92 year old British teacher retires after 70 years at Pakistani school

Wow, I really wish people would get over "Hero".

It's got to be the most abused and overused word, ever.

I'm not trying to take away from what this old man has done, it's very respectable and something to be proud of, but really, hero? Do people assign this word to people that simply do good?
 
mavers said:
Don't think the British Empire was 'fairly benign' in India. The India/Pakistan partition was just frankly horrific.
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True, but I think it had to happen - imagine India today with massive parts being Muslim? Would be a disaster.
 
scorza said:
True, but I think it had to happen - imagine India today with massive parts being Muslim? Would be a disaster.
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There are about 140m Muslim's living in India. Thats more than most Muslim countries! It doesnt seem like its such a disaster as India has always had very strong Islam influence.
 
mavers said:
There are about 140m Muslim's living in India. Thats more than most Muslim countries! It doesnt seem like its such a disaster as India has always had very strong Islam influence.
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Even then, there are a lot of cultures and religious beliefs in India.
 
scorza said:
I just think it's nice that a legacy of the Empire is this British chap, who in his early 20s as an army officer in the sub-continent ended up as a teacher and stuck at it for 70 years in a remote part of what's now Pakistan. He obviously has the respect of his fellow teachers and pupils.

My general feeling is that although many crimes were committed in the name of the British Empire, actually most people affected by it probably got quite a good deal compared to the alternatives on offer. We were an occupying power in a lot of places, which is wrong but you also have to admit we were fairly benign.
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Compared to much worse occupiers? It's irrelevent that in comparison to potentially other colonisers the British were apparently benign. A less worse deal is still in this case a bad deal.

Fair enough, I got the impression you or a relative were old enough to directly experience such places (and times) by reading your original post. I can kind of understand, looking at the problems today why old people reference the better aspects of 'yester-year'. Listening to the guy speak you can tell he's very old school (I realise the pun, ignore it :p).

kylew said:
Wow, I really wish people would get over "Hero".

It's got to be the most abused and overused word, ever.

I'm not trying to take away from what this old man has done, it's very respectable and something to be proud of, but really, hero? Do people assign this word to people that simply do good?
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Oddly enough I thought this exact sentiment the other day. I guess it's just thrown around willy nilly now.
 
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kylew said:
Wow, I really wish people would get over "Hero".

It's got to be the most abused and overused word, ever.

I'm not trying to take away from what this old man has done, it's very respectable and something to be proud of, but really, hero? Do people assign this word to people that simply do good?
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he·ro
   /ˈhɪəroʊ/ Show Spelled[heer-oh] Show IPA
–noun,plural-roes; for 5 also -ros.
1.
a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.



well he fits all of them....
 
"andy" said:
he·ro
   /ˈhɪəroʊ/ Show Spelled[heer-oh] Show IPA
–noun,plural-roes; for 5 also -ros.
1.
a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.



well he fits all of them....
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Distinguished courage and ability?

Brave deeds?

He's brave to teach kids for 70 years?

He's not teaching in England you know.
 
courage OR ability. he had the bravery and ability to fight through a whole world war and then stay in a hostile country to make life better for thousands of kids. he didnt have to do it but he chose it and no doubt improved the education and lifes of many people even after been taken hostage and threatened with death

my old headteacher got knighted and he litterally did nothing in comparison. he took an average school and made it slightly above average. this guy has done far far more than that.

if the word hero isnt right for him then i dont know who it is right for ???
 
I would say he fits the hero description he was a comando and in WW2 and then did all the teaching.
 
A nice chap to be greatly admired and used as an example and the pinnacle of humanity.

A hero? Who knows. it's used for everything these days therefore too common.

I'd say this gentleman's actions transcend something so common and misused.
 
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