In his essay, journalist Oleh Cheslavskyi demonstrates how critical thinking can manifest itself through a vivid historical analogy.
Reprinted from source: FakeOff, March 1, 2025
Washington, D.C., 1941. White House.
The President of the United States tiredly rubbed his forehead. In his office stood Sir Winston Churchill, wiping sweat from his face with a thick handkerchief - the heat in Washington was unbearable. A fine day to make a deal with Hitler.
- Listen, Winston,” the president began, fixing his attentive gaze on the British prime minister. - I didn't invite you here to talk about “war, war, war.” We're here for peace.
- Whose peace? - Churchill raised an eyebrow.
- For our common peace! - sighed the President. - We think it's time for a cease-fire. Can't you just say, “I want to make peace”? Not all this “Hitler this, Hitler that.” Too much negativity.
Churchill sighed heavily and drained his glass of whiskey.
- Sir,” he said. - I am grateful for your help and do not want to lose the most important partner. But I'm sorry, I thought I was in Washington, not Berlin. Are you sure I should apologize? Shaking hands with the Führer? Send him a Christmas card?
- That's not what I'm talking about! - the president splashed his hands. - Just stop sowing enmity. They say Britain is almost destroyed, your soldiers have fled, they are not heroes, and your country has lost millions of people, and you have become a dictator. How do you respond to that?
- Let me put it to you this way: please be careful with the numbers,” Churchill snorted. - We don't have millions of casualties. And we are not losing “some” territories, but the homes of our people. I'm sure that if Germany occupied New York, you wouldn't call it “some territory”. Or am I wrong?
The President ignored the sarcasm.
- 'Sir Winston,' he continued, folding his hands on the table, 'you must realize that we want good relations with both you and the Germans. Hitler has said he wants to make peace. He said Britain could keep the islands, that there would be no invasion. Isn't that a success?
- Ah, Hitler said... - Churchill tapped his finger on the table. - How touching. What about Poland, France, Belgium, Norway?
- You're talking about the past again! - the President waved away. - Let's look to the future! We want peace, not ten years of war.
- Capitulation in one day always looks more attractive than victory in ten years, - sighed Churchill. - But I have a different approach. We will fight. Fight, fight, fight.
The President frowned unhappily.
- Winston, I think you misunderstand the American position ...
- Oh, I understand,” the Briton interrupted him, ”You don't want to be on the wrong side of history. The only problem is that you haven't decided what the right side is yet.
The president tapped his pen thoughtfully on the table. It was obvious that the deal Churchill had been invited to was a sham. If he had even nodded silently like a porcelain Chinese dummy, he would still have been accused of lack of pliability. Negotiations are about show, not results.
- Think it over, Winston,” the president said softly. - Perhaps when London ceases to exist, you will want to revisit this conversation.
- Oh, I'm sure that when Berlin ceases to exist, you'll want to come back to the other one,” Churchill smiled, rising from his chair. - But for now... let me get on with 'sowing enmity'.”
And he walked proudly out of the Oval Office, leaving the President in silence, looking thoughtfully at the world map.
The cover uses an image from the Telegram channel of journalist Oleg Cheslavsky.
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