So said Winston Churchill in a speech before the Canadian Parliament following the Battle of Britain, the air war that took place in the summer and fall of 1940.
(Though the Blitz, the Nazi bombing of British cities and factories, continued into mid-1941, Britain's victory in the preceding air war crushed Hitler's ambitions of launching a naval invasion of England.)
Shortly before the Nazi onslaught began in July 1940, the commander-in-chief of France's armed forces Maxine Weygand predicted, "In three weeks, England will have her neck wrung like a chicken." (Of course, it should be noted that by the time Monsieur Weygand made his forecast the Germans had overrun his country.)
Nonetheless, England was at the precipice. No nation had been able to withstand the Nazis advances. The Luftwaffe's sinister shrieking dive bombers had proved terrifyingly effective in Poland and Spain. Worse, Germany's air force was twice the size of Britain's. Many British leaders, even its foreign minister, thought their best hope was a negotiated surrender. American ambassador Joseph Kennedy told FDR England was doomed. (Even after the British won the campaign and withstood the Blitz, Kennedy told the press in November 1940 that "Democracy in England is finished.")
Yet Britain won. And decisively, as recounted in this 2008 feature in Air Force Magazine, which is published by the U.S. Air Force Association. How did Churchill pull it off? The reasons run across the board:
* The British had superior technology. They made better use of radar, allowing them to scramble their fighters at the last minute, saving fuel. Even the gas they used had more bang—100 octane shipped from the U.S.—which boosted their fighters' performance.
* They had better intelligence, having cracked the German's top-level "Enigma" code.
* Their fighters—the planes and their pilots—were equal to the Nazis. The Germans had no experience in air-to-air combat. The clumsy Stuka dive bomber was little use in dog fights. The Messerschmitt Me 109 fighter, though a formidable machine, lacked the fuel capacity to spend long periods over England, reducing its ability to escort bombers. The British more than matched both, sending slower Hawker Hurricanes against the Stukas and the faster, more maneuverable Supermarine Spitfires (below) to shoot down bombers protected by the Me 109s. (Even from a manufacturing standpoint, the British outclassed the Germans, building replacement fighters at a faster rate than the Nazis could.)
* The Nazis made tactical and strategic errors. Just as their bombing of British radar sites was proving effective, Hitler ordered resources diverted to a bombing campaign against civilians in London. Thus, the RAF had time to regroup. Meanwhile, British civilian morale rose, as Churchill ordered reprisal raids against Berlin suburbs, strikes that shocked Germans.
* It should go without saying that the British had Churchill, one of history's greatest leaders. His ability to inspire his citizens to fight for the light of freedom far surpassed Hitler's dark ambitions. One man's will can turn the tide of history.
One afternoon the farmer was trying to rest when he heard noises in his garden.
He went to find out what the ruckus was about.
He saw that all the squash were fighting. They were kicking each other. They were punching each other. They were biting and clawing and doing terrible things.
"Stop it," said the farmer. "Y'all need to meditate on what you've been doing."
So all the squash closed their eyes and stayed quiet for a while.
Then the farmer said, "Now, each one of you, put your hands on top of your head."
The squash did that. When they did, each one found that he had a vine growing out of the top of his head.
It was then that the squash realized that they were all connected.
These are the words that come to mind when I think of my eldest daughter Eleanor Louie. She's named after her grandmothers Eleanor and Mary Louie, and she is living up to this honor, and her grandmothers would be proud of her.
I am struck every day by Eleanor's commitment to her school work, even to the point where she studies on Saturdays to be prepared every day for her classes. She pushes herself in school, taking AP level classes and studying Latin. When I met with her teachers a year ago on parent day, to a one they all raved about Eleanor's performance in their classes. Not only is she prepared, they said, they added that she is an eager bright presence in their classrooms.
Eleanor is determined. She has run track—specializing as a sprinter and relay team member—since middle school. Most interestingly, although she has won awards for her performance, she is not a show-boater. She does her part for her team quietly and with care.
I also admire Eleanor's choice of friends. Many are from our church. I never have a moment's worry when she is out. I also notice that she has no shortage of friends. This also speaks well of her character.
Eleanor is also active is our church. She has gone on mission trips to Appalachia, doing hard, sweaty work in the summer heat. She also sings in the church choir. She's not a soloist—yet—but she gives her all for whatever team she is on.
Last but not least, she's patient, especially with me, her Dad. I do know that I have had to raise my voice to her more than once or twice in nearly 18 years. She is my favorite eldest daughter, and I would not trade her for the world, the stars, or sight itself.
If I were a teacher, coach, minister, or employer, I'd want Eleanor on my team, in my class, or at my company. She's smart, reliable, sociable, humble and kind—well rounded through and through—A winner.
(For my daughter's college admissions "brag sheet," a form teachers use to write recommendations.)
