History Channel

[Raskolnikov]

I have a friend who’s Hungarian and fairly knowledgeble about Hungarian history and is perennially annoyed by the little attention his country gets (I have to laugh, because being of German acestory, I know getting lots of attention isn’t necessarily a good thing). But I have to agree that Hungarians have been misled by history. I’ve seen books recently about “how the Scottish built civilization,” or how the Irish saved civilization. I suppose, since the Hungarians did hold off the Huns and later the Turks for centuries, so maybe a Hungarian should try writing “How the Magyars saved Western Civilization.”

Side note: Zahi is not a fan of the alien or super advanced lost civilzation theories and is constantly accused of cover ups by those that advance them…not surprising he is not on their shows.

I remember watching an episode of Chasing Mummies where on of Zahi’s “fellows,” while gazing in awe with him at some heiroglyphics in a pyramid, says something like “it’s amazing to think that aliens might have done all this” and Zahi just flipped out. I think the best parts of that show were Hawass’s rants, always amusing.

 

[puzzleannie]

Does anyone else here think that the History Channel has been going down hill recently? el?

recently? I don’t think the history channel, or A&E, or bio or any other channels in that group were ever out of the dumps. The rare times HC airs a program that does deal with history (as opposed to fantasies loosely based on the bible or pagan myths) they get it wrong, or it is a series filmed years ago. So it is probably best they stay away from history. And what is the fascination with Hitler and the occult? Bio focuses on life stories of young media stars I never heard of, rarely any historic personage, and even when they do they focus on the dirt, real or imagined. When is the last time A & E aired anything that dealt with the arts or was the least bit entertaining?

 

[Tenebrae]

Lately, it seems like they’re fixated on Nostradamus and the end of the world. And then at Easter or Christmas we get the spurious documentaries about Jesus.

 

[MontChevalier]

I agree with all of you the History Channel is going down the tubes. The past couple seasons of reality shows,Nostradamus,aliens, etc. are just so much junk. I like the suggestion someone had about showing something on countries like Poland, heck why not histories of all of Eastern Europe? It would be so interesting, I am Hungarian so I would be interested in hearing more about the Magyars. They did some good stuff on American history years ago but there is so much more they could do there too.Really, so much interesting stuff they could do but they had to jump on the reality show bandwagon, since when are ice road truckers history? And where do they get these phonies they use to back stuff up? As far as their religous slant I just stay away from it because all they want to do is bash the Church. Maybe if ratings go down, and I think they would have to be with the junk they have on now, they might wake up, But I won`t hold my breath.Too bad cause at one time it was one of my favorite channels.

Well, since that whole 9/11 incident, people across the world have been too afraid to even mention Islam without fear of having to insult someone; or whatever second or third person party feels “offended” because the content of the program was “unsuitable”. The issue with East Europe is that, eventually, they’d have to mention a most important battle for Christians everywhere. The Battle of Vienna, where every catholic available put their own lives on the line to defend European freedom, while battling the Protestants, Anglicans and God-knows-who-else. It’s truly inspiring how the pope just desperately tried to get Europe to unite, but only people like Spain, Portugal, Italy and Poland (I think Austria too), united for the good fight.

But don’t fret, there was a special on Vlad the Impaler some time ago!

 

[Fluffyfox]

Does anyone else here think that the History Channel has been going down hill recently? Personally, I don’t particularly enjoy these new reality shows like Ice Road Truckers and Axemen. I don’t really mind Pawn Stars i guess.

A greater source of concern to me, however, is that among the documentaries they do show, the topics are becoming increasingly bizarre. A majority of them seem to be about aliens; aliens building the pyramids, aliens building the Statue of Liberty (no wait, that was the Illuminati); when they’re not about aliens, they’re about the Knights Templar and the Freemasons ruling the world. It seems like so many of these shows are pandering to conspiracy theorists. And many of the “experts” they get to come on the shows to are controversial to say the least; many are well-known pseudo-historians. I will say to their credit, they did recently do one show which systematically debunked all the 9/11 conspiracy theories. But I think this was an outlier.

I know people were getting tired of all the WW2 stuff on before, but they’ve occasionally managed to make good programs on a whole variety of valid subjects, like the barbarian invasions, the black death; they recently made a good one on the history of Russia. Why they’re going the aliens and freemasons route I have no idea. Many of those programs are not only not educational, they’re actually rather misleading.

