Pig War

[Bob The Magic Camel]

One hundred and fifty years ago today, the US and England went to war over a dead pig. This event has sadly fallen from our common consciousness, something I am trying to rectify.

Our story takes place in the previously disputed San Juan islands which lie between Vancouver Island and mainland USA. England believed them to be a part of the Canadian colonies, and the US believed them to be theirs. During this dispute, a pig from an English farm decides to eat an American potato. It is at this point things get ugly, and first fatality of this war occurs: the pig is shot.

The two farmers have an argument over who's fault this is, and who owes who compensation. The potato farmer claims the pig was trespassing and stealing his property; the pig farmer maintained it was the potato farmer's duty to keep his potatoes out of his pig. The Imperial authorities move to arrest the potato farmer, so he requests military assistance. Things escalate for almost two months, until four hundred and sixty one US soldiers are staring down five British Warships.

The Governer of Vancouver decided that this needed to end quickly, and orders the Rear Admiral to open fire. The Admiral, however had ideas of his own and instead ordered his men to swear at the Americans. After weeks of exchanged insults, a cease fire is declared, bringing the total casualties of this war to one: the aforementioned pig.

[Annchan]

um.... okay

[Elomin Sha]

It does show that the one thing we are really good at, fighting, we can be completely crap at it. Thanks for digging this up.

[Smeghead]

fun forgotten wars.

Back when Gustavus Adolphus was the ruler of Sweden we entered the thirty years war on teh side of the protestants. While the Swedish army was mostly sucessfull in the war and had with the help of the allies betaen back the catholics so far that Vienna was almost within reach of the protestant army.

Then the Swedish king died in a battle and the alliance fell back to defend the land it had. some times later the swedes decided to sue for peace with the catholics, where in all but one of teh chatolic natins attended and signed the peace treaty. The one remaining refused to attend and thus tecnically we've been at war with them ever since. now I don't remember what nation it was (Probebly a german or italian city state).

[Gobukiller]

Yeah, not really a war... Border dispute, yes. War, no. But funny. Quite entertaining...

[Lord Chrusher]

I think you mean Governor of Vancouver Island not Governor of Vancouver. Vancouver Island was briefly its own colony before joining with the Mainland in 1866.

[empath]

Aye, technically a border dispute, but really boils down to a small claims court case.

Maybe we should put imperial AND capitalist governments aside and seek answers from a socialist source?

[Evil Jim]

Thanks for the history lesson. Sounds like today is a good day for a pork sammich.

[Elomin Sha]

I think I'll join you Jim, but I'll have sausage, egg, chips, beans and several slices of bread and butter.

[Master Gunner]

Not the first time I've heard about this, but its being many internet years since it was last brought up here. Always brings me a chuckle.

[Cheeseonfire]

I think they mentioned this on Hey Arnold!

[Sable]

That's one of the funnest historical tidbits I've heard recently, thanks!

[Mad Madam Mimm]

Well, you learn something new every day, don'cha? I wonder if the pig knew what it would cause... oooh trouble making pig... Rebel without Applesauce.

[Tapir12]

I live on the island and I didn't know that story. Not really surprised though. The Americans and the British fought over just about everything they could.

Good story though

[Dave-O_Boy]

The Pig War really needs a block buster movie made about it.

[Gobukiller]

Staring Homer Simpson as a Canadian pig farmer?

[Zivlok]

Sorry, the story was too wordy for me. It just flew right over my head.

[Gobukiller]

A Canadian and American farmer got into a fight over a pig. The military got involved, but ended up not doing anything and then went home. The end.

[Nevrmore]

I think they mentioned this on Hey Arnold!

Holy shit, I remember that episode. They did a historical re-enactment with Arnold's pet pig Abner as the pig in question.

[AlexanderDitto]

I think they mentioned this on Hey Arnold!

Holy shit, I remember that episode. They did a historical re-enactment with Arnold's pet pig Abner as the pig in question.

Good lord I miss that show. Never realized the fact that it was actually really sophisticated for a cartoon... I mean, well developed, believable characters? Humor that was fairly mature without being racy or absurd? Serious moments that were actually fairly touching? Impossible!

ANYWAY. On the subject of wars... how about one of the best wikipedia pages I've ever found?
A list of wars extended by diplomatic irregularity: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wa ... regularity

[Gobukiller]

So WWII didn't end until 1990? Interesting...

[zfubarz]

http://www.cracked.com/article_17123_5- ... ought.html

Seems appropriate for this topic.

[Master Gunner]

Most of those are....questionable to say the least. After razing Carthage to the ground and killing/driving out most of the inhabitants, and setting up their own city in its place, there was really little need for a peace treaty. Especially since anybody that they could sign it with, they'd just kill on sight to make sure the job got done, and Carthage could never threaten Rome again.
It is claimed that Berwick-upon-Tweed was still at war with Russia because it wasn't included in the peace treaty. However, it wasn't included in the declaration of war either. So by that logic, Berwick-upon-Tweed was never at war with Russia. Also, as the article states, by that time all references to the Monarch and all his/her dominions (iirc, most formal declarations would include blanket statements to make sure they didn't leave out anybody by accident, especially considering the pure number of British colonies, territories, and what-have-you) also included Berwick-upon-Tweed, making the whole thing a moot point.
As for WWII, that was mainly continued to ensure that Western troops were kept in Germany and keep Russia at a stalemate. As with Carthage, the state that they had declared war on arguably no longer existed, and thus there was no one to sign a formal peace treaty with.
I'm pretty sure that when you've achieved a state where the people you declared war on longer exist, its safely over, regardless of paperwork that's open to interpretation.

[Shaun832]

I don't know what to think of this. I suppose I could laugh about it...

[Cake]

English wimps.