Topics

121

Forum Announcements / Welcome new Users (& advice for everyone too!)

« on: August 18, 2004, 12:44:58 PM »

I have begun to notice that many questions already asked and answered are starting to appear again.  Let me remind you that at the top of the screen is a "Search" function, and I suggest you use it to see if your question has been asked.  With over 1000 topics and 16,000 postings, there is already a lot of ground covered!

Alternatively, look at the bottom of each section and you will see that many sections now have fifteen or more pages of topics, and for newer users, go back through and see the older topics.

Also, sometimes people are just posting questions wherever they happen to be at the time, so PLEASE, when posting a new question or topic, make sure that it is in the right section.  As an example, if you want to know about a book about Nicholas II, the "Imperial Family" section is not the right place, post it in the Books section, etc.

On the same note, when replying to a topic, make sure it is ON TOPIC, and not something for a new discussion, like discussing jewelry or a movie role in a thread about the life of a particular Duchess.

If ever unsure of something, please do not hesitate to send me an instant message or private email.

No one should take any of this personally, as I don't mean it that way.  Just that with so many postings (sometimes 150 or more a day!) I need your cooperation to keep things in order.

Thanks for helping us out!

122

Forum Announcements / MMR4th - Joseph LoPresti

« on: August 17, 2004, 11:26:35 AM »

We received the following email today from Mr. LoPresti, threatening us with legal action.  As a result, we have removed virtually all references to him from the forum, and must ask that his name(s) not be referred to again in this Forum. Any posting which does refer to him will be deleted.

We apologize for any inconvenience and hope you all understand, that while we believe this is a forum for the free expression of ideas and personal opinions, we had no choice.

"Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2004 20:35:16 -0400
To: <boba@pallasweb.com>
Subject: Character Assassination

 
Bob.
 
I have been reading some of the posts on your web site because there are 'some' people, who post there, who submit interesting information. Information which may help me. However your characterization of my person when posters refer to me aka MMR4th is rude and damaging to my character. Your ref feral to me as a person who is a 'Maniac/Liar' is rude and unconscionable. May I remind you that my name is know on your web site for a singular reason, and that was for a discussion on the Romanovs.  I am still a 'private person'. You can be sued for you negative labelling of my person. You therefore must retract your  ill comments of my person within 24 hours from this posting ( Cc: to my attorney) or I will sue you and your web site business.
 
As far as lying is concerned you are the one who lied concerning the reason you gave for removing my postings from your site. You told 'Antonio Caballero' of Spain that I had wished him harm from bombings in Spain. You lied to him and to all who post on your web site because I never said anything to him. You didn't want to your patrons to know about your web site 'business'  and its real purpose. You therefore concocted a story concerning Antonio. It wasn't  to Antonio I sent a message asking him to protect himself from the bombings. Instead it was to 'Valmont' knowing full well he wasn't in Spain. The message was sent in character of the nonsense that he and I were posting about. You took the opportunity to harm me. Now you are continuing to harm my character with you nasty words for all the public to see. That's unforgivable!!!
 
Joseph LoPresti"

123

News Links / Kremlin sued for return of churches

« on: July 18, 2004, 10:36:53 AM »

The Independent (UK)
July 18, 2004
Kremlin sued for return of churches
By Andrew Osborn in Moscow

More than 80 years after its churches were seized by "godless Bolsheviks" and turned into anything from grain stores to shoe factories the Russian Orthodox Church is launching an unprecedented legal battle to win back its property.

Furious that the Russian state still owns most of the country's churches 13 years after the collapse of Communism, and has had the gall to start charging it land tax, the church has launched the first property restitution lawsuit since the Russian Revolution in 1917.

The lawsuit, which is regarded as a test case that could open the flood gates for thousands of other restitution claims from aristocrats to foreign governments, relates to the stunning 15th-century Church of Ilia the Prophet in Moscow which currently houses Russia's State Museum of the East. The church wants it to become a "living place of worship" once again and says it is poised to launch a rash of similar lawsuits throughout the Russian capital which could see a third of the land owned by the state in Moscow contested.

The church was dispossessed of all its property in 1918 under a sweeping decree issued by the Bolshevik leader Lenin, an atheist.

Before the revolution it had been Russia's largest landowner with some 7.5 million acres to its name but overnight it lost it all. Icons and other religious paraphernalia were plundered, bell towers were toppled, hundreds of churches were simply bulldozed out of existence and at least 45,000 priests were murdered.

124

The Russian Revolution / The Russian Revolution - Causes and/or Prevention?

« on: April 25, 2004, 11:17:44 AM »

Joanna:
You wrote: "As I understand you (and I might be wrong) you suggest that Nicholas was powerless to save himself from the Revolution, while I feel that he had over 20 years as an Autocrat and thus every opportunity to aid his people and thus possibly change his own fate."

