Sunday, September 2, 2007

Historical Trivia That May Interest Only Me

Donald Maclean, a member of the Soviet spy ring known as the Cambridge Five who, among other things, passed atomic secrets to the Soviet Union before defecting in 1951, literally days before being exposed, is the great uncle of actor Rupert Everett. There's a certain family resemblance between Maclean, pictured to the left, and Everett, don't you think?

8 comments:

Holly said...

How about wiping this post for Rupert's sake ? I knew this a month or two ago but kept quiet. I am a fan of Rupert and I still think it's a sore point in England. After all he hasn't posted about my family..let it go who benefits ..the tabloids?

Angie said...

I agree with Holly . keep it to yourself it might hurt his mother as well as Rupert, do you want to do that?

Soletrain said...

No, the post is going nowhere. The historical fact that it is based on is a matter of common knowledge, and any rational person understands that Maclean's crimes have absolutely nothing whatever to do Everett or his character.

Holly said...

It's fairly hard to dig up in fact. Any rational person would not treat him differently because he is gay either . Look , he has palyed a chacter played based on Burgess and one on Philby and yet ( as the media would) I don't see interviews rattling on about how amazing it is he hasn't played mcClean .Lots of family trees have Donald wiped off ..why would that happen? Do shoes mean more to you than a human being ?

Holly said...

Excuse my typos I am just so saddened and angry.

Soletrain said...

I am at a loss to understand the reason for your objection. It is an historical fact that Maclean is Everett's great uncle. To the best of my knowledge, this has never been concealed or denied. Why shouldn't I mention it? Should I also keep mum about the fact Everett's great grandfather was the parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party?

All of have relatives in the family tree that have done bad things. Most of understand that the sins of the great uncle do not stain the the grand nephews (especially those who haven't been born yet). That you can't is no reason for me not to post about it.

Angie said...

I can tell you are at a loss and I am sorry .It's maybe hard to understand but it is not common knowledge here . Being leader of the Liberals is a good thing right! Being a spy for the Soviets a bad one .I understand McClean's views were established at a time when my father was a young communist but he saw the light . If you can't understand the difference tabloid journalists could make out of it I am surprised . As I explained Donald is removed from several family trees .Anyhow it is your conscience but in this World ( alas) it only takes one moron to think badly of this information to do harm. I hope your blog will go mostly un-noticed . It's not really worth spreading this information on a shoe site is it ? I admire the fact you kept our comments and only hope you have a friend who will also understand , and you'll agree.

Soletrain said...

Tabloid journalists? Please. THIS IS NOT A SECRET. I can assure you that any tabloid journalist worth his salt knows very well of the family connection between Maclean and Everett. It is common knowledge. Even if it were not, there is absolutely nothing wrong with me discussing it here. The appropriate standard for public discussion is not and cannot be whether a particular piece of information could be twisted and used for evil purposes. Frankly, your and Holly's concerns are absurd.