Re: Multilingual conversion - Ideas ?

Rick Smith wrote: 
"James J. Gavan" <jgavandeletethis@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:jP7hf.594171$tl2.399169@xxxxxxxxxxx

Howard Brazee wrote: 

[snip]

A.D. or B.C. ??? 

As Richard might write if he was based in Israel, "Please do keep up -
it's BCE". Not quite sure what they do with 'AD'.



Jimmy, since you apparently like hints,
instead of answers. B.C.E. means
before Common Era.

And, AFAIK, it is not directly related
to Israel.

C'mon Rick I KNEW what the BCE stood for :-). Do they have a substitute for AD or just ignore Anno Domini altogether.

I suggested Israel because that's the only place I've heard/seen it used. Probably got the name spelling wrong but Eban Eban a S. African who was one of their respected politicians, at one time Foreign Minister I believe - He did a series on the Israelites, or rather (AD), the Jews and their involvement with the Islamic conquest of N. Africa leading into Spain. They weren't warriors but scientists and philosophers who contributed to the Islamic culture. Date-wise he consistently used the term BCE where references applied.

Second, more recently, on another channel, a N. American Jew, who is into history and archeology, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, covers biblical events quizzing light-heartedly experts in their field in Israel, plus of course footage of sites being talked about. Just don't remember the program's title. But again he pointedly uses BCE.

Bearing in mind Jews had to be very circumspect about Christ way back to the time of at least Richard I (Lion Heart). Ever read Sir Walter Scott's "Ivanhoe". Movie version, the then young and glorious Elizabeth Taylor, with those incredibly blue eyes, played the Jewish heroine Rebbecca, up against her namesake, Robert Taylor playing Ivanhoe. The thinking in Christianity at the time was that money ending was sinful. Well the idea didn't hurt new Jewish arrivals any, and naturally they did expect back an interest rate. So they became the banks for the noble knights who wanted to shoot off and do their thing in the two Crusades.

The Jewish merchants, frugal in their trade, accumulated some wealth.
Overtime of course, some became very wealthy - but not all. Think of the Jewish communities working hard at farming during the days of Imperial Russia - "Fiddler on the Roof", Barbra Streisand and 'Yentl'. (Nope - don't have all these tucked up my sleeve - remembered Babs and had to go googling to get the movie and correct spelling)

Over time the Christians throughout Europe became resentful of these intruders who didn't worship Christ. That far back were the seeds of anti-Semitism sown. And we all know where that tragically led to - and just as you say on your Veterans' Day or our 'British group' Remembrance Day, "Lest we forget.....".

Now it's almost like they, the modern Israelites, are saying, "Serve you bastards right for imposing Dachau, Auschwitz etc., on us as a people. We'll getcha - it's BCE from now on. Keep your Jesus, even though the man was one of us".

Jimmy
.