Re-thinking Lawrence of Arabia | Dr Rob Johnson

[@tedandrews405]

" When I'm dead they'll rattle my bones about in their curiosity." T.E.Lawrence

[@paullacey748]

Lawrence's achievements were over a hundred years ago, why are we still doubting what he did. I saw a documentary many years ago that involved an Arabic man who was a young tribesmen, he talked of Lawrence's bravery he was there, he had no reason to lie.

[@mikewinston8709]

You’re correct……Sadly, revisionist ‘historians’ always want to destroy people. Try to buy a cheap copy of The Letters of TE Lawrence. From teenager until the day he died. Fascinating reading.

[@JohnDoe-tw8es]

In some ways Lawrence is an enigma . I have been to Jordan and talked with some of the people there. Some said he is a hero an thought highly of him and other thought he was just a British imperialist. I think of him as a young man who just got caught up in a world war. It affected him after and I guess he tried of forget. I do not think anyone else could have done what he did , and he is worth remembering.

[@peggygeren4169]

Lawrence's poem "To S.A." is one of the greatest expressions of love and loss ever penned.

[@Saleemsan]

I love that poem too

[@mickhurley7305]

S. A .. some think it was a worker he fell for in his first trips to Egypt as a student

[@12classics39]

In the movie, Omar Sharif’s character Sherif Ali (S.A.) is fictional, but it’s clear within the subtext that he and Lawrence are deeply in love … probably the director’s interpretation of who S.A. might have been.

[@christinepaige2575]

The poet Robert Graves, a personal friend of Lawrence's, believed that "S. A." was an abbreviation of "Son Altesse" ("Her Highness"), and referred to Fareedah el Akle, the young woman who had taught Arabic to Lawrence.

[@fanda6122]

@@christinepaige2575 oh he gay

[@phmwu7368]

37:27 In fact , on July 5, 1917, TE Lawrence used his knowledge of astronomical phenomena to carry out a daring night raid under the darkness of a total eclipse of the Moon. While the Ottoman defenders of the Red Sea port were preoccupied by the Lunar eclipse, T.E. Lawrence and his troop of fifty Bedouin successfully pressed home their stealthy attack on the city of Aqaba - Jordan. No wonder why he became such an icon of leadership. 🧐

[@avs4365]

The only problem I had with the lecture was it's length - it ended too quickly for me. You are a brilliant speaker Dr. Johnson and thankyou for posting this.

[@ferguslowrey6452]

I felt that Dr.Johnson, (I could see the top of his watch strap on the pedestal) he had certain time.

[@davidjonathangudlaugson4768]

Very much enjoyed this lecture. I have spent 10 years in the Middle East. Have read quite a number of books about T.E.

[@elianastewart2854]

I’m fascinate with Lawrence! I read everything I can find about him.

[@christinepaige2575]

Me too

[@judithbarrowman9407]

Thank you. I really enjoyed this talk. Have read 7 Pillars...... and various books about T.E Lawrence.

[@noIMspartacus2]

Oh jolly good show! That "balances" out the story of Lawrence and the Arab revolt rather nicely. Bit like the fat general says in the film "Just a side show of a side show!" Luckily the british didn't have any real intentions in Arabia, or desperately needed to secure Suez, or that the navy had changed from coal to oil, or of course use Lawrence to exploit the divisions of the tribes to stir up an Arab spring - oops, sorry - revolt, or to then double cross - oops, sorry - "orchestrate" the results and redraw the map of the region (with a little help from Gertrude) which luckily didn't contribute to Lawrence's "post traumatic stress" and disillusionment and finding "trust in others difficult"... Well done chaps, keep up the whistling and good work...

[@alexmorgan2296]

Fascinating - and so well presented.thank you.

[@jonwilliams23]

Great lecture on Lawrence. Will have to add Jeremy Wilson’s book to my library. Learned a lot from this well researched talk. Thank you!

[@phmwu7368]

Go for the 1188 pages hardcover version !

[@ferguslowrey6452]

Yes I agree with you, and have Jeremy Wilson's book on my Book shelf....actually x2 books, as I over ordered through Amazon...

[@Ken-fh4jc]

Such a great lecture. How are there only two dozen people in the crowd?

