Saturday, February 18, 2006

Oh for another Churchill!

We shall fight on the beaches

"We shall fight on the beaches. We shall fight on the landing grounds. We shall fight in the fields, and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender!" -- Churchill Speech, about Dunkirk, House of Commons, June 4, 1940

Never Give In

"Never give in--never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.'' -- Churchill Speech, Harrow, October 29, 1941

Mark Alexander

5 comments:

von Schlichtningen said...

And here is Churchill’s view on Islam (from The River War, first edition, Vol. II, pp. 248-50. London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1899):

How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property – either as a child, a wife, or a concubine – must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men. Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen; all know how to die; but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science – the science against which it had vainly struggled – the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome.

Always On Watch said...

VS,
I practically know that quote by heart.

von Schlichtningen said...

Is it not great though. C. was a genious. 107 years or so has not changed much.

Christine said...

If he could only see them now!

Mark said...

Churchill certainly knew what Islam was all about!