Astronaut in online uproar over Churchill
Scott Kelly, a retired American astronaut with multiple space flights under his belt, apologized after quoting Winston Churchill in a tweet and calling the 20th century British prime minister “one of the greatest leaders of modern times.”
While Churchill, who died in
1965, is often viewed as a successful wartime leader who helped lead the United Kingdom and its allies to victory in World War II, he is also commonly criticized for his attitudes on race and colonialism.
“Did not mean to offend by quoting Churchill,” Kelly wrote on Twitter about eight hours after sending the first tweet Sunday. “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.”
Kelly’s apology was met with criticism from those who accused him of kowtowing to an online mob.
“You are disgracing yourself here,” one user tweeted. “Please stop bending to the will of deranged online trolls.”
Author Paul Reid, who co-wrote the final volume of the Churchill biography “The Last Lion” with the late William Manchester, tweeted, “Scott Kelly, please read a good biography of Churchill before making pronouncements on his ‘atrocities’ and ‘racist views.’ He committed no atrocities and his views on race 100 years ago cannot be judged by today’s standards — generational chauvinism. Are you lost … in space?”
In a follow-up tweet, Reid continued, “And furthermore, Sir, by saying you’re going to ‘further educate’ yourself on ‘his atrocities’ implies the fix is in. I humbly request you read ‘The Last Lion,’ which I co-wrote with William Manchester. Food for thought. All the Best.”