Posted by Claus B. Storgaard on January 23, 2003 at 04:36:56:
In Reply to: People may sleep peaceably? posted by Ruth on January 22, 2003 at 18:31:00:
I don't precisely remember where the quote is from, but the context may vary well have been the beginning of WW2 when Orwell changed from being against what he had previously called the capitalist-imperialist war to being for the war. At that time he also started critising the pacifists for being against the war while they were eating the food that British sailors risked their lives to bring to the country.
As to the use of the quote on US Army recruitment posters, I suppose it is a matter of political standpoint and of whether one sees the American army as defensive or offensive. Historically, I can't really think of any instances where the USA and its citizens have been under any direct threat (the Cuban crisis excepted) from an aggressor, as was the case with the UK during WW2 - but this may have changed after September 11.
Certainly, in the past a lot of other nationalities have NOT been able to sleep peaceably the their beds PRECISELY because the US Army has been ready to do violence on behalf of the American people.