Applauding a film about Churchill has something to
do with, as Simon Kelner says, "a nostalgic feeling", but much more to do with
the result of years of manipulating history by modern governments (All cheer the
flawed hero in our time of need, 17.01.18). The people have been drip-fed a
distorted version of a mythical "glorious past", and that includes of the heroic
wartime leader, whose lack of principle and humanity led to a "crossing of the
floor" twice, and the death of millions of Bengals, and whose words, "Very well,
alone" have led to a nationwide amnesia about the country`s indebtness to the
colonies for their contribution in the war.
Churchill would be as
unelectable now as he was in 1945; not only was there his own history of being
anti-union and worker, but his opposition to the welfare state, which, according
to the Tories typically, could not be afforded, and would, in Churchill`s words,
lead to Attlee needing to set up "some form of Gestapo". Thank goodness for the
wisdom of the 1945 electorate! The shame is that the triumphalism of our history
has, in part, led to the ridiculous and arrogant idea that we do not need
Europe!
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