4 freedoms, then and now

Colleen Fitzgerald
1/30/09
QU301
For 12 years, Franklin D. Roosevelt served as one of Americas greatest Presidents, yet during his Presidency, Roosevelt faced many struggles. President Roosevelt expressed his wishes to secure a better America in his address to Congress in 1941. In this address President Roosevelt named four freedoms he believed were essential to human freedom; freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. Today many Americans still struggle to obtain these freedoms as expressed in President Obama’s inauguration speech.
When President Roosevelt was in office, two main obstacles to overcome were the Great Depression and World War II. When President Roosevelt wrote about freedom of fear, Roosevelt wished for a Utopian America. This America would be free from a Depression that would cripple a nation and cause suffering for its people and a country where Nazism was gone and war did not exist. However today times have changed and new fears exist. In President Obama’s speech, Obama spoke that “On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.” This new fear Obama pledges to over come is a combination of the worsening economy, global climate problems, and a never ending war in the Middle East. However, both President Roosevelt and President Obama believe that America should not live in fear, but should persevere and become stronger for it.
Another freedom mentioned by President Roosevelt was the freedom from want. During his Presidency, Roosevelt developed a ‘New Deal’ to help America struggle out of the Great Depression. In his speech, President Roosevelt wished for an America where its people were satisfied and free from poverty. Today the same dream of a prosperous America still exists in President Obama’s speech. Today, America is in a similar situation that President Roosevelt was in the 1930’s to 40’s with an economy that was sinking. President Obama promises in his speech to strive for an America where its people have all the necessities to live a happy, prosperous life. For both Presidents, these dreams of a better America still exist. Just as President Roosevelt fought for these freedoms and persevered, so shall President Obama fight and God willing succeed.