I propose a toast to the world. A world which has just survived the bloodiest and costliest of all human conflicts. A world which was so nearly led back to the Dark Ages of oppression and slavery by cruel and greedy men who traded in Hate. It seems impossible that there could be any more suffering than Mankind has just endured. But it is possible and it will happen if we lose sight of the lessons so bitterly learned. Let us remember that Men everywhere are our neighbors and their right to Life and Freedom is as precious to them as ours is to us. So here's a toast to all the people in the World: May we, by working together for a lofty purpose and with God's Help, achieve The Goal that Mankind for twenty centuries has striven for: "Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men". Ronald Colman, December 23, 1945, on The Jack Benny Show
As eloquent and elegant as it was when first spoken almost 60 years ago.
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