Sunday, June 27, 2004
Winston Churchill, apostle of freedom and democracy!!
Last month, I had made a post about the unthinking deification of Winston Churchill in the West, especially in the United States. Sure, he was a creature of his times, but I am not sure why historians (for the most part) gloss over some of the outrageous things Churchill has said. The outrageous things would give future generations a more nuanced view of the man rather than the mindless glorification in vogue today.
Anyway, Prashant Kothari offers us some more Churchillian gems.
On Eugenics:
'The unnatural and increasingly rapid growth of the feeble-minded and insane classes, coupled as it is with a steady restriction among the thrifty, energetic and superior stocks, constitutes a national and race danger which it is impossible to exaggerate ... I feel that the source from which the stream of madness is fed should be cut off and sealed up before another year has passed.'
About the use of gas against Arabs in Iraq:
'I do not understand the squeamishness about the use of gas. I am strongly in favour of using poison gas against uncivilised tribes"
On Hitler (in 1937):
'One may dislike Hitler's system and yet admire his patriotic achievement. If our country were defeated, I hope we should find a champion as indomitable to restore our courage and lead us back to our place among the nations.'
To these, let me add a few more Churchillian quotes that I found recently.
On "lower races":
'I do not admit... that a great wrong has been done to the Red Indians of America, or the black people of Australia... by the fact that a stronger race, a higher grade race... has come in and taken its place.'
On the Irish:
'The choice was clearly open: crush them with vain and unstinted force, or try to give them what they want. These were the only alternatives and most people were unprepared for either. Here indeed was the Irish spectre - horrid and inexorcisable.'
This, then, is the Briton of the Century. Everyone is free to make up their minds on the greatness of individuals, but I do believe these decisions should be made after at least a feeble attempt to ascertain the whole truth. That's all I ask of those writers of history -- the winners.
Anyway, Prashant Kothari offers us some more Churchillian gems.
On Eugenics:
'The unnatural and increasingly rapid growth of the feeble-minded and insane classes, coupled as it is with a steady restriction among the thrifty, energetic and superior stocks, constitutes a national and race danger which it is impossible to exaggerate ... I feel that the source from which the stream of madness is fed should be cut off and sealed up before another year has passed.'
About the use of gas against Arabs in Iraq:
'I do not understand the squeamishness about the use of gas. I am strongly in favour of using poison gas against uncivilised tribes"
On Hitler (in 1937):
'One may dislike Hitler's system and yet admire his patriotic achievement. If our country were defeated, I hope we should find a champion as indomitable to restore our courage and lead us back to our place among the nations.'
To these, let me add a few more Churchillian quotes that I found recently.
On "lower races":
'I do not admit... that a great wrong has been done to the Red Indians of America, or the black people of Australia... by the fact that a stronger race, a higher grade race... has come in and taken its place.'
On the Irish:
'The choice was clearly open: crush them with vain and unstinted force, or try to give them what they want. These were the only alternatives and most people were unprepared for either. Here indeed was the Irish spectre - horrid and inexorcisable.'
This, then, is the Briton of the Century. Everyone is free to make up their minds on the greatness of individuals, but I do believe these decisions should be made after at least a feeble attempt to ascertain the whole truth. That's all I ask of those writers of history -- the winners.
