[joegrundman]

maybe not just political speeches. Maybe some short texts could be included too.

I am always moved by Neville Chamberlain's declaration of war.

The man is much -and over- maligned these days, especially by Americans who like to use his bad example to stifle debate about whatever piece of idiocy they are thinking of next.

The text itself is a masterpiece of brevity and emotion (of the kind that was expressed by British people of the time)

It reveals a man who was deeply scarred by the First World War, and desperate to avoid a repeat catastrophe, was willing to go a great distance in giving concessions to Germany and allow it to resume more-or-less its status pre ww1.

And it reveals a man, who with great sadness and a firm understanding of the enormous suffering that will certainly ensue from this decision, nonetheless knows that his previous efforts have been defeated and now Britain must declare war.

I think it is instructive to listen to this speech, and also to ponder what people in your own country were saying on that day.

Here it is: