Thursday, November 3, 2011

Winston Churchill -- Never Surrender Speech -- modified for our times

Taiwan will defend to the death her native soil. Even though large tracts of Asia and many old and famous States have fallen in history to China's rapacious expansionist imperialism or may in the future fall into the grip of the People's Liberation Army and all the odious apparatus of CCP rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight on land, 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 peoples beyond the seas, armed and guarded by Taiwan's 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.


台灣永不投降——改寫自邱吉爾「永不投降」演說文

台灣將捍衛祖國至死。亞洲大部分地區和許多古老有名的國家,在歷史上都曾因中國強取豪奪的帝國擴張主義而淪陷,它們將來仍有可能落入人民解放軍和中共政權醜惡組織的箝制中。即使如此,我們絕不退縮棄守。我們要奮戰到底,在陸上和海上奮戰,帶著與日俱增的信心和力量進行空戰,不計代價捍衛我們的島國。我們要在海岸上奮戰,在登陸地點奮戰,在田野間和街道上奮戰,在山丘間奮戰。我們永不投降。雖然我從不相信我們的島國或大片國土會被征服且遭斷糧,但即使真的走到這個地步,台灣艦隊所裝備和保衛的海外台灣人,仍會繼續爭戰不懈,直到新天新地帶著大能大力,在上帝所定的美好日子邁步向前,來拯救並解放這個舊世界。




Winston Churchill -- Never Surrender Speech -- modified for our times

When we consider how much greater would be our advantage in defending the air above this Island against an overseas attack, I must say that I find in these facts a sure basis upon which practical and reassuring thoughts may rest. I will pay my tribute to these young airmen... May it not also be that the cause of civilization itself will be defended by the skill and devotion of a few thousand airmen? There never has been, I suppose, in all the world, in all the history of war, such an opportunity for youth. The Knights of the Round Table, the Crusaders, [the Seediq Warriors], all fall back into the past-not only distant but prosaic; these young men, going forth every morn to guard their native land and all that we stand for, holding in their hands these instruments of colossal and shattering power, of whom it may be said that

Every morn brought forth a noble chance
And every chance brought forth a noble knight,

deserve our gratitude, as do all the brave men who, in so many ways and on so many occasions, are ready, and continue ready to give life and all for their native land.

Against this loss of [our soldiers], we can set a far heavier loss certainly inflicted upon the enemy ... Capital and Labor have cast aside their interests, rights, and customs and put them into the common stock. Already the flow of munitions has leaped forward. There is no reason why we should not in a few months overtake the sudden and serious loss that has come upon us, without retarding the development of our general program.

[The Manchu empire, foreign invaders of China, complained about Taiwan that there was a rebellion every few years.] We are told that [name of Chinese premier] has a plan for invading the [Taiwan]. This has often been thought of before. [They will not have their way.]

The whole question of home defense against invasion is, of course, powerfully affected by the fact that we have for the time being in this Island incomparably more powerful military forces than we have ever had at any moment in this war or the last. But this will not continue. We shall not be content with a defensive war. [We have to be able to hit the enemy on their soil, develop missiles and aircraft that can project power from afar.] All this is in train; but in the interval we must put our defenses in this Island into such a high state of organization that the fewest possible numbers will be required to give effective security and that the largest possible potential of offensive effort may be realized. On this we are now engaged. It will be very convenient, if it be the desire of the House, to enter upon this subject in a secret Session. Not that the government would necessarily be able to reveal in very great detail military secrets, but we like to have our discussions free, without the restraint imposed by the fact that they will be read the next day by the enemy; and the Government would benefit by views freely expressed in all parts of the House by Members with their knowledge of so many different parts of the country. I understand that some request is to be made upon this subject, which will be readily acceded to by [the native Government of Taiwan's people].

We have found it necessary to take measures of increasing stringency, not only against enemy aliens and suspicious characters of other nationalities, but also against [Taiwanese citizens who are servants of China and traitors to Taiwan] who may become a danger or a nuisance should the war be transported to [Taiwan]. I know there are a great many people affected by the orders which we have made who are the passionate enemies of [China]. I am very sorry for them, but we cannot, at the present time and under the present stress, draw all the distinctions which we should like to do. If parachute landings were attempted and fierce fighting attendant upon them followed, these unfortunate people would be far better out of the way, for their own sakes as well as for ours. There is, however, another class, for which I feel not the slightest sympathy. Parliament has given us the powers to put down Fifth Column activities with a strong hand, and we shall use those powers subject to the supervision and correction of the House, without the slightest hesitation until we are satisfied, and more than satisfied, that this malignancy in our midst has been effectively stamped out.

Turning once again, and this time more generally, to the question of invasion, I would observe that there has never been a period in all these long centuries of which we boast when an absolute guarantee against invasion, still less against serious raids, could have been given to our people. In the days of [Qing emperors] the same wind which would have carried [their] transports across the [Strait] might have driven away the blockading fleet. There was always the chance, and it is that chance which has excited and befooled the imaginations of many Continental tyrants. Many are the tales that are told. We are assured that novel methods will be adopted, and when we see the originality of malice, the ingenuity of aggression, which our enemy displays, we may certainly prepare ourselves for every kind of novel stratagem and every kind of brutal and treacherous maneuver. I think that no idea is so outlandish that it should not be considered and viewed with a searching, but at the same time, I hope, with a steady eye. We must never forget the solid assurances of sea power and those which belong to air power if it can be locally exercised.

I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone. At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of [Taiwan's] Government-every man of them. That is the will of [the Legislature] and the nation. [Taiwan] will defend to the death [her] native soil. Even though large tracts of Asia and many old and famous States have fallen [in history to China's rapacious expansionist imperialism] or may [in the future] fall into the grip of the [People's Liberation Army] and all the odious apparatus of [CCP] rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight [on land], 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 [peoples] beyond the seas, armed and guarded by [Taiwan's] 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.

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