"It is up to you to decide that this has lasted long enough, that our boys are dying to serve no British interest but for the interests of a small clique of utterly unscrupulous men"
About this Quote
John Amery's quote is an extensive commentary on the effects of war and the inspirations behind it. The phrase "It depends on you to choose that this has lasted enough time" highlights individual duty and collective decision-making. Amery is resolving the audience, prompting them to decide and recognize the perpetuity of the conflict. He calls for an awakening, recommending the power lies with the people to draw a line and demand an end to the hostilities.
The reference to "our boys are dying" underscores the human expense of war. It individualizes the effects, advising the audience of the young lives lost. The expression highlights the disaster and sacrifice of soldiers who serve their country, typically at the expenditure of their lives and futures. This powerful imagery is planned to evoke emotional actions, stirring the public into questioning the worth of such sacrifices.
Amery goes even more by challenging the raison d'ĂȘtre of the war effort, declaring that the soldiers "serve no British interest". This declaration recommends a disconnect in between the war's purported goals and the real advantages to the country. It raises doubts about the authenticity and effectiveness of the conflict, recommending that the reasons offered to the public are perhaps not the real driving forces behind the war.
The concluding part of the quote, "however for the interests of a small clique of absolutely unscrupulous guys", targets the viewed beneficiaries of the conflict: a choose couple of with power and influence. This accusation indicts the elite or gentility, whom Amery represents as morally devoid and self-serving. By asserting that the war serves the interests of these "dishonest guys", Amery is criticizing the exploitation of national resources and human lives for personal gain. The quote is a call to scrutiny and a plea for accountability, promoting the public to investigate and challenge those who wield power.