“Strike Against War” – Helen Keller

Helen Keller’s speech “Strike Against War” (1916) is a powerful argument against war. She speaks mainly for workers, poor people, and ordinary citizens who suffer the most during wars.

Main ideas in easy language:

1. Helen Keller says that war is not fought for common people, but for the benefit of capitalists, industrialists, and arms manufacturers. They earn profit, while workers lose their lives.

2. She clearly states that workers have no reason to fight wars. They do not gain land, wealth, or power. Instead, they suffer hunger, poverty, injury, and death.

3. According to her, governments spread fear and false patriotism to convince workers to support war. People are told their country is in danger, even when it is not.

3. She criticises militarism and war preparation, saying that money spent on weapons should be used for education, health, housing, and improving workers’ lives.

4. Helen Keller believes that true freedom does not exist when people are forced to work long hours, live in poverty, and then die in wars for others’ interests.

5. She calls upon workers to refuse to support war, to raise their voice, and to fight for justice, peace, and human dignity instead of violence.

IMPORTANT QUOTES from “Strike Against War”

1. “Strike against war, for without you no battles can be fought.”

Simple meaning: If workers refuse to fight, war cannot happen. Soldiers come from the working class.

2. “Wars are not fought for democracy, but for profits.”

Simple meaning: Wars are started to benefit rich people and big industries, not to protect freedom.

3. “The workers have nothing to gain from war but wounds and death.”

Simple meaning:Common people only get pain, injury, and death from war, not success or wealth.

4. “Preparedness means death and misery for millions of human beings.”

Simple meaning:Preparing for war leads to large-scale suffering and destruction.

5. “We are not free unless we are free in our daily lives.”

Simple meaning: Real freedom means good living conditions, fair wages, and dignity, not just national slogans.

6. “Men who make the laws and declare wars do not fight them.”

Simple meaning:Leaders who decide wars do not suffer; ordinary people do.

7. “Patriotism is used to blind the people.”

Simple meaning: False love for the nation is used to trick people into supporting war.

8. “Be heroes in an army of construction, not destruction.”

Simple meaning:People should build society, not destroy it through war.

9. “Strike against all ordinances that support war.”

Simple meaning: People should oppose laws and policies that promote war.

10. “The workers’ place is not on the battlefield but in the fight for justice.”

Simple meaning: Workers should fight for peace, rights, and equality, not wars.

Message of the speech:

War benefits the rich, not the poor. Workers are used as tools in war. Peace, justice, and equality are more important than nationalism based on hatred.

In one line:

Helen Keller urges workers to unite and say “No” to war, because war destroys humanity and serves only powerful elites.