[@IdeologieUK]

‘A nasty habit of backing into the limelight’ 😊

[@rpm1796]

Bravo.... the best analysis I've heard.

[@juttamaier2111]

I'm one of those people who are fond of him. Despite his exaggerations and untrue stories.

[@teodelfuego]

Since you did not know him and were not alive when he was in the Middle East, you have to trust that secondary sources who are critical of him were accurate and not biased

[@justicewokeisutterbs8641]

​@@teodelfuego "...you have to trust that secondary sources who were critical of him were accurate and not biased." "Have to"? Says who? You? 😆 The person you presume to order about didn't say anything about "trusting" anyone. He said he liked Lawrence despite any criticism of him. Maybe you should throw some agua on that fuego.

[@kashu66]

BRILLIANT ! Thank you.

[@risin4949]

A superb lecture. Extremely well researched. Many thanks Dr Johnson.

[@davidjames5517]

A quite brilliant lecture, in content and delivery.

[@ThePiratemachine]

He did extraordinary things in any case. Plenty of people came back from WW2 that I know of who were heavy drinkers and wounded inside because of what they saw and happened.

[@keithammleter3824]

At 49:03 Rob Johnson deduces that regular soldiers win wars. It depends on how you define "regular" I suppose, but I think that conclusion is wrong. It may apply to the Arab areas in WW1, but generally, what wins wars is determination and not making too many mistakes. Afghanistan showed that - the Russians couldn't subdue it; The USA tried hard and long with professional forces but in the end the Taliban, as far from "regular" as you can get, won. It is often said that career troops and especially their officers, train and study how to win the last war. The nature of regular forces is conservative, not innovative. What wins wars is innovation and appreciation of how the current war works. In WW1, and in WW2, British career officers weren't interested in getting the war won - they were in it for rank, prestige, and luxury, and a quick win was the last thing they wanted. Top level officers recruited from civilian occupations, eg Monash, outperformed regular British officers. In WW2, British professional generals and troops continually frustrated Churchill - Stalin kept telling him that British troops would not fight, and it hurt, because Churchill knew Stalin was right.

[@inregionecaecorum]

I seem to have inherited a fascination about Lawrence from my dad, who was in Egypt and Palestine during the war, and an Arabophile. He named me after Lawrence. At the moment I have an alliance with my Syrian neighbour on the allotments as to the control of the water supply from the local river :)

[@kingharryannis]

Look up St. John Philby , also known as Sheikh Abdullah. Philby of Arabia. Hidden from history.Was T.E.Lawrences boss in Palestine. Went native became a muslim bought a sex slave in a slave market . Got Standard Oil into Wahhabiland [Saudi Arabia ]rather than BP Oil. Set Sa'ud up in Arabia .Not a zionist so hidden from history.

[@victorverdi6919]

@@kingharryannis Any suggestion how to acquire the book about his autobiography, or biography?

[@Saleemsan]

@@kingharryannis And Father of Harold Adrian St John Philby, aka Kim Philby

[@harolddburke4726]

Dr.Johnsons lecture was most interesting but I could not help but notice the distraction...Lawrence was a boyhood hero of mine but I found out later when I looked into his life he was not the hero so much as the intellectual soldier who draws you into 'History.'

[@alexandermenzies9954]

The Light Horse of the Australian Imperial Force surely should demand mentions; the charge at Beersheba and the entry into Damascus are but two pivotal actions.

[@alcoholfree6381]

An excellent balanced talk by a man who has obviously mastered his study. I thoroughly enjoyed the talk. It could have easily been an hour or two longer. Thanks for posting this.

[@localbod]

Thanks for posting this. Most interesting and informative. I certainly learned a lot and gained a new perspective on T.E. Lawrence and the desert campaign of the first world war.

[@manalhangawe742]

Dr Rob Johnson missed key points; the initiative of the revolt was taken by Sherif Hussien, Sykes- Pecot agreement was actually later backed by both the British and French government, and both Sykes and Pecot came to Sharif Hussien in Hejaz 1922 to convince him to accept it, and in return they would make the agreement of Anglo - Hashime that would insure the support and security of Hijaz but he declined to sacrifice the freedom of his people in Great Syria for his own personal interest. The Sherif was a man of honor, he keeps his word. That is why he is icon of dignity. Then he was betrayed again by the very whom broke their promise to him.

