Posted on 09/03/2013 7:16:41 AM PDT by Kaslin
While reading a book about Winston Churchill framed in his own words, I was struck by the vast difference between his leadership and our contemporary crop of leaders here in America. Where are the statesmen among us?
When President John F. Kennedy made Churchill an honorary American citizen in April, 1963, Kennedy said of him, In the dark days and darker nights when Britain stood alone -- and most men save Englishmen despaired of Englands life -- he mobilized the English language and sent it into battle. The incandescent quality of his words illuminated the courage of his countrymen.
Contrast that with todays Twitter style of superficial, sound-bite leadership, where even the President of the United States, rather than mobilizing the English language and sending it into battle, tweets out meaningless slogans like Love is love (this in defense of same-sex marriage), thereby lowering himself to the level of the masses that he is supposed to lead and call higher.
Speaking of Churchill, the great British historian noted that, Throughout his six decades in the public eye and in public life, he understood and wielded the power of words. . . . Churchill used words for different purposes: to argue for moral and political causes, to advocate courses of action in the social, national and international spheres, and to tell the story of his own life and that of Britain and its place in the world.
Who among our current national leaders in particular in the political sphere is in the same universe as Churchill? Who among them is utilizing the power of words to inspire the populace, to build a vision of the future by telling the story of the past, to raise a standard of moral excellence? Can you name one?
Who among our current national leaders even has memorable quotes quotes that will stand the test of the generations like some of Churchills classic axioms, including, Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. And, In war, resolution; in defeat, defiance; in victory, magnanimity. And, perhaps his best known words, Never give innever, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.
Contrast this with the current administrations waffling over Syria, making America appear to the world like a paper tiger, and the glaring lack of senior statesmen in our midst becomes all the more clear.
And on the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther Kings I Have a Dream speech, the contrast between Dr. Kings leadership (despite his personal moral failures) and the current generation of Civil Rights leaders is immense.
Compare some of Kings most memorable words, still ringing true and still piercing the conscience more than half a century after his death, with the words of his best-known successors, like Rev. Al Sharpton.
For example, from Dr. King: Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. And, History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people. And, Never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal. And, Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness.
Then, from Rev. Sharpton, in conjunction with the recent festivities honoring Dr. Kings 1963 speech: We must give us our young people dreams again. You build jails, closed schools and break their dream and you wonder why they are wearing saggy pants. Come again?
We have even lost our ability to speak to the nations with moral authority, to the point that a grizzled veteran like Senator John McCain, marked for life by the torture he experienced as a POW, had this to say with regard to the conflict in Syria, Get the right weapons to the right people and we can turn this around and uh it is not that difficult. These are good people, I was in Syria with them and to say that we can't get the right weapons to the right people frankly is a cop out.
Yes, by good people, Senator McCain is referring to the Al-Qaeda backed freedom fighters, also responsible for committing atrocities against Syrias Christian population. And while it is true that the situation in Syria is terribly muddled, our own stance is equally muddled (not to mention our stance concerning Egypt). Where is our moral clarity?
Where are the statesmen like President Ronald Reagan, who transcended his cheap Hollywood background and became the leader who stood up to the Soviet Union?
Speaking in June, 1987 by the Brandenburg Gate near the Berlin Wall, he declared, There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace. General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!
Not long after, the wall came tumbling down.
Our nation will not rise beyond its leaders, and if we are to recover our greatness, we must pray for men and women of courage and conviction to arise, people savvy enough to reach our shallow, contemporary culture but deep enough to bring a transcendent message that will inspire.
Its a tall order, but its possible. More importantly, its imperative.
She’s in Alaska.
I’ve seen that photo many times. Is it real or photoshopped? If real, what on earth is McCain doing at that moment?
Al has not earned the title of Rev. He never went to divinity school, never had a church, never had a congregation. Same is true for Jesse Jackson. Al was "ordained" by a DC preacher when he was 10 years old, yet he perpetuates the lie.
I have posted in other threads that we ‘need a statesman to clean up the messes caused by the last 4 president.’
It is difficult to find a person who is more concerned about the future of the nation than in his/her own personal power and wealth.
Many went to Washington with bright ideals, but they quickly succumb to the seductive power of politics. It is a long way from feet of clay to statues of bronze.
What great quotes. Thanks for posting.
Unfortunately, the term “statesman” has always been a misnomer. And, over the years, the “state” part of the word has become the operative word. Certainly, we’ve seen no real “men” for several years - almost anywhere on the globe.
The truth of the matter is that any great “statesman” has always backed up their words with outstanding action and deeds. So it was with Churchill, even Thatcher (who had the spine and figurative balls of a man), Reagan (PATCO, the Wall, Star Wars etc.) and the like.
What we now have is a prayer-rugged, curtain-hanging puppet community organizer/disrupter who can only “state,” not “do”. And when he decides to try and “do,” he lies or f@cks it up and has to regroup and re-message the optics.
Yes!! Is that a REAL photo??
Makes the pettiness of the return of the Churchill bust more understandable.
‘zackly.
Great stuff... thanks for the post...
If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without blood shed; if you will not fight when your victory is sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves.
— Winston Churchill
Here's the last one I'm likely to see in my lifetime.
True statesmen are principled.
They understand that our individual rights come from God, not men, and that those rights are therefore unalienable.
They understand that just government exists to secure those rights.
We’ve been scouring the land for such people. Finding a few. Having to raise up the rest from the grassroots.
http://www.selfgovernment.us/be-a-leader.html
Happened to be reading Manchester's epic three volume biography of Churchill. Before Hitler's violation of the Versailles Treaty, Churchill sternly forewarned the British people and the Parliament in a series of editorials and speeches. Then as Hitler made every move from taking over the demilitarized Rhineland, to the Anschluss with Austria to the destruction of the Czech border etc., Churchill castigated PM Chamberlain in public and in private for holding his own legacy and reelection as paramount over Britain's survival.
We are very similar straits today with a pretender, a parvenu not only vainer narcissist than Chamberlain, but one who cannot even hold a candle to the average man's successful career. Yet it took events driven by the Nazi's and the relentless outspoken character Churchill to get the attention of the Brits before they moved a muscle and ousted Chamberlain. To be a Churchill takes maturity, experience and unmatched courage as even a vivid sense of history is useless without the ability to articulate patriotism to your government and your people.
There may be a few in Washington today who can do the job yet they are likely too young...Gowdy and Lee come to mind.
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