WESTERN CANADA

The men of the century

By Gus Papaloukas

The 20^th century has indisputably been the summit of human achievements. It has been a record of discoveries with a great impact on people’s lives, comfort, and conveniences in an improved civilization.

Despite the great advances of the century, however, human nature has also prevailed in catastrophic events. We have not had peace and tranquility, instead, we have mobilized all discoveries against humanity. Evil powers forced three dark periods this past century that have turned the world upside down. Plethoric human sacrifice, atrocities, cruelty, two world wars, and the Bolshevik revolution have all transpired in the last 100 years. The ugliest of all has been World War II, with extensive ethnic cleansing from the Holocaust right to this day.

It seems that through history, nature always produces the antidote - to force the aggressors. In the most desperate and depressed period of the war, Winston Churchill, arguably the most dynamic personality of the era, led a hopeless situation. Strong and full of confidence, he inspired courage, hope, and determination for survival. He was engaged in a titanic struggle to win the Battle of Britain which changed the course of the war (along with the Battle of Crete where barefoot, heroic Greeks desperately fought the German invasion). Winston Churchill was considered a saviour. Indisputably, he is the man of the century.

There is no doubt that Albert Einstein, with his scientific achievements, sealed the victory and opened new horizons in science. Nevertheless, what would have happened to Einstein’s experiments if the British had not neutralized (early in 1942) the German atomic installations in Norway?

Therefore, these two men, in their own fields, belong to the great achievers of the 20^th century.