Churchill in 1896 A little more than 100 years ago, this was Churchill's view in 1899. The attached is a short speech, delivered by Winston Churchill in 1899 when he was a young soldier and journalist.
It probably sets out the current views of many but expressed in the wonderful Churchillian turn of phrase and use of the English language, of which he was a past master.
"How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries!
Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy.
The effects are apparent in many countries, improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live.
A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement the next of its dignity and sanctity.
The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.
Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities, but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it.
No stronger retrograde force exists in the world.
Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith.
It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome ."
This picture of Churchill with Aristotle Onassis was taken in 1963.
11 comments:
Why is it that modern man refuses to listen to men of wisdom?
If Churchill could rap from his grave, modern metrosexual man might listen.
Churchill ranted about the tendency to wait until the "last ditch" before realizing the seriousness of a situation.
Great post.
To our great detriment, there are few great statesmen in our time, none in active service and none who have the ear of the media and the public.
His mother's son.
I came across Churchills views on Mohamedism some decades ago when studying as a youngling but let them pass as an irrelevance... oops.
Churchill was indeed a wise man.
Great post!
Sig,, Most excellent post! I have long admired Sir Winston but not knew of these words, Thank You!
>Why is it that modern man refuses to listen to men of wisdom?
Because listening to the truth implies a responsibility to adhere to it. And that would mean changing.
No modern statesman dares to say it the way Churchill did.
Post a Comment