07-09-2003, 01:47 PM
WarBlade,Jul 9 2003, 05:24 AM Wrote:... Oh thanks for warning me to put my drink down. You mean there's an American ship called the Constitution??? :blink: Holy crap dude! That's hysterical! :lol: ...Ummm, a history lesson is in order: the United States Navy was formed on the order for six frigates rated to 44 and 36 guns, but they started out with only half that batch (the other three only coming to light if and when the United States went to warâwhich was promptly done). The first three warships of the USN were the USS United States (44 guns), the USS Congress (36 guns), and the USS Constitution (44 guns). In a replay of the fabled Goldilocks story, these "three bears" ran the gamut of outcomes during their launches: the United States was slipped into the water at too steep an angle and bent her false keel; the Congress' slipways were too shallow, and she hung up at launch; and only the Constitution's launch was "just right".
The USS Constitution has born a historical reputation that has allowed her to survive, restored, to this day. Her nickname is "Old Ironsides" in reference to an incident where enemy cannon shot impacted square upon her oaken hull, and fell harmlessly into the water (thus giving rise to the declaration that her sides were as of iron). She's never been boarded by enemy sailors or marines in the heat of battle, her hull never breached by eneny shot, and is the key figure is a few incidents against the Royal Navy during the War of 1812: mainly the defeat of the HMS Java and HMS Guerriere, and a successful evasion of a RN squadron (5-to1 odds) that attempted to pursue her in becalmed conditions.
The USS Constitution, just like HMS Victory does for Britain, serves as a naval memorial for the days of fighting sail. However, unlike Victory, the Constitution is still in the water.
Political Correctness is the idea that you can foster tolerance in a diverse world through the intolerance of anything that strays from a clinical standard.