I’ll read anything on Winston Churchill. He came upon the global stage at a time when the free world desperately needed a man of his backbone. I see his words and deeds and wonder if not another statesman like him exists today. The Brits know our (can I speak for you?) admiration for the man and bait us into reading articles on him with candy like this:
Americans love Sir Winston Churchill. That much has been obvious since even before 1963, when President Kennedy gave him the only honorary US citizenship ever awarded to a living person. Yet, in the half-century since then, that admiration and affection hasn’t abated; he is one of the only non‑Americans to have a US warship (USS Winston Churchill) named after him, and as many books are published about him in America as in Britain.
Just my luck, the Morgan Library and Museum in New York is having a exhibition on him. And I am far from the Big Apple. One interesting fact from the article I did not know, Sir Winston got into a car accident two blocks from where I used to live on E. 77th St. (One of several places I hung my hat in the ol’ En Why See.) The exhibition has the letter as proof:
And a funny letter written by Otto C Pickhardt, Churchill’s doctor, after he was nearly killed by a car on Fifth Avenue, between 76th and 77th Street, in December 1931, which reads: “This is to certify that the post-accident convalescence of Hon Winston S Churchill necessitates the use of alcoholic spirits especially at mealtimes.” This at a time when America was in the grip of Prohibition. “The quantity is naturally indefinite but the minimum requirements would be 250 cubic centimeters.” (Dr Pickhardt presumably meant centilitres, but that’s still a third of a bottle.)
Necessitates the use of? Gotta love doctors. Where can we find us a statesman of Sir Winston Churchill’s caliber?
It could be, Navy One, the reason Americans love this man is because his own mother was an American…and there are others like him coming out of the woodwork, even in Britain (I wonder when it’ll ever be Great again?) Daniel Hannan for one…in fact, I wish this man was an American, but as luck would have it, he’s a Brit..we do have some coming out of our own woodwork…Ted Cruz…Sarah Palin…Bobby Jindal, Marco Rubio…and many others too numerous to mention….upon closer examination, they are there, but dismissed by a callous and way too liberal media…k
Oblamo is not one of his fans. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/9436526/White-House-admits-it-did-return-Winston-Churchill-bust-to-Britain.html.
Imagine my suprise.
Winnie was a cool dude…not afraid to piss people off.
Undoubtedly, Winston Churchill was a great man, not for just the British, not for just the Anglosphere, but for humanity. Go read his quotes at any of the websites. It’s uplifting, inspirational, and even the most cynic, short sighted, self interested person will be better for it.
Sir
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill.1874-1965.
Just recently I travelled to Oxfordshire on business, after which I took a slight detour to the village of ‘Bladon’, where upon I visited the Great Man’s resting place at The Parish Church of Saint Martin. He lays interred with his beloved wife, Lady Clementine Ogilvy Spencer Churchill.
‘Churchill’ could have been buried alongside the great men & woman of British history in Saint Paul’s Cathedral or Westminster Abbey. Instead he left detailed instructions that his final resting place would be that of an English church yard surrounded by the graves of his family. No floodlights, no soldiers on guard duty.
Just a humble church yard like hundreds of others with local people nearby going about their daily business, representing a way of life that ‘Churchill’ was determined to preserve, (“we shall defend our Island, what ever the cost may be”)!
Close by is the ancestral home of his birth, Blenheim Palace, bestowed upon his ancestor John Churchill, (Duke of Marlborough) by Queen Anne in recognition of his famous victories over the French in the early 18th Century.
‘Churchill’ used it throughout his life, he lived there until his death. ‘Churchill’ was the grandson of the 7th Duke of Marlborough.Blenheim Palace is now a World Heritage Site well worth a visit should any reader visit these shores.
Please excuse the following ‘rant’. which is a political one, some thing I normally never do discuss outside of my home, BUT;
The ‘Great’ still pre-fixes Britain in the old sense, it has simply been laid to rest for a short while. The last ‘Socialist’ Labour Government tried to bury it forever but it failed miserably, it lies protected by those that have served and continue to do so!
It will be resurrected when the ‘sandal wearing, beard covered’ Liberal-Dems are kicked out of the present coalition government, and a true full blown ‘blue nosed’ Conservative (US Republican equivalent) government stands up to be counted, as it did with ‘Maggie Thatcher’ at the helm.
