British Embassy forced to apologise for tweet celebrating anniversary of burning of White House

The British Embassy in Washington DC has been forced to apologise after attracting the the ire of some Americans by tweeting a photograph of a cake celebrating the anniversary of the burning of the White House.
Sent from the official Embassy twitter account, @UKinUSA, the tweet showed a cake with a perfect miniature reproduction of the White House on top, flanked by British and American flags and surrounded by sparkler fireworks.
The caption accompanying the photograph read: “Commemorating the 200th anniversary of burning the White House. Only sparklers this time!”
It was set against a background of a sunlit swimming pool.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11054506/British-Embassy-forced-to-apologise-for-tweet-celebrating-anniversary-of-burning-of-White-House.html



Graeme Garrard describes the events that led to the torching of the new US capital by British troops in August 1814 and considers the impact of the ‘greatest disgrace ever dealt to American arms’ on the US, Britain and Canada.

When James Madison, fourth President of the United States and ‘Father of the Constitution’, signed a declaration of war against Britain on June 18th, 1812 he could scarcely have imagined that two years later he would be fleeing from his burning capital before the invading enemy. At the start of the ‘War of 1812’, the first the US had declared on another nation, his friend and predecessor as president, Thomas Jefferson, had smugly declared that the war against Britain’s colonies in what is today Canada would be ‘a mere matter of marching’. As Madison abandoned the White House on horseback with his entourage and raced towards Virginia on August 24th, 1814 he stopped and looked back as he beheld the ruined city of Washington. The smoke from flames that engulfed it could be seen as far away as Baltimore, Maryland. Although he left no personal account of his feelings about these shattering events, the normally imperturbable president must have been deeply shaken by the turn they had taken, as were most Americans. What his many domestic critics had derisively branded ‘Mr Madison’s War’ had led to the only foreign occupation of the US capital in its history. Soldiers and marines under Major-General Robert Ross and Rear Admiral Sir George Cockburn put Washington’s public buildings, including the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Library of Congress, the Treasury building, the State and War Departments, the historic Navy Yard and the President’s House (as the White House was then known), to the torch. Exactly two centuries later, few people in the United States or Britain are aware of this national humiliation, the ‘greatest disgrace ever dealt to American arms.

http://www.historytoday.com/graeme-garrard/washington-burning

Yet Americans celebrate the 4th July, a tad hypocritical to bemoan Brits celebrating whooping their arses.

July 4th, in fairness (and as hypocritical as it is to celebrate 'independence' in a land that wasn't originally their own), celebrates the birth of a new sovereign state.

To be honest though this seems a bit like British humour not being understood by some Americans. It's tongue in cheek, but some Americans are just so sensitive at times where their patriotism is concerned haha.

Relax Brits. Not to worry...it was all part of Mrs. Monroe's redecorating plans.

:aspffftas:

The history article is very interesting Quill

It wasn't/isn't the Capital. Like the difference between Westminster Palace and 10 Downing.

Eilzel wrote:July 4th, in fairness (and as hypocritical as it is to celebrate 'independence' in a land that wasn't originally their own), celebrates the birth of a new sovereign state.

To be honest though this seems a bit like British humour not being understood by some Americans. It's tongue in cheek, but some Americans are just so sensitive at times where their patriotism is concerned haha.

yeah I think the "only sparklers this time" made it funny/cute

I found it funny lol

And yet we make movies all the time with scenes like this:

well I thought it was funny..

Ps Quill Mrs. Adams not Monroe

Cass wrote:well I thought it was funny..

Ps Quill Mrs. Adams not Monroe

I agree...very funny. Who complained? Bet it was the Southern Baptists.

Tea Party types would only be pissed someone else got there before them.

Cass wrote:Ps Quill Mrs. Adams not Monroe

Actually, Ms. Madison. John Adams was gone in 1801, and John Quincy Adams didn't come in until 1825.

We both deserve a spanking. You first.

I don't think we need another Ms. Monroe in the White House anytime soon ...



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Original Quill wrote:

Cass wrote:Ps Quill Mrs. Adams not Monroe

Actually, Ms. Madison. John Adams was gone in 1801, and John Quincy Adams didn't come in until 1825.

We both deserve a spanking. You first.

oh for the love of money....yes we both do.....honestly......no I insist you go first

Ben_Reilly wrote:I don't think we need another Ms. Monroe in the White House anytime soon ...



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quite