------------------------------------------------------------------------ TRI Continental Film Festival - Dona Paula, Goa, Sep 28 - Oct 2, 2007
http://www.moviesgoa.org/tricontinental/tricon.htm For public viewing. Registration at The International Centre Goa. (Ph: +91-832-2452805 to 10) Online Media Partner: http://www.GOANET.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ok, I will jot down what was taught to us at school in the UK (1961 to 1966) when we arrived from Goa after Independence..... and History was drummed into us as much as doing the sign of the cross at Easter at Loyola High School 1957 to 1961..... Queen Victoria was the last Hanovarian Monarch. Her husband Prince Albert was the son of Ernst, of Saxe-Corburg & Gotha. Because HE was German & HE was not in line to be KING of England, SHE was not therefore taking his on HIS title or anchestry though both were from German stock (SHE was the grand-daughter of George III who was the first British Monarch of the Hanovarians who was actually BORN in England (also never visited his ancestral homeland though he was also a King there at the same time he was King in England). Victoria took over the reigns of Monarchy from her Uncle King William IV, but HER descent from the German line was via a different route), SHE was the last HANOVARIAN, HE was SAXE-COBOURG & GOTHA. But they were FIRST COUSINS (which in some countries is considered incentuous & illegal but in others it is not forbidden, allowing the rich to keep their loot within the family as it were).... THEIR SON (later Edward VII, also known as "Bertie" by the family), was Monarch of England for only 9 years & was also the Emperor of India etc etc, (his mother, Queen Victoria was Empress of India about mid-way through her reign) had inherited his FATHER Prince Albert's family name (as an offspring does), though Queen Victoria did not, she was the RULER, he was the consort, & not a RULER (whatever that means nowadays, but in those days it meant he had a lot of influence & was regarded as the Head of the Family - England as well as his own immediate family). But still a Prince and there to ensure he fathers as many children as possible............ The Royal Family's name was changed to Windsor on the advice of the Earl of Mountbatten (LOUIS MOUNTBATTEN) who was himself a BATTENBERG, (oh yes of where the Battenberg Cake originated), He held the post of The last Viceroy of India (Jawahalal Nehru was rumoured to have had some some assignations with his wife during the hot summer days & cooler evenings... mmm but I digress), Earl Mountbatten was named after his father, who was a Prince, LOUIS of Battenbourg, who in turn was the great grandson of Queen Victoria....). Strangely or ironically enough he was born at Windsor a year before Victoria died & some many years before the Royal Family changed ITS name to Windsor. Confused? Dont be, its all in the name (or is it game...) ............... and lots of carefully crafted marriages so they ensured there is no in-breeding! If marrying you first cousin is not in-breeding I dont know what is, perhaps at least not like the pharoahs of ancient times when they were married off to their own brothers & sisters. If I remember my recent history, the Belgian Family still retains its original name is still Saxe-Coburg & Gotha as are some other old European families. Queen Victoria was a very clever lady, (hated giving birth but this arguable as to how often ANY woman in her right mind would say she LOVED giving birth, debateable) & the sight of children around her drove her to distraction, she wanted them out of the way most of the time & ruled her family as she ruled the country, she quickly married all her offspring & grandchildren to European Royal Families! Permit me to digress a little & link up some other events. Even her grand-daughter Alexandra (returned to the german line by her mother) was married off to the then Tzar of Russia, Nicholas Romanov (we know what happened to them when they became so autocratic & irresponsible, they got over-thrown & slaughtered on the instructions of Lenin in 1917, while the King of England who was a mirror image of the Tzar REFUSED to help them exile in UK, due to the WAR & the GERMAN ancestry of the British Monarchy, a shame, after all they were COUSINS!!). Ah, history, it just repeats itself, over and over............... Anyone going to sort out Mugabe & his regime or are the other African countries "Heads of States / Presidents & Despots" too afraid of him? Or maybe the fact that he is black, its ok to demean, starve to death the whole population so he can buy more country estates & land in France, Switzerland & shakes the hands of the rich and famous, the other Heads of States, Presidents & Despots' hands at summit meetings? WHAT is LIKE to have his (battenburg?) cake AND eat it? ............ while Zimbabwe, the country he rightly took away from White Supremacy, starves to death. Unlike Marie Antoinette (yes, of German descent,), who allegedly lost her head for saying "Let Them Eat Cake" when told there was no bread for the populace. I'll bet the Zimbabweans will give anything to get Ian Smith back, maybe even Rhodes, the narcistic, bigotted racist who had the country named after him (Rhodesia), but alas you cannot turn back the clock. In lots of ways that is a GOOD thing, we dont wish to impose White Rule or any more Colonialism on non-European countries, but surely the so-called Heads of African Countries can band together to oust this mean & ghastly man (who was thought of as "the Saviour of Zimbabwe" when the whites were thrown out), this man gladly took all the hand-outs from the European nations, reserved for his people's welfare & promptly put it all in his bank accounts in Switzerland & the Cayman Islands, starved all into submission or were killed if opposed him. I am so incensed that we are unable to do SOMETHING to get rid of him, and the goverments of the world stand by & pay him interest on his bank accounts AND give him more "aid" ........... its atrocious! Now then, the other side of the coin, IF Zimbabwe had oil & George Bush (jnr) had sniffed that out............ or if TIBET had oil & if George Bush (snr) had sniffede THAT out I would bet you anything that the Chinese would not been allowed to set foot inside Tibet, nor have any of the (so-called marxist) been allowed to grow in number next door! Certainly some pressure would have been put on this lunatic so-called leader of Zimbabwe & conditions for the aid given. Now we have Mayanmar / Burma downtrodden by the rulers, even after nearly a quarter of a century of misery, they are still in power, no democracy there, no democracy in most countries if you are seeking the REAL MEANING of the word democracy.... (its been proved to be impossible to attain DEMOCRACY in its proper sense, it cant be done, but we have something close to it in "civilised" countries, wherever they are..........). My apologies to everyone who has had to put up with my digression here & there, but I think I knobbled three subjects (maybe even up to 5) in one go, I meant to stick to the Royal Family, but I guess there is a link of sorts here & there but I'll leave you to decide... And yes, I agree, Welcome on Board Gilbert (is this the same Gilbert the Great of The Sea story/tale?), books on sale now £8.99 John Monteiro Berkshire, England You mean, the Royals once weren't cobblers, surgeons or Gaitondes at one stage? Now, now, Alfred and Gabe. Why are you'll building controversy where none is due? To be fair to our own Gilbert [Saxe-Coburg Goethe], he never ever claimed any royal link, afaik. This is classical Goanet. We presume something, and then go to shoot it down. I think Gilbert is very right, and very funny. He deserves an extended welcome in making sure we stiff-collars on Goanet can lighten up a bit. Thanks, your highness! FN On 09/09/2007, Alfred de Tavares wrote: > The Hanoverians were surely "Gotha"? Hardly Goethe.. > AT
