Michele Churchill is an inspiration for me. What could have been worse than Dunkirk, Hitler’s occupation of Europe, the prospect of an invasion, and a sympathetic FDR faced with an isolationist America?
Also, a year ago today Putin invaded Ukraine. All the pundits predicted that Kyiv would be occupied in days, and Ukraine would be crushed…
Michele Churchill is an inspiration for me. What could have been worse than Dunkirk, Hitler’s occupation of Europe, the prospect of an invasion, and a sympathetic FDR faced with an isolationist America?
Also, a year ago today Putin invaded Ukraine. All the pundits predicted that Kyiv would be occupied in days, and Ukraine would be crushed. A former comedian named Zelensky spoke about Ukrainian resistance and the fact that he expected to be captured or killed within few days. Purportedly, when the US offered to transport him out of Ukraine for a government in exile, he replied: “Send me ammunition, not transportation.”
From dark days Churchill was an inspiration that paved the way to D Day and VE Day. A year later, Zelensky remains an inspiration to his brave citizens and to many others.
At times I think of President Biden as the person who stands firm to support what is best for the American people and, globally, what is best for the world.
PERSONALLY, I THINK THAT THIS IS PRETTY DAMNED GOOD and tomorrow is another day.
Nice comparison, Keith. I have mixed feelings about Churchill, but he was certainly the right man in the right place during WWII. But then, my fav is Elizabeth I, certainly no saint. I admire both Zelensky and the Ukrainians. I have come to appreciate Biden a lot and get very tired with some here in Salem diss him, and I don't mean the party of death, but those who tout themselves as progressive. I just hope the party of death does not undermine our help to Ukraine. i saw this am a post on a next-door thread that complained about that.
Michelle When Churchill was good he was extraordinary and when he was bad he was terrible. His ego was unrivaled and his Nobel winning history of WW II should have been titled ‘How I won WW II.’ Still, he saved Great Britain, which is a remarkable personal accomplishment.
Elizabeth I is also one of my favorites, though Mary Queen of Scots would disagree.
Michelle In a seminar at Yale we were asked to determine what was the actual moment when power was transferred from James II to William & Mary. Among 8 oh-so-bright-history-scholars, we wrote papers that focused on 7 separate ‘decisive’ moments.
Twelve years later from Chile I wrote the professor that I had learned most about historical ‘decisive’ moments from that exercise. He was gobsmacked and said that he used my letter in a graduate course he was teaching on this subject.
What seems ‘decisive’ at the moment (and to later historians)? Worth pondering today.
Without his role in WW11, Churchill might have been judged as a rambunctious gad fly.
Yes, it is hard to determine later and it sounds like you were right on about decisive moments. I think a lot about such things. Right now I am wondering what would have happened in North America, for example, without the Europeans bringing smallpox. In some of the first chapters of Indigenous Continent the author discusses how smallpox decimated the Iroquois and how they went on mourning wars to resupply their population. Turned the whole area topsy turvy. Lots about small pox later on in other situations as well. I know that there are other factors, but this one is standing out to me as I read. That and the difference in world views between Native Americans and Europeans and later on the new USA.
I have a friend from eastern Poland who is visiting her friends in the Chicago area where she lived for about 30 years. Her enthusiasm for Zelenskyy was a pleasure to hear. Still recommending “Servant of the People” (with subtitles), which he wrote. Will add to it the reports and interviews with Ukrainians on MSNBC.)
Michele Churchill is an inspiration for me. What could have been worse than Dunkirk, Hitler’s occupation of Europe, the prospect of an invasion, and a sympathetic FDR faced with an isolationist America?
Also, a year ago today Putin invaded Ukraine. All the pundits predicted that Kyiv would be occupied in days, and Ukraine would be crushed. A former comedian named Zelensky spoke about Ukrainian resistance and the fact that he expected to be captured or killed within few days. Purportedly, when the US offered to transport him out of Ukraine for a government in exile, he replied: “Send me ammunition, not transportation.”
From dark days Churchill was an inspiration that paved the way to D Day and VE Day. A year later, Zelensky remains an inspiration to his brave citizens and to many others.
At times I think of President Biden as the person who stands firm to support what is best for the American people and, globally, what is best for the world.
PERSONALLY, I THINK THAT THIS IS PRETTY DAMNED GOOD and tomorrow is another day.
Nice comparison, Keith. I have mixed feelings about Churchill, but he was certainly the right man in the right place during WWII. But then, my fav is Elizabeth I, certainly no saint. I admire both Zelensky and the Ukrainians. I have come to appreciate Biden a lot and get very tired with some here in Salem diss him, and I don't mean the party of death, but those who tout themselves as progressive. I just hope the party of death does not undermine our help to Ukraine. i saw this am a post on a next-door thread that complained about that.
Michelle When Churchill was good he was extraordinary and when he was bad he was terrible. His ego was unrivaled and his Nobel winning history of WW II should have been titled ‘How I won WW II.’ Still, he saved Great Britain, which is a remarkable personal accomplishment.
Elizabeth I is also one of my favorites, though Mary Queen of Scots would disagree.
I agree to both. Mary has always fascinated me too, but I am not particularly a fan. And James, sigh.
Michelle In a seminar at Yale we were asked to determine what was the actual moment when power was transferred from James II to William & Mary. Among 8 oh-so-bright-history-scholars, we wrote papers that focused on 7 separate ‘decisive’ moments.
Twelve years later from Chile I wrote the professor that I had learned most about historical ‘decisive’ moments from that exercise. He was gobsmacked and said that he used my letter in a graduate course he was teaching on this subject.
What seems ‘decisive’ at the moment (and to later historians)? Worth pondering today.
Without his role in WW11, Churchill might have been judged as a rambunctious gad fly.
Yes, it is hard to determine later and it sounds like you were right on about decisive moments. I think a lot about such things. Right now I am wondering what would have happened in North America, for example, without the Europeans bringing smallpox. In some of the first chapters of Indigenous Continent the author discusses how smallpox decimated the Iroquois and how they went on mourning wars to resupply their population. Turned the whole area topsy turvy. Lots about small pox later on in other situations as well. I know that there are other factors, but this one is standing out to me as I read. That and the difference in world views between Native Americans and Europeans and later on the new USA.
I have a friend from eastern Poland who is visiting her friends in the Chicago area where she lived for about 30 years. Her enthusiasm for Zelenskyy was a pleasure to hear. Still recommending “Servant of the People” (with subtitles), which he wrote. Will add to it the reports and interviews with Ukrainians on MSNBC.)
So well said!
Sharon Historians rated Truman and Ike as mediocre presidents early on. Now, in retrospect, they are rated as ‘near great’ or better.
They now rate Trump as our worst president. I surmise that this will not change a generation hence.
With you all the way Keith
Me too!! I love the positive reinforcement today's posts are demonstrating. Thanks, Yall!