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Comment by sudosysgen | Hacker News Reader

What do you mean? The MP was talking about past achievements, saying that the history of the UK was enlightened by freedom. There is not even an argument about what you're talking about, because they actually are referring to historic achievements.

It's not as interesting to talk about present achievements because the UK is clearly in decline. That's why this politician was identifying their ideology with the glorious past and romanticizing it.

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So there is literally no positives from UK's history?

Any positives are negated by past malevolent actions?

I'm sure there are positives, but the UK's history is clearly not about freedom. The UK's history is subjugating a massive amount of people. So claiming that the UK has its historic achievements because of freedom is just blatant revisionism. You could definitely find some good things though.

That's fair. I need to brush up on it's history.

Thanks for your comments!

EDIT: Upon some cursory research I still am not sure I can agree with your assessment.

[1] Bill of Rights : 1689

[2] United Kingdom : 1707

[3] Civil Liberties in UK : (various dates)

[4] Magna Carta : 1215

[5] Parliamentary Privilege

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_of_Rights_1689

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom#Kingdom_of_Grea...

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_liberties_in_the_United_...

[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Carta

[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliamentary_privilege

All of these things only applied to (part of) the population in Britain. Colonial subjects of the UK had none of these rights in practice, except for settlers.

It seems gray to me. I will concede my perspective.

There is no history of the UK being enlightened by freedom.

;)

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