July 13, 2007
WESTERN BONELESS WONDERS
Andrew Roberts is the author of "A History of the English-Speaking Peoples Since 1900." His eloquent article, At stake in the Iraq war: survival of a way of life, begins with the following words:
"Unless the English-speaking peoples step up, they'll lose the great struggle against radical, totalitarian Islam..." Read the rest here.
Roberts book is a coda to Churchill's own work on the history of the English speaking peoples. As we watch the current replay of earlier wars, it's hard not to think that most Western politicians are born with an appeasement gene that overrides any knowledge they possess of history. Then again, it's up to real leaders to rouse the rest of us from our usual desire for comfort and ease, and thus far, no Churchills are in sight. Were Sir Winston alive today, we think he would modify the following comments to include Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and all their liberal colleagues.
"I remember when I was a child, being taken to the celebrated Barnum's Circus, which contained an exhibition of freaks and monstrosities, but the exhibit on the program which I most desired to see was the one described as 'The Boneless Wonder.' My parents judged that the spectacle would be too demoralizing and revolting for my youthful eye, and I have waited 50 years to see The Boneless Wonder--sitting on the Treasury Bench."
--Winston Churchill, January 28, 1931,
in the House of Commons, referring to Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald
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Comments
Bear in mind that when he said that, and for many years after, Churchill was an isolated political failure making his living from political columns in newspapers (a sure sign of the political has-been), disliked on both sides of the house, routinely insulted by the media, widely regarded as a serial turncoat, and doing well to hang on to a place in Parliament.
Posted by: Paolo![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://doctor-horsefeathers.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at July 13, 2007 01:03 PM
The Andrew Roberts book is a splendid read and I think his thesis -the importance of the unity of the English-speaking peoples- is generally correct. What he lacks is the reason why the English-speaking West may be losing its will to fight.
Mark Steyn has pointed out that only the USA and New Zealand have anywhere near 2.1 replacement rate birthrate. In societies in which most FAMILIES have only one child or one cousin or one nephew or one niece or one grandchild they because less and less prepared to risk that one precious life on the battlefield. Of course by sexual suicide and automobile accidents countless more lives are prevented or lost than will ever be lost on the battlefields of Iraq or Afghanistan. One doubts that we have the ability to politically endure Civil War level casualties or WWI or WWII level casualties. The enemy thinks this too and this is what gives them hope for ultimate victory. First Iraq and tomrrow Europe and Britain. The USA will not be far behind. The moment of crisis, economic and military should come before the 21st century is out. Will our free institutions survive? Previously I had no doubts whatsoever but I have come to believe we are livng in the era that will be known as the Later Republic. With WMD terrorism and uncontrolled illegal immigration the age of the dictator may be closer than we thing. How Washington and Lincoln and the Roosevelts would have wept. Yes the Roosevelts -they produced very large famiies and quite a few heroes and patriots. Their demography is of another age. An age of American confidence and civic virtue unlikely ever to be surpassed.
Posted by: Richard "Ricardo" Munro![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://doctor-horsefeathers.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at July 24, 2007 01:13 AM
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