Forum Post: Forgotten Freedoms
Posted 11 years ago on Feb. 2, 2013, 12:15 p.m. EST by shoozTroll
(17632)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
"If asked why we live in a great country, an American is likely to respond: "Because we are free." Fortunately for the respondent, explanation is rarely required. Freedom is difficult to define, and today it seems to exist more in our minds than in reality.
In a 1941 Message to Congress, Franklin Delano Roosevelt tried to explain what it means to be free. He outlined the "four essential human freedoms": "
Thanks again President Roosevelt.
http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/4-freedoms-america-dont-exist-anymore
Franklin D. Roosevelt Letter to the Democratic Convention
July 18, 1940
Members of the Convention:
In the century in which we live, the Democratic Party has received the support of the electorate only when the party, with absolute clarity, has been the champion of progressive and liberal policies and principles of government.
The party has failed consistently when through political trading and chicanery it has fallen into the control of those interests, personal and financial, which think in terms of dollars instead of in terms of human values.
The Republican Party has made its nominations this year at the dictation of those who, we all know, always place money ahead of human progress.
The Democratic Convention, as appears clear from the events of today, is divided on this fundamental issue. Until the Democratic Party through this convention makes overwhelmingly clear its stand in favor of social progress and liberalism, and shakes off all the shackles of control fastened upon it by the forces of conservatism, reaction, and appeasement, it will not continue its march of victory.
It is without question that certain political influences pledged to reaction in domestic affairs and to appeasement in foreign affairs have been busily engaged behind the scenes in the promotion of discord since this Convention convened.
Under these circumstances, I cannot, in all honor, and will not, merely for political expediency, go along with the cheap bargaining and political maneuvering which have brought about party dissension in this convention.
It is best not to straddle ideals.
In these days of danger when democracy must be more than vigilant, there can be no connivance with the kind of politics which has internally weakened nations abroad before the enemy has struck from without.
It is best for America to have the fight out here and now.
I wish to give the Democratic Party the opportunity to make its historic decision clearly and without equivocation. The party must go wholly one way or wholly the other. It cannot face in both directions at the same time.
By declining the honor of the nomination for the presidency, I can restore that opportunity to the convention. I so do.
All parties should read & learn from this letter.
Do you support these ideas?
an analysis.
http://www.minnpost.com/eric-black-ink/2013/02/latest-attempt-manipulate-electoral-college-vote-isn-t-new
These ideas? FWIW, I would like to see the Electoral College consigned to the dustbin of history.
End the electoral college. Agreed.
This group is making progress.
http://www.nationalpopularvote.com/
The third is freedom from want. The fourth is freedom from fear.
I did not know that.
I just learned about this fellow.
"Wallace almost became the nation's president. In 1940, he was FDR's running mate and served as his vice president for four years. But in 1944, against the advice of the Democratic Party's progressives and liberals - including his wife Eleanor - FDR reluctantly allowed the party's conservative, pro-business and segregationist wing to replace Wallace with Sen. Harry Truman as the vice presidential candidate, a move that Stone calls the "greatest blunder" of Roosevelt's career. Had Wallace remained as vice president, he would have become president when FDR died in April 1945."
http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/14297-henry-wallace-americas-forgotten-visionary
I see another book to pick up. Thanks.
You're welcome......:)
FDR was pretty amazing and it seems this guy had a lot of influence.
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You'd think the Republicans would respect the stacking the Supreme Court gambit.
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i like freedom , thats why i dont like fdr.
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The only freedom you seem to value, is the freedom to lie, cheat and steal your way to being a greedy fuck.
Wrong, I am not a democrat.
No. You're something much worse.
Why don't you tell everyone just what that is?
At least you didn't deny the truth in my statement.
you 're " statement" contained no truths about me.
Neither did what you said.
What did you expect?
Thanks for another bump though...........:)
fdr was a socialist. the bumps are on your head.
You have large lumps in your brain.
Likely put there by FLAKESnews or somesuch.
You should look into having them excised.
Freedom is being secure in one's natural ability to do as one pleases with their person and their property without unwanted interference from others.
As an amendment, freedom can be stated as
"Barring violation to the rights of others, the right of a free people to be secure in their individual decisions of personal safety, ingestion, expression, activity, association, and property, shall not be violated without due process of law."
On that basis, people in America have never been free nor have they ever actually wanted freedom. People are okay with having the freedom to live as they choose to live but when it comes to the freedom of everyone to live as they choose to live, there have been laws against sex, marriage, drugs, alcohol, gambling, etc. Freedom, pertaining to that of a free society, has never been valued by the majority.
That would fall under freedom from want and freedom from fear.
FDR had a way of distilling the complicated.
It is what we make it I have been free my life because my mind and money are not together in my thinking. It has become me now though it has been challenging at times mainly because of hurt seeing peoples concern of it over the feelings of others. Freedom represents Liberty which actually has not a solid definition, it is the living happy pursuit that defines and that is the result of living in FREEDOM. Of course it is not easy how can you jail and kill in the name of Freedom YOU CAN NOT. While Freedom need no defense it also causes no harm and if harm done then not of these United States as shall be and meant for living ALL ONE I am WE...
I like FDR's 'splanation better.
It makes linguistic and grammatical sense.
Get rid of the teddy bears for quick fix because FDR is long gone and his choices are what led down path of attempting to be empire.
teddy bears = theodore (teddy ) roosevelt.