So does anyone else have any thoughts on the recent developments of the History Channel?

I don’t like them either,before they covered stuff like Renaissance history,but not anymore.

I like the Renaissance and listen to Renaissance music.

 

[kitkatty]

Well, since that whole 9/11 incident, people across the world have been too afraid to even mention Islam without fear of having to insult someone; or whatever second or third person party feels “offended” because the content of the program was “unsuitable”. The issue with East Europe is that, eventually, they’d have to mention a most important battle for Christians everywhere. The Battle of Vienna, where every catholic available put their own lives on the line to defend European freedom, while battling the Protestants, Anglicans and God-knows-who-else. It’s truly inspiring how the pope just desperately tried to get Europe to unite, but only people like Spain, Portugal, Italy and Poland (I think Austria too), united for the good fight.

But don’t fret, there was a special on Vlad the Impaler some time ago!

Well if they are so scared to tell true history then they better quit calling themselves the History Channel.

 

[JackVk]

Pawn Stars is an excellent show. Someone comes in with an original Van Gogh, and Rick gives him 5 bucks for it

 

[MontChevalier]

Well if they are so scared to tell true history then they better quit calling themselves the History Channel.

As a matter a fact, there are many more reasons than fear as to why they refuse to do it.
Money being one of the more universal.

Imagine if History Channel was to one day side with Catholicism on everything; even the bad things. There’d be riots, and craziness going on in many places, especially the US (A majorly Protestant nation). Companies owned by Jews would smack history channel down to near bankruptcy for “antisemetism”, Muslims would do what Muslims are currently known for (more riots and chaos). Ultimately, History Channel is nothing more than a political channel being used for propagandic services. (This may all very well be exaggeration, but people are always unpredictable)

It’s becoming clear, in my opinion, that the USA hates Catholicism, aswell as many other parts of the world.

One way or the way, these corporate types will find a hundred excuses not to do anything. It doesn’t mean we can’t expect them to change, since the whole objective of Christianity as a whole; this includes Catholicism by the way, is to give second chances.

We do what we do best and pray they’ll wise up and start doing some actual History Channeling.

-MontChevalier

 

[freethinker83]

I agree with many other posters; this is something I have been saying to friends for years! I miss the variety of historical documentaries that used to be broadcast.

I do like “Pawn Stars” but I don’t feel it belongs on the History Channel. I think it is more suited to A & E or TLC.

I do enjoy the National Geographic Channel. They have been airing some good history documentaries from time to time, and they don’t tend to rerun the same stuff all the time. They recently had an interesting min-series on ancient Roman culture. Last night I caught a pretty good special examining the medical problems of Henry VIII. I had no idea he was fit and athletic in his younger years!

Does anyone else watch Nat Geo?

 

[livnlern]

Well, since that whole 9/11 incident, people across the world have been too afraid to even mention Islam without fear of having to insult someone; or whatever second or third person party feels “offended” because the content of the program was “unsuitable”. The issue with East Europe is that, eventually, they’d have to mention a most important battle for Christians everywhere. The Battle of Vienna, where every catholic available put their own lives on the line to defend European freedom, while battling the Protestants, Anglicans and God-knows-who-else. It’s truly inspiring how the pope just desperately tried to get Europe to unite, but only people like Spain, Portugal, Italy and Poland (I think Austria too), united for the good fight.

But don’t fret, there was a special on Vlad the Impaler some time ago!

I’ve read about the Battle of Vienna. Wasn’t Jan Sobieski a great hero in that fight? And yet, how many people have even heard of him or of the battle itself? But that would involve delving into Western Civilization, not a politically correct topic these days. There are so many topics that would be fascinating to have on HC: Byzantium, Irish monks, Gaul under the Romans, China, Eastern Europe, etc.
I’m also bored by Ice Road Truckers and Axemen. The colored versions of WWII documentaries were quite interesting to me and made it all seem very current. The soldiers young faces were more real in color instead of in the old grainy black and white movies that seemed so distant.
But I agree, the History Channel needs a makeover.

