Neville Chamberlain: "My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time...Go home and get a nice quiet sleep."Sept. 30, 1938 ~ Winston Churchill: "Owing to the neglect of our defences and the mishandling of the German problem in the last five years, we seem to be very near the bleak choice between War and Shame. My feeling is that we shall choose Shame, and then have War thrown in a little later, on even more adverse terms than at present."Winston Churchill in a letter to Lord Moyne, 1938
We have at last managed to turn up here, Arriving so near again to our hope filled pain. Trusting was our finite howler; Waiting on frauds to usher in our word. Let us question this; our recent path. Let us notice its pebbles of truth Shattered and scattered along the edge. Peace with principle, it seems, shall not be, So let us trust ourselves to forge anew.
“No! Damn them! Damn them all to hell!” “We’ve done our part! They’ll abandon us no more!” “I’m tired of their games! We’ve now lost our way!” “To hell with power and deceit and endless war!”
Forge an alternative, not lay down with these wolves Then sucking at their bloody fangs in our defeat. Stand up now! Rise up! Wake my friends! Stir Your next boil and look ahead of war and greed And gutless indifference of the enemies of truth.
“No! No! Damn them! Damn them! Damn them!” “We’ve bled enough only to have this spawn!” “Yes! Enough! There’s no more we can possibly do!” “Yes! To hell with power and blood and their oily con!”
Let us not, in the course of that last bleak choice Between an endless war and our great shame, Choose dishonor’s tawdry whip, Nor choose the wretched blood of warfare, Instead let us choose to rise again With the same minds that brought us So near to our hope filled burning. The men and women fight the war over there Knowing we’ll lunge in battle for them here! Set straight thy bending will and vigor, Align your minds and breathe, yet again, The air that shall not forsake you!
“Yes! We must not allow them to defeat us!” “Yes! Let us march and bray upon the streets!” “We must choose a new path, a new leadership!” “Yes! To hell with power and war and deceit!”
March ever onward toward the ruffled truth, Seeking new paths that will lead us to peace. Do not allow their weakness to parade as power. O! What challenges us only strengthens our resolve! Knock the will of truth into their sporadic souls, For, when faced with resistance, their lips Shall split open with a new accord… And then we’ll say,
Neville Chamberlain:"My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time...Go home and get a nice quiet sleep." Sept. 30, 1938
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Winston Churchill:
"Owing to the neglect of our defences and the mishandling of the German problem in the last five years, we seem to be very near the bleak choice between War and Shame. My feeling is that we shall choose Shame, and then have War thrown in a little later, on even more adverse terms than at present." Winston Churchill in a letter to Lord Moyne, 1938
(A Poetic Justice Photomontage)