Fair Britannia, you do not stand alone !

                                  Fair Britannia, You Do Not Stand Alone.

During the darkest days of W.W. II, when Britain stood virtually alone on the European Continent, against the forces of evil, Winston Churchill arose to utter these famous words of defiance to all those who sought to invade and subjugate Britain.

“Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail.

We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France,
we shall fight on the seas and oceans,
we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be,
we shall fight on the beaches,
we shall fight on the landing grounds,
we shall fight in the fields and in the streets,
we shall fight in the hills;
we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.”

I see that fighting spirit today after several recent terrorist attacks that murdered civilians on England’s City streets. Thugs, who have hijacked a religion, seek to subdue the British, as once had other forces of evil. They don’t know with whom they are dealing.

Though small in size Britain, as a nation, has the heart of a lion. Her people withstood the bombing blitz of the Luftwaffe, during W.W. II. Her people stood resolutely in the face of a hundred evils and calmly beat them back to the nether world from which they had risen. Few nations on the planet are possessed of the moral courage, intestinal fortitude and strength of character necessary to meet the many challenges that have beset the Island nation in the last hundred years.

Americans have long realized the plucky strength of the British. For it was we that stood shoulder to shoulder with you during many of these crises. And all Americans have been grateful to have these steadfast friends, ever ready to join us “once more into the breach.”

In these dark days, when anonymous murders strike the innocent, know that all Americans grieve with you. We too have lost friends and relatives to anonymous murderers. We too know that anguish of the survivor when this insane violence takes from us our beloved. We too will exact a terrible toll on the murderers. For these monsters threaten not just Britain, but all free peoples on the globe. Soon, they will go the way of the Nazi’s and other fascists.

Until that time, let the fighting spirit of Churchill, Wellington, Nelson and dozens of other immortals infuse you with the steely resolve to meet the challenges you now face. Americans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and scores of other friends will stand by you during these troubled times. Lean on us when you need to, like we have all asked your help many times in the past. Know that you are not alone in this fight. You have friends and allies who stand ready to come when you call us.

Remember a defiant Churchill, fist raised against an angry sky and meeting the challenge of his day as I am sure todays British will meet theirs. Democracy was spawned in Britain on the fields of Runnymede. Let its spirit give you comfort when you need it. And the renowned British “stiff upper lip” will serve as a clarion call to all of us, that we shall persevere.

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                                                    (637 words)

                                           Joseph Xavier Martin