Posted on 02/23/2009 9:37:02 AM PST by scottdeus12
Has America's even- tempered new president already ruffled feathers in the land that spawned Borat and Benny Hill? That's certainly how the spiky British press responded after the White House sent back to the British Embassy a bust of Sir Winston Churchill that had occupied a cherished spot in President Bush's Oval Office. Intended as a symbol of transatlantic solidarity, the bust was a loaner from former British prime minister Tony Blair following the September 11 attacks. A bust of Abraham Lincoln—Obama's historical hero—now sits in its place. A White House spokesperson says the Churchill bust was removed before Obama's inauguration as part of the usual changeover operations, adding that every president puts his own stamp on the Oval Office.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...
“Damn glad we won, but any British gentleman would have been just as sufficient as Prime Minister.”
Not so. Churchill inspired the nation to fight on. Any other possible Prime Minister would have probably made peace with Hitler after the fall of France. Hitler certainly expected that to happen, and most British politicians were resigned to that happening. Of course, I find it hard to imagine such a peace enduring for ever.
-PJ
Britain lost over a million in WWI. France even more.
You make a very good point, could the Allied Forces have been victorious if not for U.S. entry. As a Yank, perhaps I’m a little too exuberant in saying no, although the patriotic Brits and freedom loving Europeans who were fighting the resistance certainly paid a heavy price in blood and misery.
Stalin wanted the US to open a second front by immediately invading Europe; Churchill strongly objected, arguing that the Americans were naive to think they were yet the equal of the Wermacht. An American invasion of Europe in 1942 might have distracted Germany from the Eastern Front, but it would have resulted in the Iron Curtain falling in the Atlantic Ocean, not central Eurpoe.
Churchill was right, Stalin was wrong, and, yet, you choose to criticize Churchill.
Go figure.
No way, the British public wouldn’t have tolerated that even for one nano-second. England back then (pre-liberalism and pre-Islamic invasion) had a back bon and a big pair.
The Brits fought hard and they fought valiantly and many of them paid the ultimate price so let’s not diminish their sacrifice by heaping undeserved praise on Churchill.
As for WWI, I was always under the impression that Englad lost 3 million in that war.
I agree — a real art — akin to getting the right head on a Guinness. Barfsack gould do neither even if he were born over again.
Are you nuts? Stalin is on par with Hitler, but Churchill receives undue appreciation bordering on idol worship from people who have little grasp of historic events.
I don't think the Obama Administration is aware of the concept of "signals". The Brit Press understands them and will give Obama the normal respect it gives politicians (SFA).
The higher political decision makers will avoid commenting, leading Obama to assume they understand him. They will, but it'll be "this Obama chappie: not pukka, you know"
Could all end in tears, and I don't think Obama is capable of realising it
Et dona ferentes IN EXTENDED observation of the ways and works of man,
From the Four-mile Radius roughly to the Plains of Hindustan:
I have drunk with mixed assemblies, seen the racial ruction rise,
And the men of half Creation damning half Creation's eyes.
I have watched them in their tantrums, all that Pentecostal crew,
French, Italian, Arab, Spaniard, Dutch and Greek, and Russ and Jew,
Celt and savage, buff and ochre, cream and yellow, mauve and white,
But it never really mattered till the English grew polite;
.....>- Rudyard Kipling
(Two years later there was still tension between Britain and the United States. See Kipling’s letter to Charles Eliot Norton of 16 August 1897 [Letters Vol 2, Ed. Pinney], which quotes an editorial from the Spectator of 14 August 1897 which argued that American political leaders, not the American public, were distinctly hostile towards England and were exploiting the ignorant patriotism of the country. The editorial repeated the line which with which Kipling closed “Et Dona Ferentes”:
‘But oh, beware my country when my country grows polite’. )
Ungrateful, arrogant, insolent, ignorant, impudent, uncompromising, incapable, gauche——I could go on. Makes the most antagonistic middle-schooler look mature by comparison.
adding that every president puts his own stamp on the Oval Office/obama to use a ussr flag.
“Ungrateful, arrogant, insolent, ignorant, impudent, uncompromising, incapable, gauche——I could go on. Makes the most antagonistic middle-schooler look mature by comparison.”
I agree. However, we can say the same for the majority voters in America who put a check next to his name.
This is what happens to a civilization that forgets about God. It happens every 200 or so years. I’m praying for repentance in America; although I don’t think we will do that until we hit rock bottom.
LOL....thanks for that laugh!
How about option 3, KEEP IT ON DISPLAY?
It wasn’t just “on loan” from Tony Blair, it was a goodwill offering after 09/11 and it was an insult to Britain. Most especially in the manner he “returned” it.
See it how you want, but in my opinion, it was one more act that shows the lack of class of Obama and just what a complete tool he is.
Amen. You have identified The REAL ANSWER-—JESUS.
For someone claiming to be a professor you are singularly ill informed!
Churchill most certainly did go to war, both as a war correspondent and as a soldier, where he was noted for his bravery..
He saw action up on the North West Frontier (where Al Qaeda is hiding out now) fighting the Pashtun, he served under Kitchener in The Sudan. He took part in the last Cavalry charge of the British army at Ladysmith. He was also captured by the Boers in South Africa and escaped. He Commanded the Queens Own Oxfordshire Hussars in the Territorial Service and served on the Western Front of WW I as Commander of the 6th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers
And the Yanks didn't win the war on their own..so don't go off on THAT tack..
All I’m saying is that we really need to reserve our criticisms of Obama to the things that really matter.
The article says the bust was “on loan” (as does every other available article out there). It also says it was returned BEFORE the Inauguration.
We don’t KNOW that Obama did anything other than say “I’d rather not have that on display in my office.” And there is nothing wrong with that.
Sure, it could’ve been handled differently. But there’s nothing to suggest that Obama was the one to bungle the return.
And in some cases copious samples of DNA, in the carpet, under the desk, and various other places.
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