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Post by Charles on Nov 21, 2003 4:18:52 GMT
Actually if you look closely you will see sixteen separate ends to those dangling 'hands' - although the image on the Dr. Zeus site isn't clear enough to show all of them. Furthermore, it is odd that instead of there being two bunches of eight each, there appears to be three bunches of 8, 6 and 2. It is interesting to note as Tripod pointed out, the missing V-shaped mouth. I suspect Wells was thinking about his "Man of the Year Million" more than the details of his Martians when he hurriedly sketched this one.
It originally appeared in Geoffrey West's "H.G. Wells: A Sketch for a Portrait," W.W. Norton & Co., 1930, p. 107, which actually features a special introduction written by Wells himself. The Hughes/Geduld and Stover annotated critical editions include the sketch as well.
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Post by Earthrise on Nov 22, 2003 23:12:23 GMT
Good work guys, I think the Martian oversight regarding bacteria boils down to arrogance, and another of Well's lessons. Pride can result in an over-inflated sense of your own superiority and a feeling that you are too strong to have to worry about the smallest things. Here is Well's message to a Britain at the height of her imperial power, don't be too cocky as your (our) own strength contains our downfall.
I used to wonder why Pride was a mortal sin, seemed like you should be proud of yourself, your community and your country. The Buddhists tell us that pride is an attempt to freeze time, to hold onto something beneficial; another Buddhist rule is nothing is permanent. The attempt to hold onto anything only ends in suffering. For example, holding onto the pride of your youthful endeavours will cause you suffering in your old age. The attempt to hold onto something that is not permanent requires increasingly more desperate lies and dislocation from reality. Then your downfall can come right up and bite you, as you cannot afford to look reality in the face.
Enough philosophy, the Martians thought simple bacteria so far below them that they were beneath contemplation. The West is still guilty of arrogance, Wells' call fell on deaf ears. Are the terrorists the bacteria we have ignored for so long? Is it too late?
Earthrise
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Post by Charles on Nov 23, 2003 0:36:13 GMT
You're right; terrorism is a disease in more way than one. It is truly a cancer. And cancer may or may not be linked to one's own arrogance or thoughtlessness... You know that smoking can cause lung cancer, but what do you have to do to get prostate or brain cancer?
But we don't seek to negotiate or reach agreements or understandings with cancer, only to defeat and destroy it. The same should be true for terrorists. Peace will come only through victory. That's their M.O. It should be ours, too.
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Post by Tripod on Nov 23, 2003 14:11:57 GMT
Your right! Terrorism is just like bacteria the West (sory,I must say mostly America is to busy with his power. They can never destroy terrorism you just can´t conquer them they are much to small. As you kill ther leaders the others will commit suicide assaults. America I mean the West shouldn´t stick his nose in the bussines of another. Tripod
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Post by Charles on Nov 23, 2003 16:00:37 GMT
Your right! Terrorism is just like bacteria the West (sory,I must say mostly America is to busy with his power. They can never destroy terrorism you just can´t conquer them they are much to small. As you kill ther leaders the others will commit suicide assaults. America I mean the West shouldn´t stick his nose in the bussines of another. Tripod Yeah, we should have kept our noses out of Europe's business and left the Germans in Holland. Don't be so naive.
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Post by David Faltskog on Nov 23, 2003 17:39:22 GMT
Sorry OT.
Tripod no offence but if America had'nt "got involved" during WW2,me,you and everyone else on this site would still be living under the jack-boots of Nazi tyranny. I for one am glad to have America on my side.
B-B.
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Post by Tripod on Nov 23, 2003 17:52:22 GMT
Yes, ofcourse But I'm not talking about WW2 I whas talking about their actions in the Middle-East! I don't want to bring down their country but I don't like Bush very much he's a little bit obsessed with war. My opinion. Tripod
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Post by Tripod on Nov 23, 2003 17:56:12 GMT
And about the Nasi Tiranny they would have been 'destroyd' by the Russia or Great Britan, maybe it would hat toke some longer. But the Agressor will ever be defeatet. Just like in WOTW! Tripod
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Post by Charles on Nov 23, 2003 18:14:01 GMT
And about the Nasi Tiranny they would have been 'destroyd' by the Russia or Great Britan, maybe it would hat toke some longer. But the Agressor will ever be defeatet. Just like in WOTW! Tripod Reread your history books. Russia stood no chance against the Germans - which is why they signed a non-aggression pact in the first place...winter was the most powerful thing in Russia's arsenal, and even that could have been waited out. Except that those pesky allies wouldn't leave them alone in Italy and later in Normandy. Great Britain, as much as I hate to admit it (being sentimentaly pro-England myself), would have crumbled under invasion. No matter how dedicated Captain Mainwaring and his men were. Did you know H.G. Wells was very near the top of the SD compiled list of intellectuals slated for liquidation by the SS? Go to Anne Frank's house in Amsterdam and tell them the Nazis could have been defeated if we had just 'waited them out.' Peace came only after victory.