 

[happymommy]

Pawn Stars is an excellent show. Someone comes in with an original Van Gogh, and Rick gives him 5 bucks for it

And don’t forget about American Pickers! They find some neat stuff, and some strange people, on their trips!

 

[MontChevalier]

I’ve read about the Battle of Vienna. Wasn’t Jan Sobieski a great hero in that fight? And yet, how many people have even heard of him or of the battle itself? But that would involve delving into Western Civilization, not a politically correct topic these days. There are so many topics that would be fascinating to have on HC: Byzantium, Irish monks, Gaul under the Romans, China, Eastern Europe, etc.
I’m also bored by Ice Road Truckers and Axemen. The colored versions of WWII documentaries were quite interesting to me and made it all seem very current. The soldiers young faces were more real in color instead of in the old grainy black and white movies that seemed so distant.
But I agree, the History Channel needs a makeover.

You know something I’ve noticed about the Battle of Vienna. It looks very similar to that Battle from Lord of the Rings in Return of the King. The big one at the end? With the horses of Rohan and such?

Someone please clarify.

Thanks.

-MontChevalier

 

[livnlern]

Am not sure if this is like the Lord of the Rings, but here’s a good link to explain the Battle of Vienna and its importance in Catholic history:
youtube.com/watch?v=aL0GieO5Rj8&feature=related
Sobieski was a great hero in the fight to save Christian Europe from the Muslims. At the end he paraphrased Julius Caesar, but changed it to say, “I came, I saw, God conquered”. I think most people are unaware (at least in the US) of what a threat the Muslims were at that time and how close they came to sweeping through Europe.

 

[Raskolnikov]

Am not sure if this is like the Lord of the Rings, but here’s a good link to explain the Battle of Vienna and its importance in Catholic history:
youtube.com/watch?v=aL0GieO5Rj8&feature=related
Sobieski was a great hero in the fight to save Christian Europe from the Muslims. At the end he paraphrased Julius Caesar, but changed it to say, “I came, I saw, God conquered”. I think most people are unaware (at least in the US) of what a threat the Muslims were at that time and how close they came to sweeping through Europe.

Another interesting and quite important event in the rivalry between West and East was the Battle of Lepanto in 1570. It was a naval battle in which a coalition of western countries crippled the Turksih navy. The author of a book I’ve been wanting to read (titled ‘Lepanto’) marked this the turning point at which western civilization finally began to surpass Islamic civilization. It was especially humiliating since it was the Arabs who’d invented the astrolabe and mastered seafaring and come to dominate the Mediterranean centuries ago, losing in a naval battle to the “Frankish barbarians.”

On the other hand Muslims (and particularly Kurds) have Saladin to be proud of. I think I saw the HC show on the Third Crusade, and the relationship between Saladin and Richard the Lionheart was pretty amusing, perhaps best described as friendly animosity. When Richard fell ill, Saladin offered his personal physician to help cure him, and when Richard’s horse died in battle, Saladin sent him a new one. A peculiar interpretation of the phrase ‘love your enemy.’

Another interesting but practically forgotten war was the Thirty Years War. That one, of course, could arouse some soreness between Protestants and Catholics.

 

[MontChevalier]

Another interesting and quite important event in the rivalry between West and East was the Battle of Lepanto in 1570. It was a naval battle in which a coalition of western countries crippled the Turksih navy. The author of a book I’ve been wanting to read (titled ‘Lepanto’) marked this the turning point at which western civilization finally began to surpass Islamic civilization. It was especially humiliating since it was the Arabs who’d invented the astrolabe and mastered seafaring and come to dominate the Mediterranean centuries ago, losing in a naval battle to the “Frankish barbarians.”

On the other hand Muslims (and particularly Kurds) have Saladin to be proud of. I think I saw the HC show on the Third Crusade, and the relationship between Saladin and Richard the Lionheart was pretty amusing, perhaps best described as friendly animosity. When Richard fell ill, Saladin offered his personal physician to help cure him, and when Richard’s horse died in battle, Saladin sent him a new one. A peculiar interpretation of the phrase ‘love your enemy.’

Another interesting but practically forgotten war was the Thirty Years War. That one, of course, could arouse some soreness between Protestants and Catholics.