[@ronti2492]

Outstanding talk Dr Johnson! the ther factorr that Dr Johnson rightly does not concentrate on ( as it is not relevant to the lecture topic) is of course the 1962 David Lean film starring Peter O Toole. A massive work of fiction and statement of orientalism- but also a wonderfully directed, acted, and scored masterpiece!

[@patrickHayes-bq1ry]

interesting lecture challenges a lot of my historic knowledge which is thought provoking

[@Franky46Boy]

Brilliant!

[@stevefreeland9255]

Very interesting lecture. Thank you for posting. Greatly enjoyed.

[@davidgudlaugson528]

Thank you Dr. I enjoyed that lecture. Best David Gudlaugson / Sohar, Oman

[@sblack48]

Not sure how you can diagnose ptsd from a painting!

[@alcoholfree6381]

I thought it was an interesting idea. The man has obviously read extensively about “Lawrence of Arabia” and he was hypothecating? Geez, I think I have PTSD from being married to my ex-wife too long. I share your reservation; astute observation.

[@HumminbirdMoth]

Read a good book on the broad subject: "A Peace to End All Peace" ---The Fall of the Ottoman Empire and ----- T.E. Laurence was no more important than Lafayette in US Revolution War. He also betted on the losing horse Hussein-Feisal defeated by Ibn Saud.

[@davemacnicol8404]

Actually, we would have never beaten the Brits if it wasn't for the French. The war would've dragged on and Washington's meager combat units would've been crushed. So there's that.

[@davemacnicol8404]

I NEVER trust the French, but I always say, thank you!

[@ThePiratemachine]

Well The Americans would have lost if it wasn't for the two French general's and Admiral La Grasse's plan so TE Lawrence must have been VERY important if that's the comparison

[@smeggerssmeghead3100]

Lawrence was just a pawn in the great game.

[@peggygeren4169]

This fellow is way wrong regarding what the British and French promised the Arab Revolt. They were promised independence and unity. They got partition and Mandates. When they learned of the Sykes-Picot Agreement - because the Bolsheviks revealed it and the Turks published it in their Damascus newspaper - as well as the Balfour Agreement, they asked for and received repeated assurances - the Anglo-French Declaration, the Basset telegram and the Declaration to the Seven Syrians - from the British and French that partition (beyond the Lebanese area ceded in the Hussein-McMahon correspondence) was not in the cards. The British and French also had many thousands of Arab captives and deserters from the Ottoman Army who would have served in the Revolt but they limited that to a small fraction of its potential. The findings of the King-Crane Commission - which the British and French promised (another broken promise) Faisal that they would participate in - indicated that the populace of greater Syria did support unity as well as independence. If the British had taken part, the canvassing would have also included Mesopotamia, where Arab nationalist sympathies were known to be strong . He also minimizes the strategic contribution of the Arab capture of Aqaba. If that had not happened l the Turks and Germans would have only to defend a line from Gaza to the Gulf of Aqaba, and it is doubtful that the British could have broken it.

[@manalhangawe742]

Well said. plus what the most important thing in any fight is the resolve and determination. Adding, who took the initiative? it was Sherif Hussein. Also when Emir Faisal was in Paris, just before the schedule of Versailles conference started, he went to London on a British boat to finalize and establish what they, the Hashimites, have been promised. He was advised by Lawrence, if he, Faisal, to make his mission successful, then it would be much better not take a stiff stand against the Belfore declaration. So he agreed to make a deal with Khiem Wiseman, the Zionist leader, under the auspices of London. And when the agreement was written, it did not clearly define an independent Arab State. So Lawrence made very clear, through his translation, to Faisal about it, thus Faisal wrote on the document in Arabic that this deal is NULL AND VOID if the condition, of a united Arab State, is not met. (with his, Faial, knowledge that the Jewish in Europe were not very enthusiastic to emigrate, and the majority of the ME Jewish were living happily in Iraq, so the prospect of establishing a state for the Jewish was unlikely in the foreseeable future, for the lack of people. but WWII war changed the balance which Britain and France didn't predict). in addition, the UK considered Palestine as part and parcel of the British Empire. Eventually Britain faced so many problems in Palestine. (she could have maintained strong presence there on the basis of alliance). If Britain and France did not break their promises, then the united Arab State would have definitely been their ally in the second war. But what happened? A revolt in Palestine in 1936 and Iraq declared war against Britain in March 1941, the battle of RAF Habaniya station. France on the other hand did not gain much in Syria. Then Syria became under the influence of the french Feege government in 1940, which meant the Germans.

