A Tale About Nothing: The Menzies Idiocy By Captain E. G. da Costa Duarte Naval Architect – Certified Marine Chemist July 23, 2004

Homo Sapiens are, perhaps, the only animals that fear the future. Thru the ages, human behavior has taught us a great deal, about how we behave and function while in the mortal stage. History has played a very important part on this learning process. It is when we look back at our ancestor’s achievements and mistakes that we formulate a pattern for our future. To distort our past represents a distorted vision of the future. In simple terms, inaccurate reporting of historical events robs us of a sense of the future and of a means to learn about human behavior with intent to correct grave mistakes. Yes, some people do not care about improving our mortal existence instead concentrating on the daily routine set out by an artificial society of their creation, where, in most cases the blind leads the blind. 

Fine, when this artificial stage remains the base of our mortal existence then I have no choice but to agree with the attitude that is often heard “The one that dies with the most toys, wins”. Life within such an artificial stage, on the surface, seems simple. Yet, this lifestyle has contributed the most to human confusion and depression; personally, a lifestyle that I do not endorse. History plays a great part in my life, for the simple reason that it teaches me a sense of my future and a sense about human behavior that surrounds me.

Throughout my life, I have read books and historical works that bluntly distort the facts to satisfy the financial or political needs of an individual or a group of individuals. Having spent the majority of my life in an industry that cares little about unrealistic human behavior such as the type encountered within an artificial society, historical distortion becomes nuisance.  For those that know me, it is obvious, that my involvement with the marine industry has occupied the major part of my existence. From lower ranks to top ranks, the crew of a ship lives within an environment that is nothing less than real, there is nothing artificial about navigating a ship from one continent to another. The same sense of reality governs ship design and construction. 

Being a participant in both professions within the marine industry, captain and naval architect. It is with reluctance that I bring myself to this level of commenting on the literary work of Mr. Gavin Menzies.  From the start of my career, as a deck boy onboard cargos ships voyaging the rough waters of the Atlantic Ocean, it became apparent that mediocrity had no place within the marine industry. This type of upbringing creates an attitude to dismiss those that live in an unrealistic world of fantasy. Yet, I have to respect Dr. Luciano da Silva’s position; writing about historical events with no artifact or documented support is pure stupidity. Moreover, he continues by saying, individuals such as me have the responsibility to provide corrections when untruths and exaggerations involve maritime events, for the better of the community that surrounds us. Much like Dr. da Silva’s responsibility to provide medical corrections when distorted medical information circulates within his community.

Mr. Gavin Menzies describes events from the past representing great navigators that traveled the world’s oceans when the word realized that sea travel could be used to connect cultures located in continents apart. While describing events involving Chinese navigators, Mr. Menzies decided to exaggerate past methods of ship construction, maritime navigation, sea current behavior, racial origins and numerous other issues that according to his imagination supported a theory of his own not supported by present artifact or documented historical evidence. 

Unfortunately, individuals such as me, become so involved in the demands of our industry that finding time to comment on unrealistic theories is a waste of time. When thinking about numerous individuals with no technical knowledge, learning about past ship building techniques that helped create the present shipbuilding methods, from an imbecile like Mr. Menzies it is with no surprise that the majority of people do not know much about such topics. Making matters worse,  Mr. Menzies claims to be a Commander from the British Navy. 

Does his literary work merit an endorsement from the British Navy, perhaps, a Royal Knighthood? Regardless of how the Navy feels about Mr. Menzies, he has already proven to the maritime community that he is an imbecile distorting history for financial gain also, an embarrassment to any maritime organization that accepts him as a member.

The size of this brief article does not allow me to describe and correct, in detail, the numerous exaggerations and untruths presented within Mr. Menzies literary work. The corrections itself, provide enough content to write a fair size book. For those that are inquisitive, searching for correct answers about shipbuilding methods the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers will satisfy any curious mind. 

Much like, the Society of Naval Architects, the world is not short of museums with artifact and document evidence showing how ridiculous Mr. Menzies theories are.  Further, my professional life has take me from a deck boy to a naval architect installing and designing large vessels propelled with the latest technical innovations such as marine gas turbines and nuclear energy. Yet, I will find time, once requested, to explain in detail any misunderstanding about the marine industry, past and present, of Mr. Menzies creation.

Return