I remember at the time of the Falklands War that odious creep Tony Benn (who was on the Argentinian side) consistently referring to the islands as Las Malvinas, rather than the Falklands. That has stuck in my mind ever since.
Yes mike, I too remember the Falklands War, and his comments too!.....it would be such a waste of the British Soldiers who gave their lives, if the Falklands were given to Argentina now!...........
Mike:
There are plenty of people who will only ever refer to the islands as 'Las Malvinas', as I did in the first post on this thread (and as I always did, at the time, when talking to people who had family members serving in the conflict).
First! I believe there is now, quite a garrison on the islands now, Army and RAF, and I believe also that there are submarines in the South Atlantic.
Some of you believe we should turn tail and give the Islands to the Argis, and turn our back on the Islanders, thank god you were not around in 1939, we'd be speaking German now.
You who believe that, are insulting our forces that gave their lives, what a despicable lot you are.
Well, 1rovert, I don't beleive that we should hand them over to Argentina at all, if the folk living there ar British and wish to remain so, then never mind the practicalities, they are human beings, and they should be allowed to live their lives as British citizens!....
I, and I suspect the overwhelming majority of English-speaking people, had never heard the term "Las Malvinas" before the conflict. It became popular amongst the latter day "Lord Haw Haws" of this country, Fortunately for them they did not suffer the same swift retribution that he did.
PS: I referred to the 'Falklands conflict' in that post simply because that's the wording that's commonly used for it. (Officially, it was never a 'war'). It was not a recognition of that name for the islands.
@ Rovert.
IMO there is no comparison between the Second World War and the conflict over a tiny island RIGHT next to Argentina that Thatcher decided we should shed blood over in order to retain IMMIGRANT status. How dare you use that "we'd be speaking German" bullsh!t over this.
Where did I mention broadcasting? I merely mentioned Lord Haw Haw (William Joyce) who was convicted after WWII for broadcasting from enemy territory in English extolling the advantages of the King's enemies. You were obviously in the same situation, but by that time we had moved on somewhat, so you were not left dangling from a rope in Wandsworth Prison.
Does that apply then, Mike, to two of the biggest war criminals of all time (who had the rights afforded to them through leadership but must surely have had the responsibilities that go with them)? I refer to Arthur Harris and Winston Churchill who, through their acceptance of the bombing of civilians, were far more guilty of war crimes than Joyce ever was (and far more deserving of the end of a rope).