I know what book you’re talking about. My problem is that I have to get it on Amazon.com. Which sucks, cause I don’t have an account, nor an ATM card to do so.

Oh, I should look into that Thirty Years war when I can. Didn’t know it was between Christians and Catholics though.

 

[Young_Thinker]

I sometimes enjoy it when History turns into The Hitler Channel… Of course he was a horrible person, but I just find him interesting.

I recently watched a documentary on that channel called “High Hitler.” His doctor was basically a quack and was constantly giving him narcotics and weird concoctions. The Fuehrer also seems to have had both syphilis and Parkinson’s disease. I felt so sorry for him.

 

[Raskolnikov]

I recently watched a documentary on that channel called “High Hitler.” His doctor was basically a quack and was constantly giving him narcotics and weird concoctions. The Fuehrer also seems to have had both syphilis and Parkinson’s disease. I felt so sorry for him.

I saw part of that too. Dr. Morell, I believe was the guy’s name. Not surprisingly, he was kind of nuts. None of the other Nazis liked him because he didn’t bathe and smelled horrible, and because he was a quack. I heard that Albert Speer, the Reich’s top architect, was perscribed something to ingest intenstinal bacteria by him, but another doctor told Speer that that was nonsense, and treated him effectively. Speer never told anyone about the other doctor for fear of offending Hitler (who for some reason liked Morell), so everyone assumed it was Morell’s genius that cured him, lending undeserved credibility to the lunatic.

According to the documentary, perhaps the craziest thing the doctor prescribed Hitler was ‘feces of a Bulgarian peasant,’ though I have yet to verify this fact by another source.

Oh, I should look into that Thirty Years war when I can. Didn’t know it was between Christians and Catholics though.

The book I read was The Thirty Years War, (imaginatively named) by C.V. Wedgwood, which I thought was pretty good. The war was quite complicated. Generally categorized as one of the “religious wars” of Europe, the Protestant vs. Catholic element nis only part of it. It was also about the rivalry between between the French Bourben dynasty and the German (and Spanish) Habsburgs, both of which were Catholic. Oddly enough, I think the Pope sided with the Protestants (and France) because he too feared the Habsburgs. ANd one nice thing about Wedgwood’s account is that she describes the personalities of the people involved really well. I’d recommend it.

I actually only got an amazon account this year. I’ve always been hesitant to buy anything online because, unlike most people my age, I have a great distrust of the internet. Nowadays, however, I’m often practically battling an online book shopping addiction. There’re so many I want.

 

[Young_Thinker]

I saw part of that too. Dr. Morell, I believe was the guy’s name. Not surprisingly, he was kind of nuts. None of the other Nazis liked him because he didn’t bathe and smelled horrible, and because he was a quack. I heard that Albert Speer, the Reich’s top architect, was perscribed something to ingest intenstinal bacteria by him, but another doctor told Speer that that was nonsense, and treated him effectively. Speer never told anyone about the other doctor for fear of offending Hitler (who for some reason liked Morell), so everyone assumed it was Morell’s genius that cured him, lending undeserved credibility to the lunatic.

According to the documentary, perhaps the craziest thing the doctor prescribed Hitler was ‘feces of a Bulgarian peasant,’ though I have yet to verify this fact by another source.

Yes, it was very interesting (and I wonder how Dr. Morell obtained that particular exotic “medicine”). As for Speer, it is fortunate that he gained a second opinion.

 

[MontChevalier]

I have an idea.

Is it possible to write to history channel about their uninteresting programs?
Perhaps we might be able to persuade them that there are other places in the world where history is quite lacking; and far more entertaining than the same old and monotonous WWII stuff. I mean, we’ve seen like what? Seven different kinds of things on WWII?

Enough is enough, right?

Lemme hear some opnions.

-MontChevalier

 

[OrdinaryMelkite]

I used to watch History a lot back in my New Age days. They had a lot of Da Vinci Code-related material and (of course) Nostradamus-related material.

Now they’ve upped the Ante to Ancient Aliens Programming.

Needless to say, I do not watch History Much Anymore.

Another thing----when History does anything Church-related, they do it in BROADEST Possible Way and with an eye to the “Secret” and “Reform” sensibilities Of Some Viewers.

No Orthodox or “Mainstream” views allowed.