Norfolk Island

2007-03-19T03:40:47Z

Autozavod: Norfolk Island, initial entry

'''Norfolk Island''' is a small populated island in the Pacific Ocean, east of Australia, NW of New Zealand. Norfolk Island has been an independent territory of Australia, but this arrangement has proven to be immensely unpopular, with the island shortly to be merged into the administration of New South Wales, as has Lord Howe Island to Norfolk's west. The island's current population averages about 20,000 people. An interesting fact is that there are only three surnames used by residents.

'''Discovery'''
Norfolk Island was discovered by the great British navigator, CAPT James Cook in 1774. Cook was impressed with the size of the native pine trees, subsequently named Norfolk Pines. Indeed, it was these pines that constituted one of the reasons for settling nearby Australia.

'''Early Years'''
In 1788 those convicts who behaved well in the New South Wales penal settlement were sent to Norfolk Island for recreational activities. Dodos thrived on the island, as did exotic tropical fish in enormous numbers in the natural hotwater springs. The people grew so prosperous that the island was know as "New Sodom". This moniker was brought about due to a reproachful letter from Govenor Phillip to the commandant of the Island, Bronny Bishop in 1790, "It pains me to think of the effort taken by His Majesty's government to settle His island of Norfolk. To contemplate, that you, dear sir, have turned a blind eye to the most debased activities in your midst. Word has reached me of the worst excesses possible, especially with letting the American Whalers have their wicked way with the young menfolk. I fear that we have a New Sodom". From this point onwards the reputation of the island fell, and it was eventually used as a prison for the remnents of the crew who mutinied on His Majesty's Bark Bounty, lead by Paul Keeting and Alexander Downer. George the Third personally visited the island in 1795 to witness the last of the mutiners being hanged by the feet over one of the island's famous hot springs.

'''Recent History'''
American troopships passing throught the area during World War II stopped off at the island, bringing enormous change. One of the most popular visits was from a unit of African-American troops, the first colored people the islanders had ever seen. The island proved popular with the troops too, with nearly 30% of the soldiers deserting the ships to the island. This lead to a massive reprisal from the local authorities, who were not used to non-whites. It is sad to recall that numerous murders took place. It was not until 1949 that all the troops were successfully repatriated to the US. Several women only hill tribes had kept the men imprisoned in the mountains as "fosta-fathers", Norfolknese for what is now known as "comfort men".
The local economy suffered during the 1950's with the decline of visiting whalers and Japanese schoolgirl tourists wishing to see the "Isle d'Sodom". In 1976 an unusual discovery was made in the local fuana, the dodo, previously thought to be extinct, was found living on one of the nearby islets. Dodos can now be seen at the Norfolk Island Bird Sanctuary. Another major form of income for the locals is the harvesting of their beards. The warm sub-tropical climate and high protein diet lead to generous beard growth, even amongst the women folk. The beards are shaved off weekly, steamed, then sent to the mainland for making into high-quality beard and headwear.

Talk:George Washington

2007-03-18T21:47:38Z

Autozavod: Slave Ownership

==Discussion on George Washington Article==

Just because something is silly, does not mean that it is not true. An encyclopedia is supposed to be about the truth and while sometimes the truth is very silly, it still is important. The canonization of George Washington, while silly, is an issue that is important to many Catholics. By deleting this section, you are not living up to your own standards (e.g. Biases of Wikipedia). You claim to be Pro-Christianity and Pro-America, yet you delete a section about one of our greatest leaders as a result of anti-Catholic bias. Shame on you, sir.

In the end, there was never a way that he ''could be'' canonized. It was proposed that he should be, but George Washington was not Catholic - as you stated in the article. If he were canonized, there would be grounds for keeping this section. Nothing came out of this topic. It ''was'' truly useless information. --[[User:David R|David R]] 23:39, 21 February 2007 (EST)

==Giving up power==

The British Empire in 1936, when Edward VIII voluntarily abdicated, giving up worldly power to marry the wife of his choice, included India, Canada, South Africa, Australia, and many other nations right around the globe - Edward was the Head of State of all of them. Washington's stepping aside after two terms as US president was trivial by comparison. --[[User:Burke|Burke]] 12:02, 4 March 2007 (EST)

:By 1936, the King was merely a figurehead. This was amply demonstrated by the events just prior to World War II. He had essential no power.

:Also, the abdication was to obtain something else that King Edward VIII wanted (marrying a woman). It was like resigning one position to accept another one. Had the British allowed him to marry the woman and remain King, he would have done so.

:Washington declined permanent rule over the United States despite being relative young and in good health. It was a pure declining of immense worldly power and the only similar example in world history was by Jesus.--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 13:29, 4 March 2007 (EST)

::Jesus didn't decline worldly power; he declined sin in the Last Temptation. Also, you're patently wrong bout the "only similar example" being history. Let's start in Rome. Diocletian abdicated from his post as senior Augustus to allow his junior Caesar to take his place. He did this for no other reason than the good of Rome; to secure the balance in the tetrarchy. Also, famously, the Roman dictator Cincinattus served as unquestioned ruler for under a year before surrendering his position and returning to his farm, earning him a place in Roman legend. Washington actually followed Cincinattus' example, as all the founders sought to emulate the Roman Republic, and British poet Lord Byron caught on. In his poem, "Ode to Napoleon Bonaparte," the poet scourges Bonaparte before hailing Washington as "the first, the last, the best, the Cincinnatus of the West." http://www.theotherpages.org/poems/2001/byron0101.html.--[[User:AmesG|AmesG]] 10:32, 8 March 2007 (EST)

==Confused==

Was he a freemason cause he had a free mason burial. Or was his wife a mason? --[[User:Will N.|Will N.]] 12:20, 4 March 2007 (EST)

: Washington was a Mason. There are paintings of him wearing some Mason regalia.--[[User:Dave3172|Dave3172]] 10:47, 8 March 2007 (EST)

== Slave Ownership ==

I find it amazing that someone so mean as to own slaves could ever be seen as a Christian. By the time of the American Revolutionary War (in itself a small side-line of a greater Franco-British War) the ownership of slaves was seen in most civilised countries as somewhere between illegal and unfashionable. Indeed, one of the points of contention between the American colonies and Britain was the ownership of slaves and their use producing goods sold at a cheaper price than goods made from non-slave labour.
Whilst it is true that Washington had his slaves released at his death, this is hardly gracious of him. To quote Voltaire "The man who leaves money to charity in his will is only giving away what no longer belongs to him"

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Norfolk Island

Talk:George Washington