Sir Winston Churchill.
Even if many of us aren't old enough to remember this speech, we at least feel like we were, because we've heard it so often.
I'll set the scene: June 1940. Nazi Germany seemed to be doing pretty well. France was about to become part of Nazi Germany's spoils. Dunkirk had happened, many soldiers had died or been captured (who are too-often forgotten) and others had returned home. Morale was low.
Yet, this was just the beginning. As this speech shows, Churchill was just getting started. Somehow, with his way of words and many other factors, in five years the Allies' fortunes changed and the war was won. The extent Britain, America, Russia etc were the reasons behind this are neither here or there for this small rant. The point is we were down and we came up. This speech has never been forgotten - for many it's the epitome of British 'spunk'.
So, all these decades later. Well... where's it gone? Sure we're in a 'double-dip' recession and it's terrible. Unemployment's high, many people are losing their homes. I'm not denying it's a very bad situation. But isn't June 1940 evidence that a little bit of British optimism is sometimes a good thing? No one seems to be standing up and saying 'we're going to get through this'. It's all doom and gloom. For a Coalition Government, for a Labour Government. For any Government.
I know people will laugh at my optimism. Or my want of it. But think back to those days. I mean, sure, the recession isn't going to take a gun and shoot his mistress and then shoot himself in a bunker somewhere. Sure the Russians aren't going to come from another Front and help (although that would be nice). At least, I don't think that's the plan. The recession's not going to bomb Pearl Harbour and prompt the USA to do something. At least I hope not. Bombs are bad. The USA has too much to worry about.
But that's not the point. In 1940 no one knew those things were going to happen. The point is that someone should stand up and tell us we're going to fight this. Sure, it's going to be a long struggle. But without hope, how are we going to know it's going to get better?
That sounds like the beginning of a campaign. You have my vote. Sophie for PM!
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, that makes a lot of sense... Someone *should* be saying these things. It does feel like so much is out of our hands, but optimism is important especially with regards to the economy, because optimism and confidence are what make people invest in things.
ReplyDeleteWoo! I have a team! :P
ReplyDeleteExactly. No one's exactly going to be doing a jig every time the media tells us that everything's getting worse and we're not sure when it'll end. I'm all for freedom of the press, but I'm also all for the press, the politicians - everyone - trying to help make things better!
ReplyDeleteThat said, I'm not sure if David Cameron would be the right person to do something like that. Some people like him, but not nearly enough to actually make it worth someone.
Who would be right?
I get the impression this is why the iconic "keep calm and carry on" thing (which everyone is now sick of) touched a nerve with the nation... Like it kind of reminded everyone that while Brits might like a healthy dose of moaning and complaining, at one point our country was going through much worse times and people did actually try to keep their heads held high and carry on with life.
ReplyDeleteUgh, all the talk of this "double dip" thing is so depressing. A few days ago we woke up in another recession but it didn't feel any different to the week before... Everything is getting more expensive in the shops while people's wages are staying the same but it's not exactly the first time in recent history that the economy has been in the poo... Boom and bust, isn't this the natural state of flux the economy will always be in?