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Bletchley code breaker Betty Webb dies aged 101

(www.bbc.com)
496 points danso | 7 comments | 01 Apr 25 12:55 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source | bottom
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icosian ◴[01 Apr 25 15:23 UTC] No.43547907[source]▶
Only about a dozen years ago Bletchley was inviting former codebreakers back for an annual reunion. I used to go along to hear the talks, meet some of them and get books signed, including by Betty Webb. I'm glad they eventually got the recognition they deserved.

We have almost lost the chance now to hear personal testimony of WWII. I've met several Battle of Britain pilots too, but the last died in Dublin recently:

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2025/0318/1502596-hemingway/

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andrepd ◴[01 Apr 25 17:13 UTC] No.43549227[source]▶
It's insane how the largest conflict in human history is just now passing out of living memory. It's also insane how 1 in 4 Americans under 40 believe the holocaust is a fabrication or exaggeration.
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louthy ◴[01 Apr 25 22:52 UTC] No.43552115[source]▶
> It's insane how the largest conflict in human history is just now passing out of living memory.

Don’t worry, there will be another one along any minute now.

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slg ◴[01 Apr 25 23:42 UTC] No.43552422[source]▶
It seems more than coincidental that global fascism started to rise as soon as the generation that last defeated it had mostly died off.
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hgomersall ◴[02 Apr 25 07:13 UTC] No.43554361[source]▶
It's much simpler to think that as a society we've manufactured a similar set of circumstances to the last time. That is, a growing proportion of the population that feel they have very little and no prospects or hope.
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1. ArnoVW ◴[02 Apr 25 10:15 UTC] No.43555230[source]▶
I won’t enter into a conversation about inequality and social justice, even though there are indeed points to be raised.

I would however like to point out that people are not only victims of society, and that they have a responsibility as a critical member of society and an elector. Historic awareness, understanding of economics, law and geopolitics.

To give an example: Mr Trump was not just votes into office, but RE voted into office. His plan was public for all to see.

More than 50% of American voters voted for him. I am having a difficult time to believe that 50%+ of the US are economically oppressed that had no choice but to vote for Trump.

Inequalities exist but they do not justify everything, neither do they explain everything.

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2. robertlagrant ◴[02 Apr 25 11:24 UTC] No.43555556[source]▶
Inequality is very different to no prospects, or no hope.
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3. ArnoVW ◴[02 Apr 25 13:00 UTC] No.43556183[source]▶
Totally agree. But does that not reinforce my point?

Or are we saying now that 50%+ of the US has “no prospects or no hope”? Really?

Anyone thinking that is sorely mistaken about how good we have it, and I’m afraid is soon to find out. Destroying the apparatus of state and destabilizing international relations is not going to be good, certainly for those “with no prospects or hope”.

And that was not difficult to foresee.

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4. slg ◴[02 Apr 25 16:56 UTC] No.43558741[source]▶
>More than 50% of American voters voted for him. I am having a difficult time to believe that 50%+ of the US are economically oppressed that had no choice but to vote for Trump.

I think it's important to be accurate with this stuff. 49.8% of voters voted for Trump, approximately 32% of eligible voters voted for him, and roughly 23% of the population voted for him. Don't discount apathy, disillusionment, and disenfranchisement in all this.

5. hgomersall ◴[02 Apr 25 19:36 UTC] No.43560643[source]▶
You make an interesting point, but there's an issue that significant resources are put into making sure that people do not understand economics, law and geopolitics properly. Economics is particular egregious in that the academic discipline is, for the most part, complete horseshit, and popular economics is a bastardised version of that. Geopolitics is also filtered heavily through whatever lens one views it.
6. robertlagrant ◴[03 Apr 25 08:17 UTC] No.43566512{3}[source]▶
> Totally agree

I'm a little confused - if you agree, then why did you mention inequality in the first place?

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7. ArnoVW ◴[03 Apr 25 09:32 UTC] No.43567123{4}[source]▶
the original statement was "they feel they have very little and no prospects or hope."

As I said in my original comment, I think that is hyperbole at best, and deluded victim-thinking at worst. But I do consider that there is an issue of inequality.

So I softened the original statement, and then showed that it still did not explain or even justify the massive vote for Trump ("Inequalities exist but they do not justify everything, neither do they explain everything")

In other words, I interpreted the original statement generously and replied to the best possible version of the argument. That is one of the unwritten house rules, and it is what keeps HN a nice place.