(One of a series of posts on the life of Winston S. Churchill.)
On September 6, 1943 Churchill spoke at Harvard University. He has just come from Quebec, where together with Roosevelt and their top military aides, the decision had been made to launch the invasion we know as D-Day.
Churchill spoke to the blood and toil of the war in progress. Then he turned to consider the world that would emerge from the war. What should guide us then?
Law, language, literature - these are considerable factors. Common conceptions of what is right and decent, a marked regard for fair play, especially to the weak and poor, a stern sentiment of impartial justice, and above all the love of personal freedom.They’re word’s for today, aren’t they.
We do not war primarily with races as such. Tyranny is our foe, whatever trappings or disguise it wears, whatever language it speaks, be it external or internal, we must forever be on our guard, ever mobilized, ever vigilant, always ready to spring at its throat.
In all this, we march together. Not only do we march and strive shoulder to shoulder at this moment under the fire of the enemy on the fields of war or in the air, but also in those realms of thought which are consecrated to the rights and the dignity of man.
Churchill’s entire speech is here, and followed by comments from a student who heard it.
The text copy of Churchill's speech and the student comments are courtesy of The Churchill Centre.
1 comments:
"Tyranny is our foe, whatever trappings or disguise it wears, whatever language it speaks, be it external or internal, we must forever be on our guard, ever mobilized, ever vigilant, always ready to spring at its throat."-Churchill
A most eloquent alert for our time. Is it any wonder that an entire nation and to a lesser extent an entire free world were shored up by the strength of his words and the wisdom of his philosophy? No, no it isn't any
wonder at all. Too bad we don't have him now.
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