Winston Churchill's Heroic Qualities

In today's world heroes are well known and adored by kids everywhere. The latest movies and video games feature larger than life heroes with amazing abilities. With all of these popular culture ideas about heroes, it is hard to recognize the true heroes of history. It is those who believed in something larger themselves, those who fought for noble causes, and those who, despite their own personal trials, helped to make the world a better place who are true heroes, with Winston Churchill being a great example. Though Winston Churchill may be well known, his heroic qualities that made him famous are not. It was Churchill's ability to think about the world, it was his stark realism, and his leadership and humanity that made him such a great hero.

For a leader of a nation to want the best for their country is great, but to want the best for the world is exceptional. For example, in many of Churchill's speeches it was obvious he was thinking of the state of other countries. He, before the outbreak of World War Two, made his "Be Ye Men of Valor" speech to Britain as the Prime Minister, calling his country to act on the problem at hand. Churchill spoke, "Behind them, behind us, behind the Armies and Fleets of Britain and France, gather a group of shattered States and bludgeoned races: the Czechs, the Poles, the Norwegians, the Danes, the Dutch, the Belgians -- upon all of whom the long night of barbarism will descend, unbroken even by a star of hope, unless we conquer, as conquer we must, and conquer we shall". He truly believed that it was the duty of all countries to make the world a better place, to help other countries in need, even if it meant going to war with another country. He felt that he owed it to the countries conquered by the Nazis to win the upcoming war, for their sakes and for the sake of the world. Not only did Churchill speak about bettering the world and other countries, he also acted on it as well. For example, Churchill met with president Franklin Roosevelt in August, 1941 at Placentia Bay to discuss just how the two countries in working together could help better the world. This meeting at Placentia Bay is thought

At heart, he is just a regular person who happened to the right ideas at the right time. For example, Churchill was actually quite the sentimental person. Witnessing the consequences of war can be a moving thing, and this is no exception when it comes to Churchill. An article describes a specific instance of this, "Intensely sentimental, he witnessed many scenes which caused him to succumb. While driving to Chequers one day during the Blitz, he glimpsed a line of people outside a shop and asked his private detective to find out what they were queuing for. The officer returned to report that they hoped to buy seed for their pet birds. Martin noted: 'Winston wept'" (A HERO UNSURPASSED). Churchill wast not this unapproachable giant of history, he was compassionate and sentimental, like all human beings. He cared for people, especially the ones he hurt through war. Besides being sentimental, Churchill was also Avery respectable and trustworthy person. Once, in 1942, Churchill was preparing a speech for the House of Commons during a huge lull in a war for Britain, they were losing almost every battle. He spoke to General Ismay, his chief of staff, about how horrible the House of Commons was. Ismay suggested to tell the House of Commons to go to hell, and Churchill responded with rage, saying it was his duty to serve the House of Commons (A HERO