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You can’t win: Ex-top astronaut apologizes to Twitter for citing Churchill, sparks more fuss | You can’t win: Ex-top astronaut apologizes to Twitter for citing Churchill, sparks more fuss |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Quoting Winston Churchill seems harmless enough, but a former NASA astronaut found out the hard way that it’s impossible to please everyone on Twitter, after apologizing for citing the revered British leader. | Quoting Winston Churchill seems harmless enough, but a former NASA astronaut found out the hard way that it’s impossible to please everyone on Twitter, after apologizing for citing the revered British leader. |
Scott Kelly, who has made multiple trips into space, issued an apology on Sunday after being hounded by furious netizens about a tweet in which he quoted British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. | Scott Kelly, who has made multiple trips into space, issued an apology on Sunday after being hounded by furious netizens about a tweet in which he quoted British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. |
"One of the greatest leaders of modern times, Sir Winston Churchill said, ‘in victory, magnanimity.’ I guess those days are over,” Kelly tweeted, in an apparent commentary on Brett Kavanaugh’s contentious confirmation to the Supreme Court. | "One of the greatest leaders of modern times, Sir Winston Churchill said, ‘in victory, magnanimity.’ I guess those days are over,” Kelly tweeted, in an apparent commentary on Brett Kavanaugh’s contentious confirmation to the Supreme Court. |
But some responses to this nugget of wisdom were far from charitable. | But some responses to this nugget of wisdom were far from charitable. |
“Churchill was a mass murderer. His actions led to the death of millions due to famine in bengal state of erstwhile India during WW2. He compared indians to beasts. He may be a hero for a lot of u, not for indians like me,” one enraged netizen wrote. | “Churchill was a mass murderer. His actions led to the death of millions due to famine in bengal state of erstwhile India during WW2. He compared indians to beasts. He may be a hero for a lot of u, not for indians like me,” one enraged netizen wrote. |
“I am very surprised that of all people you endorse a racist bigot who was directly responsible for millions of deaths in Bengal famine of 1943,” another Twitter user fired back. Others pointed to Churchill’s "racism" and full-bodied support for colonialism. | |
Startled by the angry reactions to his somewhat innocuous tweet, Kelly posted a follow-up in which he promised to better “educate” himself about Churchill. | |
“Did not mean to offend by quoting Churchill. 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,” he wrote. | “Did not mean to offend by quoting Churchill. 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,” he wrote. |
But like all tragicomedies that unfold on Twitter, his apology created another wave of fuss. | But like all tragicomedies that unfold on Twitter, his apology created another wave of fuss. |
“Are you kidding me? You have nothing to apologize for. Churchill was a great man. We live in crazy times,” one user replied. | “Are you kidding me? You have nothing to apologize for. Churchill was a great man. We live in crazy times,” one user replied. |
“Never apologize when you quote someone who defeated Hitler. Never,” another commented, apparently unaware of the Soviet Union’s existence. | “Never apologize when you quote someone who defeated Hitler. Never,” another commented, apparently unaware of the Soviet Union’s existence. |
Even a few blue checkmarks weighed in, urging Kelly to rethink his apology. | Even a few blue checkmarks weighed in, urging Kelly to rethink his apology. |
But at least Kelly accurately quoted Churchill – no easy task when the internet is awash with bogus quotes attributed to the famous British leader. In August, Texas Governor Greg Abbott tweeted a meme that claimed Churchill once said that leftists would be the “fascists of the future.” In response, the Twitterati then flooded the governor with memorable and extremely fake “Churchill” quotes. | But at least Kelly accurately quoted Churchill – no easy task when the internet is awash with bogus quotes attributed to the famous British leader. In August, Texas Governor Greg Abbott tweeted a meme that claimed Churchill once said that leftists would be the “fascists of the future.” In response, the Twitterati then flooded the governor with memorable and extremely fake “Churchill” quotes. |
Like this story? Share it with a friend! | Like this story? Share it with a friend! |
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