We do have some great Ministers of Parliament among the corridors of power. The better ones being ex-serving members of HM Forces. Had David Davis (ex 21 SAS Regiment) been successful on his leadership bid to take over the Conservative Party we would not even have a coalition government; and the ‘Great’ would have been put back in its rightful place where it truly belongs, (Davis still walks the walk-around the same corridors, more stealth like than ever).
Incidentally; Daniel Hannan is one of my favourite political orators; alongside Nigel Farage of The United Kingdom Independent Party, (look for his speeches on you tube, where he ridicules the leaders/headless chickens of the despised European Parliament).
Back to the original topic; Rant complete!
If I may be so bold to include the following quotes from the Great Man himself…
Two in particular are embedded in my mind from 9 months of basic training at the Commando Training Centre, Royal Marines, (they were printed inside my locker door by the previous incumbent).
1. “Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever lengthening , ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb”.
2. “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference”.
CTC RM; (60 recruits started-45 fell by the wayside-15 finished as fully fledged Royal Marines and then the real adventures started)…
Upon the issue of my green beret I carried the following quote within it (or its replacement) for 23 years).
“Never, never, never give in!”
(I never did once, and I never will for as long as I draw breath).
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, in my time; the greatest Englishman that ever lived.
Yours Aye,
Ex Bootneck
First off, might I ask commenters to refrain from denigrating the current administration here? NavyOne IS active duty, and comments that could be considered ‘disrespectful’ of the current administration could possibly get him in trouble ……………………………… remember the USMC SSgt & his Facebook issues?
Secondly, my recommendation for today’s Sir Winston would be Representative Allen West, USA {Ret} – for a long time I was hoping Stormin’ Norman Schwartzkopf would run for national office, but understand his reluctance. John Bolton is another American who pulls no punches.
Semper Fi’
DM
Not that I really find this relevant, but no one denigrated the current administration in this particular instance or in this specific posting…there’s lots to find fault with, but Navy One won’t talk about it as is appropriate for his current status and I don’t disagree…and when I served under Jimmy Carter, I didn’t comment either regardless of what I felt personally about him…I have to wonder why you brought it up? Just askin’….k
Check out NavyDavy’s post – tell me it isn’t disrespectful/dismissive of the current admin?
Semper Fi’
DM
I did and it isn’t Navy One or even NavyDavy being disrespectful but the Daily Mail, a British newspaper…and unfortunately, as much as there is to complain about in the world, and with everything transpiring within this politically charged atmosphere even here and in the military and on active duty, there’s no avoiding it; this is reality…and I understand your dismay (not sure that’s the word?), consternation and so forth, but Navy One does not need to respond which is something he’s done often enough and managed to stay above the fray, or even below it, if you will..he has no connection to those who choose to post things that might not be terribly complimentary to the current administration…I’ve seen those things too and actually I find out more from reading these across the pond postings than from our own media…k
It’s a matter of “watching Navy One’s six” – ensuring that “we”, his readers/commenters, don’t ‘say’ or refer to anything that could get HIM in hot water with higher-ups …………………………..
Semper Fi’
DM
Disrespectful? IMO Easy to do with this administration.
Dismissive? Hope not.
How about truthful? Is there something in my post/link that isn’t?
I don’t speak for Navy One nor do I intend to watch out for his “six”.
What I post are my opinions.
You can ask me to refrain from posting non PC comments on your blog but as I recall the rules here on N1s blog are ” No Questionable Content, Indelicate Writing or Poor Arithmetic”. Im sure if I break the rules I’ll be gone to the blogosphere.
Ahh, you are okay Davy. I like your comments. Don’t stop, Shipmate.
I appreciate DM looking out too. I can step over the line. . .
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CP: That is quite a good list of politicians.
NavyDavy: I saw that. Interesting.
Guaman: I concur completely.
Sergeant Major: That is what I would call an informed response. I like it so much, I published it as its own post. Great story of you reading the inside of your locker. “Never, never, never give in!”
DM: Thanks for running interference! Allen West is truly a great American. I think the world of him.
Kris and DM: I love the impassioned comments. I think I am in a gray area, and thus okay. Still, DM please continue to ride shotgun and fire at will! Thanks gals. . .
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I love Winston Churchill.
What’s wrong with saying anything against this administration anyway?
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