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Post by Charles on Nov 23, 2003 18:15:48 GMT
Yes, ofcourse But I'm not talking about WW2 I whas talking about their actions in the Middle-East! I don't want to bring down their country but I don't like Bush very much he's a little bit obsessed with war. My opinion. Tripod I suppose you were equally incensed by President Clinton's war obsession and participation in Kosovo?
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Post by Tripod on Nov 23, 2003 18:22:20 GMT
The Germans just couldn't win the war it whas impossible! Hitler whas confused he whasn't strong enough to rule such a big country. Even as he wasn't trapped in his bunker by the RUSSIAN and the American forces in Berlin. He would have killed himself he whas just to weak! (The cowardly bastard!) Tripod
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Post by Tripod on Nov 23, 2003 18:28:16 GMT
We should go back to the subject instead of talking about politics and things long gone.
The world is in chaos just confes! It isn't going quit well with the worlds, is it? Wells his ideas of an Utopia are very far in the future.
Tripod
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Post by Tripod on Nov 23, 2003 19:22:45 GMT
I heard that Hitler read The War of the Worlds. I don't know if its treu but he whas born in 1889 so it could be. It would be ironic isn't it?
Tripod
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Post by David Faltskog on Nov 23, 2003 19:24:46 GMT
You started it Tripod,so don't complain wheh older and wiser heads try to explain to you that the pretty picture scenario you paint would'nt have happened.
Great Britain my homeland was on the edge of defeat by the Nazi's,without america's much needed help the uk and europe would have been f£$ked.
B-B.
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Post by Tripod on Nov 23, 2003 19:30:27 GMT
OK
Your right. But the Germans wouldn't have lastet long, thats for sure. And a World War 2 scenario without America just can't be. OK? ;D
Tripod
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Post by Charles on Nov 23, 2003 21:30:48 GMT
OK Your right. But the Germans wouldn't have lastet long, thats for sure. And a World War 2 scenario without America just can't be. OK? ;D Tripod What? Okay, how long would they have lasted? The 'World War II scenario' went on almost 2 1/2 years before America got involved. What are you talking about?
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Post by Charles on Nov 23, 2003 22:14:20 GMT
I heard that Hitler read The War of the Worlds. I don't know if its treu but he whas born in 1889 so it could be. It would be ironic isn't it? Tripod I'm currently working on a piece with a colleague, Tom Miller, in the U.K. H.G.W. Society on Hitler and sci-fi. Stay tuned. (I've written with Mr. Miller before. Our last piece celebrated the centennary of "The Land Ironclads" and was published in "The Wellsian" Nr. 26.)
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Post by Earthrise on Nov 23, 2003 22:45:24 GMT
Tripod, I agree with you that the current actions of the Superpower in the Middle East does resemble Hitler's hegemonic drive, also Britain's hegemonic drive, and Napoleon's, and Islam's, and Ghengis Khan's, and Rome's etc into history. No need to make excuses, call a spade a spade, good old fashioned imperialism. Which is why we keep breaching this subject on a War of the World's website. Last time Charles and I entered into a spirited and informed debate we got pulled back by the group and refocussed towards the Chat area, as we almost went off topic and endangered the goodwill of this site. If you guys do want to continue this debate, maybe we should resurrect the thread Rob set up in the Chat area. I've come to realise this debate can be divisive and probably better on a political forum (if you ever want to debate these topics, I can be found from time to time on our ABC website forum www.abc.net.au/news/forums/default.htmI am "Sharpie". This site has such a great camaraderie, not worth risking it over politics. Not everyone can separate the argument from the person. Earthrise, entering politics.
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Post by Charles on Nov 24, 2003 2:32:36 GMT
Its only a divisive topic if others make it so.
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Post by Bayne on Nov 25, 2003 0:30:48 GMT
[glow=red,2,300]It's easy enough though for passionate debate to become over inflamed. It does certainly have its place in relation to Wells and WOTW but I'd be happier if it had a thread or section of it's own (if at least to stop other subjects becoming sidetracked).
If enough here want to discuss it then maybe there should be a section on this forum specifically to discuss Wells's politics, his influence on history and the relevance of such to current events! How about it Rob?[/glow]
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