Keep Calm and Carry On

[VFL-82-JP]

Life sucked if you were a Brit--especially a Londoner--in 1940 and 1941. The Nazis had already run roughshod over all of central and western Europe on the mainland. France, the dominant country of the continent, fell to the German blitzkrieg in weeks. Weeks. A country the size of Texas, and with a lot more people. It fell in weeks.

The Nazis were a living, breathing bogeyman. A monster just under the bed. They seemed unstoppable. And they were coming for England next.

For the next twelve months, this is how it went: houses on fire, whole blocks smashed into rubble. Children shipped off to family in the countryside. Rationing and hunger. Deprivation. Repeated rumors of landing craft sighted off the coast. Loved ones lost.

Did the Brits freak out? They had every right to.

No. What they did was:



Okay, the fact is that poster was NOT used in World War 2, though popular legend says it was. But it reflects well the British "stiff upper lip," their ability as a people to keep their wits, not over-react, and stay true to their fellow countrymen, their troops, and their leadership. Even through incredible hardship.

We could stand to learn a thing or two from the Brits, sometimes.

With an apology to OMG for wading a bit in his waters.

Go Vols!

 

[VolAllen]

 

[Plano Vol]

I don't know about those Englishters

 

[Plano Vol]

 

[SDV]

This thread is getting weird..er

 

[Plano Vol]

 

[McDad]

Agreed. It wasn't over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor!

 

[McDad]

One thing I'll say for you, JP. You're steady as a freaking rock. Belief. No waver. Glad you're a Vol.

 

[MAD]

 

[MAD]

 

[davethevol]

What what?

 

[VFL-82-JP]

One thing I'll say for you, JP. You're steady as a freaking rock. Belief. No waver. Glad you're a Vol.

I'm glad you're one too, McDad. We need a lot of us to make it through these dark days. *thumbsup*

 

[YankeeVol]

 

[VFL-82-JP]

View attachment 169792

Perfect. Absolutely perfect, Yankee.

 

[McDad]

I'm glad you're one too, McDad. We need a lot of us to make it through these dark days. *thumbsup*

Aw golly gee. Thanks, Ya big lug.

 

[zeppelin128]

Reminds me of my favorite Tolkien quote:

"The Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little, and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while the Company is true."

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Reminds me of my favorite Tolkien quote:

"The Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little, and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while the Company is true."

Or this: "From the ashes a fire shall be woken ... the crownless again shall be king."

I just wish I knew how long we have to wait for it.

 

[Plano Vol]

 

[KingGenius]

Life sucked if you were a Brit--especially a Londoner--in 1940 and 1941. The Nazis had already run roughshod over all of central and western Europe on the mainland. France, the dominant country of the continent, fell to the German blitzkrieg in weeks. Weeks. A country the size of Texas, and with a lot more people. It fell in weeks.

The Nazis were a living, breathing bogeyman. A monster just under the bed. They seemed unstoppable. And they were coming for England next.

For the next twelve months, this is how it went: houses on fire, whole blocks smashed into rubble. Children shipped off to family in the countryside. Rationing and hunger. Deprivation. Repeated rumors of landing craft sighted off the coast. Loved ones lost.

Did the Brits freak out? They had every right to.

No. What they did was:

View attachment 169782

Okay, the fact is that poster was NOT used in World War 2, though popular legend says it was. But it reflects well the British "stiff upper lip," their ability as a people to keep their wits, not over-react, and stay true to their fellow countrymen, their troops, and their leadership. Even through incredible hardship.

We could stand to learn a thing or two from the Brits, sometimes.

Go Vols!

So you are comparing being a Vol fan to invading Nazi's?
Well I don't know exactly what to say to that.

But keep calm and carry on??? Been there done that. Didn't work for me, didn't work for the Vols.
If you are calm after that performance then I really am going to need some of what you're smoking.

 

[KingGenius]

Or this: "From the ashes a fire shall be woken ... the crownless again shall be king."

I just wish I knew how long we have to wait for it.

Oh don't worry your grandkids will have some fun.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

So you are comparing being a Vol fan to invading Nazi's?

You really do need to be more accurate if you're going to summarize my words. I was comparing Vol fans in foxholes to invading Nazis led by Rommel and a shower unit. Please do try to get it right in the future.

 

[KingGenius]

You really do need to be more accurate if you're going to summarize my words. I was comparing Vol fans in foxholes to invading Nazis led by Rommel and a shower unit. Please do try to get it right in the future.

lol whatever you say

 

[G8rh8r]

For some reason this post made me remember my favorite Teddy Roosevelt speech. I have a copy framed on my desk.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

 

[VFL-82-JP]

For some reason this post made me remember my favorite Teddy Roosevelt speech. I have a copy framed on my desk.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

That is marvelous, Gatorhater.

Here's hoping our coaches and players channel some Teddy Roosevelt in the coming weeks. They all need that mindset.

 

[zeppelin128]

Or this: "From the ashes a fire shall be woken ... the crownless again shall be king."

I just wish I knew how long we have to wait for it.

Another Tolkien favorite, good for football and life:

"But in the end it's only a passing thing, this shadow; even darkness must pass."

And one more, for when the odds are against you and you go out swinging until the end:

“Over the field rang his clear voice calling: ‘Death! Ride, ride to ruin and the world’s ending!’”