[@davemacnicol8404]

Love how we're all taking sides here. Let's talk about Faisal and his gang of rapists and murderers who were doing just this before the Brits came and directed their efforts lol. Most nomadic Peoples tend to be similar. Our American Indian being the same situation. Was it horrible and disgusting what our government and society did to them, yes. Were they bloodthirsty ignorant savages who played war like a game and stole women and children like cattle? Most definitely. So is it shitty of the Brits and francs to do what they did. Yes. Would non-intervention in that region lead to everlasting peace and harmony? Not a chance.

[@alcoholfree6381]

You sound like a politician; your points were way over my head. That not too hard lately. Now you go and give a lecture stating what you just wrote. 98% of us would go: “Come again?” But maybe we should amend Shakespeare to say: “First we shoot all the politicians!”??

[@apocbible]

Very illuminating talk

[@mortallious1234]

Some of Lawrence's stories were as long as Rob's tie.

[@elianastewart2854]

A Rem You don’t know nothing...Respect the memory of Lawrence and this doctor that take his time to try to explain how important Lawrence was for the Arab revolt..

[@TheAhkenaten1]

Funny, 😆

[@davemacnicol8404]

@@elianastewart2854 don't you mean "in spite of" lol

[@dermotrooney9584]

Lovely. Thanks very much.

[@adamsmith275]

KZbin: Scott Anderson on Lawrence in Arabia

[@justicewokeisutterbs8641]

"This man,(Lawrence), wherever I go... keeps following me around." This based on your having spent some little time at a few locations visited by many people over time. It sounds a bit like you're bragging about it and trying to claim some sort of distinction with Lawrence because you randomly trod the same ground as he. Lawrence was there before you, by the way, so really you're following him around. It's not an accomplishment and it's not a positive reflection on you that you bring it up, Dr. Johnson.

[@Gog3453]

Lawrence of Arabia empowered The Wahhabi movement

[@MsAppassionata]

Please excuse my ignorance, but how so?

[@alcoholfree6381]

Seems like you got some “special knowledge”. TE Lawrence liked the Arabs way too much. They can be rather vulgar; they were revolting in the movie. I found myself asking: “Why is he bending over backwards to help these crass killers?” Just my “point of view”.

[@johngeren1053]

The Wahhabi despised the Hashemites. They thought that the Sharifs has turned the hajj into a sort of carnival. The British betrayed Sharif Hussein and helped the Saudis destroy the Hejaz Kingdom. That was the first time the UK had a covert policy of allying with "Jihadis" to overthrow more secular Arab or Muslim states - something the US and UK continue to do in Iraq, Libya and Syria

[@shakerHeightsChannel]

Always some person coughing in the audience.

[@BobSmith-in2gn]

A journalist lying and fabricating a story? What a shock.

[@iainsanders4775]

Academic drivel.

[@mray8519]

Yada, yada, yada.

[@alcoholfree6381]

Meaning what? You should have typed Blah, Blah, Blah or Yackity-Yak of if you really want to be stupider: LOL?? Duh 🙄 Duh 🙄 Duh 🙄 Dude, EH?

[@davidlowen7802]

TEL was not a nice man, hateful attitude to wildlife, especially little birds. (from his own words, diary) Also, loved being flogged apparently, and a liar.

[@asadshah843]

The great cheater And Evil Genius, The Lawrence of Arabia

[@alcoholfree6381]

I think you exaggerate too much? He’s just a man, like you?

[@lancemanfredi6123]

CHAPMAN? YAWN...OLD STORY, PRESENTED HEARTLESSY. WHAT A BORE.

[@declanmurphy6427]

Why were so many British historical figures Gay?