Do you think the Dutch monarchy will be around for a long time?
One way to answer this question is to contrast the Dutch monarchy to the UK monarchy. The line of succession to the British throne contains, at its most conservative, 56 people, but there is a backup system: someone has taken the trouble to document the 5000 or so descendants of Electress Sophia of Hanover who might qualify if those 57 people were to meet with unfortunate accidents, and a large proportion of those descendants are not currently British citizens. So the Brits are monarchists—they like the idea of monarchy itself and if the current royal family dies out they would find a new one (there is a comedy film called King Ralph based on this premise).Now for the line of succession to the Dutch throne: eight people, with another eight as the backup plan. The Dutch are not monarchists—they are democrats who just happen to be fanatically devoted to the House of Orange. If those sixteen people were to meet with an unfortunate accident, I doubt the Dutch would bother to hunt down some obscure foreign aristocrat to replace them. But as long as the House of Orange doesn’t try to, you know, actually rule and as long as they keep producing new members at replacement levels, the Netherlands will continue to be a monarchy.
Sword Fighting: Who is regarded as the greatest swordsman ever?
The best swordsman in human history was a legendary old man who taught his disciples and died without being able to pass on the true secret of the sword. Hence his name got lost in the mists of history. But that wouldn’t make us feel like we knew everything there is to know about the world. So, disregarding the most probable answer, which is “We will never know”, allow me to put forth an answer.This gentleman from the hoaried past of Japan has a legitimate claim to being one of the greatest and best swordsmen in the history of the exercise. Miyamoto Musashi was unbeaten in dueling throughout his life.Not many samurai have been as integral to the modern culture of the ronin as Miyamoto has been. Innumerable movies and books stand testament to this fact. His exploits are legendary, bombastic, unbelievable and most definitely exaggerated. But like always, there must have been fire to cause all the smoke.He is rumored to have fought in the battle of Sekigahara at the age of 16 after which he disappeared from the public eye, only to re emerge at the age of 21. Miyamoto went ahead and challenged the famous Yoshioka school of swordsmanship, emerging unbeaten.Not content with being a swordsman, he developed his own school of swordfighting, took up wood carving, painting, writing and numerous other pursuits. Musashi wrote on strategy and philosophy in his work “The Book of Five Rings”, which is now read by his inferiors who try to apply these teachings to much more trivial pursuits. One such image to make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside before we proceed to watch cat videos on youtube.Read up on his Wikipedia page for a heavily curated, but mostly accurate history of his life. Ubermensch don’t come much greater than this one here. There’s an ongoing manga which is a fictionalised retelling of his life, called Vagabond. Check that out if you are interested as well.
What are the must watch movies to see before you die?
This order need not necessarily be the exact top 50 but it can alter depend on one’s interest, I’m a guy who’s interested much in non-fiction, thrillers, action, rom-coms than horrors,nevertheless there are exceptions. Here’s my list.Titanic: This is an epic movie, one can’t stop to admire this movie when watched.Pursuit of Happyness: This movie is really awesome, no wonder if it is mentioned in almost every answer in Quora pertaining to movies list.Inception: This movie is really awesome. One can’t afford to miss watching this movie, provided an opportunity.Shawshank Redemption:Good Will HuntingInterstellar: This movie explores the unexplored parts of the space by most of the common audience like me(No offence to Scientists and Professors). I honestly got to admit that I’ve learnt a lot before going to this movie-of course they’re clearly explained in the movie- after watching the movie too. This movie is a visual treat which is enhanced by the sublime music given by legendary Hans Zimmer.The Prestige:The MartianMoney BallA Beautiful MindGladiatorRainmanPirates of the Caribbean SeriesForrest GumpFight ClubInvictusBlood Diamond: This movie is really touching, at one point of time, tears roll out. Leonardo Dicaprio’s performance with the African accent in this movie is really awesome.Besides the background score of this movie elevates this movie.Dark KnightBatman Begins:Dark Knight RisesBrave Heart12 Angry Men: This movie is a must watch movie.300Man on FireTaking of Pelhap 123Few Good MenIndependence DayThe Imitation GameSaving Mr.BanksThe Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonA walk to rememberP.S. I Love YouThe NotebookThe VowThe Holiday: Hans Zimmer ’s awesome music actually haunts you to watch this movie again and again.AtonementCinderella ManMillion Dollar BabyAmerican SniperWarriorSpy GameBourne IdentityBourne SupremacyBourne Ultimatum: This is the best of the series.Lord of the Rings TrilogyDie Hard Series (particularly Die Hard 4.0 Live Free or Die Hard)Mission Impossible SeriesThe IllusionistJobsNow You See MeVantage PointP.S: There are plenty of good movies I might have missed, you’re welcome to express your views.Edit 1: Thanks Yash Pranjale for suggesting Lord of the Rings.V for VendettaArrival: This movie must be among the top 50 movies.
What would have happened if the Emperor of Japan was hanged by the US occupation government after the surrender similar to Mussolini in Italy, or humiliated?
In fact, only German war criminals were prosecuted after WW2, in anything approaching a consistent and rigorous fashion. And even in Germany, exceptions were made for mid-ranking and junior figures who were regarded as potentially useful by various Western Allied and Soviet authorities.A blind eye was also turned to many war criminals from other Axis powers, as well, in some cases, as their most culpable collaborators in occupied countries.In Italy, it wasn't just King Vittorio Emmanuele III who escaped prosecution – only three or four Italian war criminals were prosecuted after the surrender of the Kingdom of Italy (1943) and the defeat of the rump fascist state with its capital in Salò (1945) . Both the Allies and the post-war Italian republic appear to have to washed their hands of the matter.While many senior Japanese officials and commanders were prosecuted, no members of the wider Japanese royal family were prosecuted – even though many of them had been involved in/accessories to war crimes during the 1930s and 1940s.Far more obscure – and also never prosecuted – were the crimes of military and political figures from Japan's Asian collaborators, especially in Thailand. The Thai royal family and senior military figures decided to switch sides after being defeated by Japan in 1942. The Thai leadership sought to annex part of Burma and fought alongside Japan in the ugly blood-soaked Burmese campaign.Then there are Asian collaborators who preferred Japanese atrocities to those committed by European colonial powers, such as the Indian National Army. The INA's treatment of POWs and civilians in Assam, Bengal and Burma was at least as bad as that of the Japanese Army proper. While many senior INA members were arrested after the war, they were never prosecuted (likely due to the fragility of British authority/control in India by 1945).