I don't suggest that Nicholas was "powerless" to save himself. However, one MUST look from Nicholas's perspective to genuinely assess his decisions.
The Tsar was the center of Russia, politically and economically, and had been for 300 years. Changing the status quo of his father, grandfather and Ggrandfather would be seen as a sign of weakness by the peasants. This in fact was the case. After 1906, his "reforms" were seen by the average peasant as a loss of his (literally) "awesome" power.
As for aiding his people, he felt he was doing EVERYTHING to aid his people...
You forget that Nicholas did not abdicate to bring down the throne. He abdicated to SAVE the throne. He felt that Michael would be seen as a stronger leader.

Then you say:  
     "I agree that 300 years of Tsarist Rule had lead to a very unwieldy goverment which I think we both realize was unable to cope with the demands of the 20th century. Yet I still feel that Nicholas had so many missed chances for viable change for his people and himself. He could have taken atvantage of the peasant issue and truly made himself the "People's Tsar". He could have mandated right and liberties, encouraged economic and land reform. He could even have given his people a constitution and become a constitutional monarch. Sadly he failed to do anything like this... "

See above, and frankly, by Nicholas's time, it wouldn't have worked. The peasant were so distanced from the rest of Russian society by then, they still would have had no reason to support the Tsar. The word "Mir" means village, community and world....Petersburg could have been London or Hong Kong for that matter to the peasants. As for being "The People's Tsar" look at what happened to Alexander II for trying that. Frankly, Alexander I should have been the one to start the reforms for any hope of a constitutional monarchy to succeed. BUT, the thought of such a thing was impossible for any 19th century Tsar to consider genuinely.  

To blame Nicholas, one must also blame Alexander III, Alexander II, Nicholas I, Alexander I, and Catherine, frankly.
Also, the communes did in fact own the land, and allocate plots to their members. The ownership figures cited by Prof. Pipes are in fact quite accurate. Don't necessarily place all your eggs in Figes' basket, he went into his book with an attitude, that highly influenced his perceptions and conclusions (many of which were foregone before page 1 was written). Read more history by more impartial historians before you make such sweeping pronouncements. the subject is far less "cut and dried" than you seem to see it.
FA
 

125

Imperial Russian History / Returning Former Property?

« on: April 05, 2004, 12:12:25 PM »

Along Antonio's line....does the possibility exist that the Russian government "might" give back some of the stolen estates or family possessions???  I'm sure once they started there may be no stopping.  :-/

This deserves its own topic so I moved it here. It is not related to the Rasputin thread it was posted in.

126

Rules for This Forum / Re: Logging out...

« on: April 03, 2004, 04:08:16 PM »

Gee, Penny
We thought that you just loved us so much you stayed here! Actually, I stay logged in myself most of the time, even if not really "here". Is not a problem for me, if not for you.
FA

127

The Alexander Palace / Daily Life in the Palace

« on: January 23, 2004, 01:32:49 PM »

Use this thread to ask questions about or to discuss the day to day workings of life in the Alexander Palace.

128

The Alexander Palace / Food, Wine and Meals

« on: January 23, 2004, 01:30:37 PM »

Use this thread to talk about or ask questions about meals, banquets, the wine cellar or related topics.

129

Welcome New Users! Read 1st please. / Rules and Guidelines for this forum

« on: January 23, 2004, 01:28:27 PM »

Welcome to The Alexander Palace Discussion Forum. We encourage you to participate as much or as little as you want.

Just a few rules and guidelines about using our Forum.

First, this forum is devoted only to topics relating to Imperial Russia, Russian history and the topics, places and articles directly related to them.  There are many other places to discuss unrelated topics and we will delete any posting or topic we feel is not related to the general focus for the discussions on this site.

Secondly, all users are reminded that The Alexander Palace websites are used by many schools and educational institutions.  Please watch your language Any profane or inappropriate language will lead to the deletion of the posting or topic.

Third, Please respect the thoughts and comments by other posters.  "Flaming", defamatory or inappropriate postings about users or other people will lead to the deletion of the posting and may lead to the permanent deletion of the poster from access to this site.

Lastly, please do NOT use this forum for advertising items for sale, including the posting of items for sale on ebay or on other commercial sites.

NO posting whatsoever from this forum may be used, copied, or reproduced in any way or by any means for any purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without the PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION of either Bob Atchison or the Forum Administrator.

This forum is dedicated expressly to the free and open discussion of ideas, comments and questions related to its purpose, however be WARNED: THE ADMINISTRATOR RETAINS THE RIGHT IN HIS SOLE DISCRETION TO DELETE ANY POSTING, TOPIC OR USER WHICH ARE NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THESE RULES AND GUIDELINES.

130

Rules for This Forum / Rules and Guidelines for this forum

« on: January 23, 2004, 01:28:27 PM »

This topic has been moved to [link=http://hydrogen.pallasweb.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=Welcome;action=display;num=1095358642;start=0]Welcome New Users! Read 1st please.[/link] by Forum Admin.