Spanish, Portuguese, and others were doing the exact opposite.
Nah. His biggest mistake was keeping Colonel Klink in command.
Actually, he should have given up politics and concentrated on his writing. “Boy, that Mein Kampf sold like weinerschnitzel, for something I dashed off in the klink! I wonder…if I really got serious about writing…”
See Norman Spinrad’s The Iron Dream for a fairly good work on this premise.
;j
my parents desiding that they wanted more children after me.
Haha! You fool! I switched goblets with you when your back was turned! …
I kind of like the idea that the Big Bang was somebody else’s biggest, and last, mistake.
When the idea is bogus to begin with, sure.
Marc
The idea was hardly “bogus”. But I guess it’s natural for those who support an established system be to automatically against alternative, new ideas.
Being against exploitation! The HORROR! God forbid ANYONE should EVER support ANYTHING other than what’s generally believed.
And before anyone starts shooting their mouth off about the Soviet Union, Cuba and China, do bear in mind that I don’t support such regiemes. But, given that nearly every single democratically elected SOCIALIST or reformist was overthrown with ease and replaced with Capitalist dictatorships, it’s hard NOT to be authoritarian.
Mistake? Of course. But the only other option was to be infiltrated and overthrown from within by much more POWERFUL and wealthy enemies.
There was a lot wrong with Communism and I’m no fan of Soviet Communism, Maoism or Castroism. But don’t assume for a second that makes me a supporter of Capitalism. Gee, isn’t that irritating to the “with us or against us” high school mentality on BOTH SIDES!
As for mistakes, most of them have already been mentioned.
Marxist analysis contains an excellent and accurate indictment of the shortcomings of capitalist economies of his day, many of which are applicable to modern capitalist social systems.
That doesn’t lend Marxist theory one wooden nickel’s worth of credibility.
The John Birch Society once put out a pamphlet or brochure titled None Dare Call it Conspiracy, which contained a very clear and incisive critique of the traditional notions of the political “right” and the political “left”. My dismissal of the John Birchers as a bunch of nuts does not in any way mean that this little political analysis is not accurate and valid.
[/hijack participation]
Yo, Zebra! –
Mind explaining that one a bit further? I’m feeling a bit wooshed here…
Whatsa matter? You never seen 2001 before? You know with the monoliths? Jeeze you kids today!
**
REVELATION!! I suddenly understand why you “question” those who would spend a large amount of money on a meal.
Marc
Hmm, ok, so you sorta support Communism and hate Capitalism? What exactly do you believe? If you have a better answer than Capitalism I’d love to hear it (And I mean that). Something that works in the real world, not theory.
Communism works in theory, if and it is a huge if, everyone agrees and works hard. Since reality doesn’t work that way the only way for Communism to work is through the power of the gun. And, as history shows, that will only work for so long. At the same time the US, as far as I know, has the longest form of government in the world.
And, please describe what you mean by “Capitalist dictatorships”. If you mean the US I’d like you to go to true dictatorships and question their policies. I wonder how long you would last. Best guess, not long.
Slee
Actually, in all seriousness, this is a pretty good candidate for biggest mistake. I’m changing my vote.
I saw a show some years ago on this subject. One of them in particular stuck out. In 1917 (I think) a British Sniper had a German corporal in his sights. He was ready to shoot but didn’t because he saw he was injured. It was Adolf Hitler in his sights.
As a side, when Hitler came to power in 33, one of the things he did was send that sniper a thank-you and I believe some sort of friendship medal or something…
I’ve gotta say: The biggest mistake in history (and the US is still suffering from it) is the failure of our European forefathers to *utterly exterminate * the Puritans and their ilk rather than sending them to the New World. From my own point of view, so much time, money, and human effort could be better spent in the good ol’ US of A if only there was a complete absense of fundies.
When I become President, I’m gonna severely chastise Europe for the lapse of it’s preceeding generations by sending Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Ernest Angley (well, maybe not Ernie, he’s entertaining) and their “flocks” over there permanently! 