Something to think about with the election just a few days away, because if you don’t think these freedoms are at risk, you haven’t been paying attention.
“In the future days which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.
The first is freedom of speech and expression
– everywhere in the world.The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way
– everywhere in the world.The third is freedom from want, which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants
– everywhere in the world.The fourth is freedom from fear, which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor
– anywhere in the world.That is no vision of a distant millennium. It is a definite basis for a kind of world attainable in our own time and generation. That kind of world is the very antithesis of the so-called “new order” of tyranny which the dictators seek to create with the crash of a bomb.”
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt,
excerpted from the Annual Message to the Congress,
January 6, 1941
Yes, these are things to think about.
It’s really not just about if taxes will be raised or social security or welfare reform, none of that will matter if we allow ourselves to be lost in PC and “diversity” and find ourselves like France or England, trying to reclaim our identity.
The modern Democrat willl sacrifice all these freedoms if it means they gain power. Reason enough to stop them from reaching the levers of high public office.
The truly shameful thing is, probably a good chunk of the Gen X/Gen Y Democrats have no idea the Hero of the Demcoratic Party FDR said these self-evident words.
FDR was a whole different species then today’s Dems. Sad to say, you are right, today’s Dems will trade our freedom to try to further their agenda.
Yes, what a difference 45 + years makes. I just keep watching the political pendulum swing, swing, swing and know it will swing back in some way. We now live in a time where more voices than ever can be heard. Everyday people (like me) are taking to the blogworld and letting our views be known. We don’t have to rely on the newspapers maybe printing our letters to the editor. We print them ourselves in a medium that is far more reaching than any newspaper could ever hope to be. We have that Freedom – it’s glorious, isn’t it? And we should never forget all those who fought before and fight today to ensure it continues.
Great post Anna, and what a nice reminder. I, too, am one of those conservatives who is an admirer of FDR. Also of Truman and Henry “Scoop” Jackson, for that matter.
Sadly, all 3 of these great men would be chased out of today’s Democrat party as ‘warmongers’.
You’re right Yankeemom, the blogosphere has allowed us an amazing venue for our views and opinions and it has given “grassroot movement” a whole new meaning!
Thank you, Tom. I think Truman was in such a hard spot when he became president, but he made the hard decisions and was able to bring an end to WWII. FDR started some great programs (I just think some of them don’t work very well anymore!)
The fourth is freedom from fear, which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor
– anywhere in the world.
Or we can have one nation, with all the weapons, and that nation will keep the peace by obliterating any one who upsets the status quo.
Sounds like Islam’s plan, Ymarsakar! (And a world full of fear!)
FDR, for all his successes, had many blind spots. Utopianism is fine in literature, but leads to such insanity as Islamism. This is the same FDR who was warned repeatedly that his aide, one Alger Hiss, was a Soviet Spy. He refused to believe, not because the evidence was flimsy but because it simply couldn’t be so.
Turns out Hiss was indeed a Soviet spy as the Soviet records revealed.
That Fourth Freedom would have been fine with the man FDR called “Uncle Joe”. Because Joe Stalin would have cheated.
I agree, Benning. There are many, many things I do not like about FDR’s presidency, but I felt that the four freedoms speech spoke to this time and place in history as well. Sad to say.
I believe in America and the freedoms that we enjoy.
It is that fourth statement, when reduced to the personal level that one realizes how the modern Democrat is so different from FDR. In fact from one of FDR’s greatest speeches we realize how far they have strayed.
FDR said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
The modern Democrat, as exemplified by Dean, Pelosi, Murtha, et al, is someone who plays to this naked fear to keep power.
Thus to paraphrase, “They have no plan save fear itself.”
Sounds like Islam’s plan, Ymarsakar! (And a world full of fear!)
Or a world full of prosperity, if the US is the one that keeps the peace, as we did when Saddam invaded Kuwaitt.
It depends upon the character of humans, who are leading.
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Anna said,
November 5, 2006 at 9:58 pm
I agree, Benning. There are many, many things I do not like about FDR’s presidency, but I felt that the four freedoms speech spoke to this time and place in history as well. Sad to say.
Yes, it is sad that only the Right can recognize things positive for the country, regardless of partisanship. A hint on how history will see Bush. For what he did or did not do, not what the idiots on the Left talking about what he should or should not have done.
Anna, Neo recently wrote a couple of good posts on this subject, fear. Check out her site, for the recent posts, if you haven’t already.
The Fourth Freedom may only be accomplished through Empire Building. If you don’t like Empire Building, then start forgetting about global Fourth Freedoms.
I do, too, Paul, I do too!
And yet, Anna, that’s what they say about the right! That the Republicans are using fear tactics to scare people into voting for them.
Let us hope the character of those who will lead is true and honorable. Not so sure if that will be the case if Pelosi and Reid, etc are in charge.
I will check out Neo’s site, thank you Ymarsakar.
Benjamin Franklin once said that a person who is willing to sacrifice their freedom for security deserves neither freedom or security…. This is such an insightful post. Thank you so much!
Thank you, Sarah and Ol’ Ben was a wise and feisty man in his day!
You have to becareful, Franklin actually was refering to temporary security, and essential freedoms, not essential securities and temporary freedoms.
It would be unreasonable to think that if declaring martial law in France to control the rioters, that this would be sacrificing freedom for security, and thus they would deserve neither. Security matters, but only essential freedoms matter more than temporary security, and when you are talking about do or die security, then even essential freedoms may be temporarily suspended.
Good point, Ymarsakar. We have now entered a frightening time for both our freedom and security…the next two years could potentially be very scary. I’m worried for our military.
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