Sir Winston Churchill on the reality of public opinion

image generated via ChatGPT

“There is no such thing as public opinion. There is only published opinion,” stated Winston Churchill—a remark that lands with eerie foresight in the age of dictatorial algorithms and mass hysteria, wherein opinion is made a merchandised trade, and the mob a marketplace. One may well conceive the old war-dog beholding the endless scroll of social babble, and judging—after his wonted fashion and without the least strain of hyperbole—that our civilisation had clean parted company with its wits.

Born on 30 November 1874 amidst the rolling fields of West Oxfordshire, and sprung of an American mother of notable grace and an English father of noble blood yet scant forbearance, Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill embodied a species of Englishman now almost extinct. A lover of cigars, whisky, and the English language in equal measure, he stood as the living antithesis of his nemesis, the teetotal vegetarian tyrant across the Channel. Churchill’s vices were human; his virtues, monumental.

By any reckoning, the twentieth century’s most formidable statesman—a relic of another age even whilst he lived, and yet utterly needful to his own time. In an era that prized shallow cries above substance, he wielded words as others wield artillery; and when civilisation hung by a thread, it was his voice—gravelled, resolute, and adamant—that held the rampart fast.

In today’s absurd universe, one with many echoes of the atmosphere that led to the Second World War, Churchill’s spectre is more needed than ever. Yet I discern much of his iron resolve in Volodymyr Zelensky: a witness that greatness, however blemished, once walked amongst mortal men, and that valour, when once uttered aloud, may yet ring forth with truth.

Copyright 2025, Arthur Newhook.

The Munich Agreement in our time

German Federal Archives

#OTD 1938: The vile and genocidal Munich Agreement was inked, as Neville Chamberlain, Édouard Daladier, Benito Mussolini, and Adolf Hitler did conspire and scheme to barter away Sudetenland's soil devoid of the Czechs' consent. This treachery paved the way for the Nazi invasion of Poland and World War II’s direful morass. In our time, voices too numerous clamor, both near and far, urging Ukraine to yield to Putin and Russia vast amounts of territory. Many doth point their fingers at Ukraine’s gate, laying blame at their door of fate, and whilst they extol Putin, the murderous dictator in his might. Assuming, in their feeble and faithless way, the American folk return Donald Trump to the White House in 2024, a perilous chance looms that America will align with Russia in their ongoing grievous design upon Ukraine. Let us, then, extend gratitude to President Biden and his steadfast stance in valiant defence of Zelensky and Ukraine; instead of ceaseless grumbles and cries about the financial cost, for history warns that appeasing dictators is a path always lost and far more costly. As the Great Man stated in his blunt refutation of Chamberlain, ‘you chose dishonour and you will have war,’ and that is the foolish path America hath found itself on now. I am simply astounded by these times we must endure, and what people's tragic folly and malevolence does obscure. It is likely this wretched state will worsen ere the dawn that will dispel this endless night and bring forth hope reborn.

Copyright 2023, Arthur Newhook. @Sunking278 and @FloydEtcetera on X, and at the same handles on FACEBOOK. MASTODON - @ArthurNewhook@mastodon.world, and @arthurnewhook on POST and THREADS.

‘(T)he worst form of government – except for all the others that have been tried.’ President Biden versus an American public that has lost faith in its own country, its institutions, and in truth, common sense, and empathy for oppressed peoples

John Farallo/Deviant Art

No reason to wonder why many Americans hate Joe Biden, and no need to identify who those Americans are, we all know. Obviously, there is the matter of Mr. Biden having served as second-in-command to the black guy for eight years (never have been a fan of the latter myself.) More to the point, Joe Biden is committed to a liberal democratic global order that these people feel has oppressed and failed them (not that any of them know what life would be under the alternative, having forgotten the words of Churchill - ‘democracy is the worst form of government – except for all the others that have been tried.’) Joe Biden will not kiss Vladimir Putin’s ass as his predecessors did, and nationalist populists see Putin as a symbol of lost manhood and Christian virtue (I see neither in the s.o.b., but behold the power of propaganda and gaslighting.) The radical left merely sees Putin as a bulwark against American imperialism and predatory capitalism, and turn a blind eye to the corruption, the human rights abuses, and so forth (what a sad lot they are, the flip side of the same coin as the nationalist populists.) And Joe Biden removed the precious orange god from power – which is why the mainstream media has so viciously turned-on Joe Biden; they want Trump back because he is better for their bottom line, and the welfare of the country be damned. 

And Trump’s fans simply cannot comprehend that millions of fellow Americans were (and remain) disgusted by Donald Trump’s words, actions, and overall lack of integrity and humanity. It really is kind of baffling how devoted they are to this guy, until one considers that they see him as their protection against the rest of us. After all that has been said and done, there really is no point any longer in any other explanation for popular discontent. We are being reminded that human beings are tribal creatures, and will reject the evidence of their own eyes and ears. Instead, they stand with those offering (false) comfort and reassurance of their natural instincts when they feel threatened by the world around them. The very essence of populism, and an example of why I hate populism. The German people rallied behind Hitler in the ‘30s, and tribalism is why Russians are rallying behind Putin now and are not questioning his motives for invading Ukraine. Reason and evidence are never going to penetrate this wall. There is no point in trying to convince anyone to change their minds, and any pretense I ever had of being able to change minds - about anything at all – disappeared a long time ago.  Many years. Nothing I post is with the intention of reaching the unreachable, but rather to help those invested in truth, reality, and sanity (or relative sanity; hey, we all lose our s**t sometimes, lol.) One can ‘lead a horse to water, but one cannot make him drink.’ As long as the earth turns and as long as human beings live on it, these maladies will remain. And as long as I’m cursed to be here, I will stand in opposition to all forces – far-left, far-right, anywhere in between – who believe they will achieve their given ideas of paradise on earth by bringing Hell upon the earth. President Joe Biden is a relic of a better time and place, an unlikely leader for this strange era in American life, and I am grateful we have him, for however long we have him. Once he is gone, well, let’s not even contemplate any further right at this moment.

‘Russia’s deputy defense minister says Moscow has decided to “fundamentally… cut back” operations near the capital and another major city to “increase mutual trust” at talks aimed at ending the fighting.’ Translation: They got their asses kicked. (AP 3/29)

At least 5,000 dead in Mariupol, including over 200 children. (Ukrinform 3/28)

Copyright 2022, Sunking278. Stay up-to-date: Twitter – @Sunking278 and Facebook – click here. DONATIONS - click here.