A year later [1937] the great philosopher Bertrand Russell told a cheering crowd in London that if the Nazis were foolish enough to invade Britain, they should be welcomed like tourists, since even successful resistance will cause more damage then peaceful conquest.From the book Where Have All the Soldiers Gone?: The Transformation of Modern Europe by James J. Sheehan. Confirmed by additional sources.
“The Nazis would find some interest in our way of living," Russel added, "and the starch would be taken out of them.”
14 comments:
Once Americans wise up (if they ever do) and we stop being Europe's military wing (it has been almost seventy years now) I'd bet even the Germs will go back to armaments.
Notice that the British didn't listen to him then. It is a shame they finally did.
"the starch would be taken out of them"
Priceless.
Indeed.
Well, people change their minds when pushed to the wall.
Hm... unless it's already too late, if you know what I mean.
Frankly, on the whole, I think it is wonderful that Europe is so de-militarized. Some may complain if Germans and the French are so busy making money through trade between them that they no longer have the patriotic spirit to slaughter each other by the millions to determine whose flag flies over Alasac and Lorraine, some msy think that is bad, but I do not. Some like Berlusconi may be nostalgic for the "good old days' when Europe ruled over Asia, the Middle East and Africa and the bloody nigge ah excuse me Natives knew their place, but again I for one do not.
PS: I agree that Bertrand Russell's comment in 1937 was ridiculus, although I do wonder if it would not have worked in case of a Russian invasion and conquest of Western Europe during the Cold War that could have resulted in the Russians being totally overwhelmed by Western prosperity, consumer goods and women much like the invading Martians were in Ray Bradbury's short story, "The Concrete Mixer".
After all, a good part of Stalin's rationale for starting the Cold War was fear on contact of any sort between ordinary Russians and Westerners.
I understand the general drift of your sentiment, David, but why should America carry the burden of protecting Europe for all that time Dick mentioned. I vividly remember the "antiwar" protesters in Europe, financed and inspired by KGB and others and their stupidity while US soldiers kept the watch over the Soviets.
Nope, David, it would not have worked. NKVD had simple and effective methods of taking care of that overwhelming prosperity and its carriers. It was nothing new to them, they have done it in several countries before and would have done it in the rest of Europe as easily.
What on earth do you mean?
I agree. Snoopy that since the collaspe of the Soviet Union there is no longer any real reason for American troops to remain in Europe unless it is to be closer to areas of real trouble like the Middle East and South Asia than the troops would be if they were back in the U.S.
Also agree that the European anti-war protestors in the 70s and 80s were, in Lenin's words, a bunch of "useful fools".
You are right Snoopy, the Soviet NKVD or its latter version, the KGB would have taken care of things quite well and I should have known better. I was thinking too much of "The Concrete Mixer" and a 1973 film, "The Chinese in Paris" in which the conquest of France by the Chinese is totally undone with the conquers being swamped by French wine, women and song!
PS: I have finally mastered replying to comments in their proper place, Hurrah!
I think that the tendency to see a happy ending like this one is only natural. Wish it could work in real life...
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