mtfester@netscape.net wrote:
> Silvio Franke <silvio.franke@unibw-muenchen.de> wrote:
> 
>>Scott Reynolds schrieb:
> 
>>>It is interesting to ask oneself, however, why today there is a
>>>Commonwealth of Nations of which Britain and several former British
>>>colonies are members, but no Japanese Commonwealth (or perhaps the term
>>>should be Co-prosperity Sphere).
> 
>>The answer is quite simple. Japan lost the war. Britain not.
> 
> Odd. Britain's lost several wars, yet still there is a Commonwealth...

I don't think 1066 counts in this equation. Sure, they lost Hong Kong 
without a fight, and kept the Falklands with one, but at no stage has 
Britain itself been invaded, occupied and reworked the way Germany, 
Japan, Spain, Holland etc were at different stages of (end of) empire. 
Personal, government and commercial links were never severed in the way 
Siemens or Mitsui etc lost their investments and much of their influence.

Even in "non-commonwealth" Ireland, there is considerable British 
cultural influence and heritage reflected in everything from the courts, 
to academia and government. Though I try not to say this too loudly in 
case my grandmother can hear from the grave.




-- 
tee hee

http://www.coxar.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/