FOUR THINGS ABOUT A CHURCHILL QUOTE

1 GREAT LEADER

American Scott Kelly, the UN ambassador for space, decided to share an inspiring quote from former British wartime leader Winston Churchill as a commentary on the present political situation in the U.S. “One of the greatest leaders of modern times, Sir Winston Churchill said, ‘in victory, magnanimity.’ ” Kelly wrote on Twitter. “I guess those days are over.”

2 UNDER ATTACK

But it didn’t take long before Kelly — and Churchill — were under attack as hundreds of users blamed Churchill for the Bengal famine of 1943 and compared the late prime minister to Adolf Hitler. “Throughout his political life, Churchill displayed his true colours as an avowed racist and white supremacist. He was as brutal as Hitler and the rest of them,” wrote one user.

3 I’M SORRY

Responding, the former NASA astronaut who has commanded three International Space Station expeditions, publicly apologized. “Did not mean to offend by quoting Churchill,” he wrote. “My apologies. I will go and educate myself further on his atrocities, racist views which I do not support. My point was we need to come together as one nation. We are all Americans. That should transcend partisan politics.”

4 DON’T APOLOGIZE

But many then criticized Kelly for apologizing and praised Churchill. Ethics philosopher Christina Sommers wrote: “Please don’t apologize. Winston Churchill, like all of us, had serious human failings. But unlike most of us he possessed genuine greatness. And that greatness may have saved freedom & democracy. Ask the Twitter scolds to name a hero or heroine who didn’t have serious flaws.” Another critic agreed, adding: “For God’s sake, we can’t quote Churchill now?!?”