From Wartime Resolve to Today’s Quiet Courage: What Does It Truly Mean?
The Oxford English Dictionary has, after a petition garnering over 38,000 signatures, added “Blitz spirit” as an official entry. Defined as “the resilience and fortitude displayed by the British population during the Second World War, especially during the Blitz,” the move has sparked debate. While many celebrate the recognition of a defining national characteristic, others question whether the term – often invoked during times of crisis – accurately reflects contemporary Britain, and whether its repeated use risks diluting its original meaning. The petition, started by historian Dr Frank Turner, argued the phrase had become “part of our national lexicon” deserving of formal acknowledgement.
The Spirit in Action
The debate surrounding the OED’s decision is itself indicative of the spirit it seeks to define. It’s not about a sudden, dramatic outpouring of heroic action, but a quieter, more considered response to ongoing pressure. Dr Turner’s patient, persistent petitioning is a perfect example. It wasn’t a headline-grabbing protest, but a determined effort to preserve a meaningful part of national memory. The very fact that so many people signed it suggests a continuing resonance, a desire to hold onto something tangible in an increasingly uncertain world.
The campaign also highlights a subtle shift in *how* we demonstrate resilience.
During the Blitz, the response was largely communal – neighbours helping neighbours dig each other out of bomb sites, sharing rations, offering shelter. Today, acknowledging the “Blitz spirit” can be about recognising the quiet fortitude of key workers, the volunteers delivering food parcels, the individuals simply coping with rising living costs and a strained NHS. It’s a less visible manifestation, perhaps, but no less real. The acknowledgement of the phrase in the OED lends legitimacy to these often-unsung acts of perseverance.
Echoes of 1940
The original “Blitz spirit” wasn’t simply about unflinching optimism. It was born of fear, loss, and genuine hardship. It was born of sirens wailing and buildings collapsing. The “Keep Calm and Carry On” poster, now so ubiquitous, was originally produced as part of a government campaign to manage public anxiety – an acknowledgement that people were scared. It wasn’t a command to be stoic, but an invitation to maintain composure despite fear.
This is a critical distinction often lost in the modern invocation of the phrase. We can’t pretend today’s challenges – cost of living, political division, climate anxiety – are equivalent to the visceral terror of aerial bombardment. However, the underlying principle of finding strength in collective experience, of refusing to be paralysed by adversity, does resonate. The danger lies in romanticising the past, ignoring the very real suffering endured during the war, and inappropriately applying the label to situations where solidarity and structural change are needed, not just individual grit. A housing crisis isn’t solved by “keeping calm,” but by policy and compassion.
A Word Defined, A Spirit Continued
The OED’s decision isn’t about enshrining a perfect ideal, but acknowledging a complex legacy. The “Blitz spirit” isn’t a magic shield, but a reminder of our capacity for resilience, and perhaps more importantly, our capacity for looking out for one another. It’s a challenge to remember that enduring hardship is rarely a solo pursuit. As we face an uncertain future, it is perhaps a pertinent time to reflect on what truly constitutes that spirit – not just in times of outright crisis, but in the everyday acts of kindness, perseverance and quiet courage that hold communities together. Perhaps a simple check on an elderly neighbour is the most fitting tribute.
Source: The Guardian — [https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2024/may/16/blitz-spirit-oxford-english-dictionary-definition-petition](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2024/may/16/blitz-spirit-oxford-english-dictionary-definition-petition)
