Listen to the audio here: 

Wednesday, October 9th 2013.

Emmeline Pankhurst

Emmeline Pankhurst was a British political activist, fighting for women’s right to vote. She was also a mother and a wife who put her life at risks: she went on hunger strike, she committed minor offences so she wasn’t as peaceful as other activists…

She created a movement of women for women: she wanted to change the role of women but she was not really a feminist, she was just a revolutionary person…

She opened doors for women by crossing the limits… She succeeded in changing the women’s place in political life because just before  her death in 1928, women were granted the right to vote in the UK…

“We are not here because we are lawbreakers. We are here […] to become lawmakers” is one of her famous quotes / quotations.

Monday, October 7th 2013.

Winston Churchill’s war speech

Listen to the speech here:  

This is the war speech Winston Churchill delivered on May 13^th 1940: this is the beginning of the WWII / the Second World War. He is speaking to the House, that is to say to the government, representative of England / the English.

His speech starts with a negative clause: “I have nothing to offer…” meaning he knows the truth and he doesn’t hide it: war is going to be hard, long, bloody, exhausting…

His policy is to wage war. He suggests by sea, land or air. This shows that he is ready to fight no matter where… He denounces Nazism, his enemy / opponent in this war is A. Hitler: he uses strong and pejorative words to describe him : “monstrous tyranny”, “lamentable catalogue of human crime”… He finishes his speech on a strong word: “victory”. He repeats it five times to create hope and make sure people remember this concept and not the concept of failure… He also insists on surviving the war: “without victory, there is no survival”.

He is fully conscious of what is implied…

Wednesday, October 2^nd 2013.

Heroes according to Americans…

Americans have a special vision of heroes. According to a 2001 poll, they have defined 9 characteristics for heroes:

1-     For 86% of the American population a hero never stops his quest until the accomplishment of his goal / until he has accomplished his goal.

2-     For 85% of the US population, a hero doesn’t mind about himself, as long as his goal is achieved.

3-     81% of the American population thinks that a hero has to do more than is expected of him

4-     A hero is always courageous when there is a crisis for 79% of the US population: he keeps his head up no matter the situation.

5-     For 79% of Americans, a hero is someone who goes through difficulties  and succeeds.

6-     77% of Americans believe that a hero must change society and improve it.

7-     72% of the US population thinks a hero is someone who risks his life for others.

8-     72% of Americans think heroes deserve support and respect.

9-     For 68% of Americans, a hero shouldn’t expect a reward or any recognition.