patriotism

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12.9.40 [George Orwell]

September 12, 2010 in Churchill, East End, Elephant and Castle, Hitler, Ireland, Political, Scotland, South Coast, War-time, Warsaw, West End, air force, air-raids, bombs, destruction, garage hand, homeless, invasion, patriotism, pessimism, profit, revolution, rich, south London, stephen spender, war by orwelldiaries

As soon as the air-raids began seriously it was noticeable that people were much readier than before to talk to strangers in the street. . . . . This morning met a youth of about 20, in dirty overalls, perhaps a garage hand.  Very embittered and defeatist about the war, and horrified by the destruction he had seen in South London.  He said that Churchill had visited the bombed area near the Elephant[1] and at a spot where 20 out of 22 houses had been destroyed, remarked that it was “not so bad”.  The youth: “I’d have wrung his bloody neck if he’d said it to me.” He was pessimistic about the war, considered Hitler was sure to win and would reduce London to much the same state as Warsaw.  He spoke bitterly about the people rendered homeless in South London and eagerly took up my point when I said the empty houses in the West End should be requisitioned for them.  He considered that all wars were fought for the profit of the rich, but agreed with me that this one would probably end in revolution.  With all this he was not unpatriotic.  Part of his grouch was that he had tried to join the Air Force 4 times in the last 6 months, and always been put off.

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17.6.40 [George Orwell]

June 17, 2010 in Canada, Canada House, Gwen O’Shaughnessy, Paris, Political, Scottish private, Underground, War-time, evacuation, french, german, medals, navy, newspapers, patriotism, review, surrender by orwelldiaries

The French have surrendered. This could be foreseen from last night’s broadcast and in fact should have been foreseeable when they failed to defend Paris, the one place where it might have been possible to stop the German tanks. Strategically all turns on the French fleet, of which there is no news yet…

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