Question

what could I write in response to this speech? i just need ideas: http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/edward.htm
Options are:
Do you think Edward should have been forced to choose between his crown and his sweetheart?

OR:

Do you think he should have stayed king and married someone else?

Answer 1

Do you think he should have stayed king and married someone else?

Answer 2

Actually I agree more with option A rather than B but i have to write speech about it so im lost on ideas

Answer 3

a speech in reply to the speech:/

Answer 4

At long last I am able to say a few words of my own. I have never wanted to withhold anything, but until now it has not been constitutionally possible for me to speak.

A few hours ago I discharged my last duty as King and Emperor, and now that I have been succeeded by my brother, the Duke of York, my first words must be to declare my allegiance to him. This I do with all my heart.

You all know the reasons which have impelled me to renounce the throne. But I want you to understand that in making up my mind I did not forget the country or the empire, which, as Prince of Wales and lately as King, I have for twenty-five years tried to serve.

But you must believe me when I tell you that I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as King as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love.

And I want you to know that the decision I have made has been mine and mine alone. This was a thing I had to judge entirely for myself. The other person most nearly concerned has tried up to the last to persuade me to take a different course.

I have made this, the most serious decision of my life, only upon the single thought of what would, in the end, be best for all.

This decision has been made less difficult to me by the sure knowledge that my brother, with his long training in the public affairs of this country and with his fine qualities, will be able to take my place forthwith without interruption or injury to the life and progress of the empire. And he has one matchless blessing, enjoyed by so many of you, and not bestowed on me -- a happy home with his wife and children.

During these hard days I have been comforted by her majesty my mother and by my family. The ministers of the crown, and in particular, Mr. Baldwin, the Prime Minister, have always treated me with full consideration. There has never been any constitutional difference between me and them, and between me and Parliament. Bred in the constitutional tradition by my father, I should never have allowed any such issue to arise.

Ever since I was Prince of Wales, and later on when I occupied the throne, I have been treated with the greatest kindness by all classes of the people wherever I have lived or journeyed throughout the empire. For that I am very grateful.

I now quit altogether public affairs and I lay down my burden. It may be some time before I return to my native land, but I shall always follow the fortunes of the British race and empire with profound interest, and if at any time in the future I can be found of service to his majesty in a private station, I shall not fail.

And now, we all have a new King. I wish him and you, his people, happiness and prosperity with all my heart. God bless you all! God save the King!

Answer 5

Apogee is right, you mean Edward VIII not Edward VII..His successor became GeorgeVII, Queen Elizabeth's father.This is a question logic can't answer.. when it comes to matters of love.. he was a human being.. He would have made a very reluctant and bad king if he had stayed and been forced to forfeit his love of a lifetime.. because he was no longer a very young man when he made the decision in favor of a divorced woman.. to abdicate.. Most Royals would have been married by the time he was supposed to become king.. I believe he made the right decision because it also takes a lot of courage of a different king to tell your country of which you are the new Monarch.. that as you cannot marry a divorcee and love for you is stronger, you abdicate.. and his brother George VI I believe made a good job out of it.. together with the help from his wife. If this had not been.. then who knows who would be king now.. Edward never had issue.. He probably would not have had issue if he had decided to remain a monarch.. so perhaps.. Queen Elizabeth would still have become Queen.. if he had decided against the woman and for duty.. as he was that much in love with Wallis Simpson I don't believe he would ever have married anyone else his family would have approved of and would have died without issue.. and would have decided against his personal happiness.. I cannot judge him.. He was ostracized for his decision and moved into exile with Wallis .. so the love for her must have been profound to give all of that up and to earn the utter incomprehension and shock from his entire family and relatives.. That too, takes courage.. I can't blame him.. he followed his heart.. Had he not done so, he would have been a miserable and lonely king for all his life on the throne.. because he met Wallis Simpson and it was love of a lifetime and not an affair.. x

Answer 6

Thank you so much for the explanation!!! I really appreciate it!:D

Jazy