Been into town for a works do, had a little wander down to the merchant Navy memorial on the Pier head to find a new one there. The wording on it gave me the impression of being slightly accucusational (It might be me!) . I dont dispute the case stated at all, but find memorials that commemorate the selfless sacrifice a bit distacefull when they start gonig into injustices. A bit unBritish?? I dunno want do you think? http://www.flickr.com/photos/10089490@N06/3102751565/sizes/l/in/photostream/ Kev
I think you're right Kev. That was placed by someone with a grudge, wasn't it ? I don't think that many countries would allow it. Could a memorial be placed in Beijing reminding them that if it wasn't for the sacrifices of the British Merchant Marine, they 'd all be speaking Japanese ?
Kev, I also think that this is not what memorials are meant to be like. It appears to be more Political to me. Regards Tom
Kev I can understand why you were interested/disturbed by the English inscription, most unusual to find an inscription containing such bitterness. Ron
Could it have been a bad translation from Chinese? Just a thought, as it's not an uncommon occurrence at all.
Actually, I'm rather inclined to err to Tmm's view. Only yesterday, I followed a link to a BBC News feature somewhere and saw they were running some sort of 'Badly Translated Chinese Signs' thing. What, presumably, we'd have as 'Mind Your Step', the Chinese had translated into " Don't Fall Over ", or some such thing. To me, in my ignorance of the subject, it rather hinges on the bit about " were required to leave ". Were they required to leave? If so, by who and why? If any of that write up could be seen as a dig, I'd suspect that bit would betray it. I'd be interested to hear more on this.
I only know one person who speaks Chinese, but I have no way of contacting her to try and confirm what it really says Off topic (sort of) but Engrish.com is a collection of amusing japanese translations
Oh dear god! I saw " Japanese Translations ". Then, looking again, I saw " Engrish ". That's when I started coughing and choking with laughter!
Another thought re a possible mis-translation ?.............................. In 1971, I was production controller for a clothing factory which was part of a Multi National group. When the Industrial Relations Act became operative it was decided to hold a meeting of managers within the group so that all the factories were aware of their responsibilities within the act and used standard information notices. At the first meeting held in London the speaker asked the question "Hands up if you have notices in your unit with the content displayed in all the various languages that are spoken within the premises?" When no one appeared to be rushing to hold up their hand I smugly announced that all my notices had translations immediately below in Greek and several Indian languages. I was immediately asked "Who translated them for you?" When I admitted that the translations were done for me by a few factory workers the speaker said "The last factory I went to we had the "translations" re-translated back into English and they read something like "Take no bloody notice of all this XXXXXXXX" Just a thought Ron
Maybe this will explain things a bit more. vindicatrix,nsw Vindicatrix, NSW/ACT vindicatrix, Australia vindicatrix, nsw vindi, nsw vindi boys, - A SAD STORY FROM LIVERPOOL
More I think about it, more I think its not in keeping. the memorial is next to plaques from the Norway, Netherlands and Belguim Merchant navies, none of which go into any detail on injustices.... Kev
I would imagine that's because the men of those nations didn't suffer the same injustice as these Chinese men apparently did?
Having now read that abominable story, I see nothing what so ever wrong with the sentiments expressed on the plaque. Ah. And now I see Tmm's beaten me to it on asking if the government of the time did a Yalta on the Norwegians, Dutch and Belgians too. I wonder what other skeletons are in that closet?
Having now read that abominable story, I see nothing what so ever wrong with the sentiments expressed on the plaque. Ah. And now I see Tmm's beaten me to it on asking if the government of the time did a Yalta on the Norwegians, Dutch and Belgians too. I wonder what other skeletons are in that closet? Fair enough. maybe the other memorials need updating, something like "unarmoured civialians non combatants murdered by German U boats..." ??? Kev
I don't think that's the point. Were the Norwegien, Dutch and Belgian sailors allowed to settle in Liverpool, before being forcibly removed from their homes/families and deported? I don't know the answer to that question, but I'm guessing not.
