Churchill and The Timid Souls

            Born in the leisure class in the English society, Winston Churchill wasn’t really expected to do anything extraordinary. Boy, did he prove them wrong… Many of us know Winston Churchill as the revolutionary and awe-inspiring Prime Minister who led the United Kingdom to victory during World War 2.  But just like any other hero, Churchill too has his origin story. One that paints the picture of a pitiable little boy and his years growing into a determined young man who swore his life and fealty to Her Majesty, the Queen.

            As a child, Churchill was neglected, ridiculed and misused by friends and family alike. He didn’t have the physical strength or the towering stature the typical hero. He was in charge of the British navy in the First World War and, after a major defeat, was removed from office and had to endure almost 20 years of rejection of his political views. He also suffered some very low times but never doubted his beliefs.

            However, when Germany swept through Europe in the Second World War, his political views were proven right and people turned to him as the most eligible candidate to Britain’s Prime Minister during the time of war. In his time as Prime Minister, he showed staggering moral and physical bravery by putting himself in harm’s way over and over again in the battlefield.

            In another continent, there was a peculiar society that blossom amidst the chaos and carnage dealt by the world due to the Second World War; it was called the Society of the Timid Souls. Back in January 1942, a notice appeared in the New York Times, invited timid musicians to a Manhattan apartment to play, criticize and be criticized. The Society of Timid Soul, created by concert pianist Bernard Gabriel would meet every first and third Sunday of the month with the sole purpose of helping its stage-shy members become brave. The interesting part of this event was that the society was created less than a month after Pearl Harbour was attacked and the USA officially joined the War.

            Gabriel’s sole interest was to overcome stage fright and so they practised and practised and practised… even though the world outside the Manhattan apartment was at War.

            Both these instances show a rare and fascinating display of courage in the times of violence. Regarding this, the question remains; is courage can be truly learned or is it inherent? Can it brought out by other attributes like grit or passion, or is it something that only certain people possess, akin to blonde hair or blue eyes?