An excerpt from Winston Churchill’s book, The River War: An Historical Account of the Reconquest of the Soudan (1899):
"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. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen: all know how to die: 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 civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome."
Winston Churchill had a good vocabulary:
ReplyDelete• votary
a person who is bound by solemn religious vows, as a monk or a nun.
an adherent of a religion or cult; a worshiper of a particular deity or sacred personage.
a person who is devoted or addicted to some subject or pursuit.
a devoted follower or admirer.
• improvident
not thinking about and providing for the future
• moribund
being in the state of dying : approaching death
• proselytize
To encourage or induce people to join a religious movement, political party, or other cause or organization.
Winston Churchill was famous for comeback put downs. A favorite:
ReplyDeleteLate in the evening at a drinking party Churchill stumbled out onto the porch and bumped into Parliament member Bessie Braddock who told him, "Winston Churchill, you are drunk! And what's more you are disgustingly drunk!"
Churchill answered her:
“My dear, yes, I am drunk. But you are ugly. In the morning I shall be sober. But you will still be ugly.”