The 1941 State of the Union address by Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) is an elaborate speech that used fear-mongering to scare the nation into deserting neutrality. Therefore, with cautiously chosen language as well as tactical use of radio broadcasting technology, Roosevelt effectively addressed the American public and Congress, convincing the nation to participate in World War II and virtuously pursuing its role as a world power. FDR addressed four freedoms including the freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worshiping God in one’s way, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. As such, he stated that democratic freedoms are valuable hence should not be taken for granted. While playing to the patriotic strength of the nation, he portrayed that time has come to defend and secure those susceptible freedoms, and that challenging, yet essential, the task is the responsibility of the very American individuals who live by those four freedoms and make them conceivable. However, since America’s goals are founded on high morals hence victory is inevitable and necessary, FDR suggested indirect involvement of America in World War II by lending weapons to other democracies in need rather than direct involvement which would otherwise result in inevitable loss of American lives. These four freedoms were aimed at achieving complete equality and the best human rights globally.
Although the delivery of the speech is less succinct, it has taught me that freedom does not come freely, there is a price that has to be paid. As such, the speech has taught me that the contentment of the future American generations may well rely upon how immediate and effective we can make our aid felt. Besides, nobody can predict the exact nature of the emergencies that we may be called upon to assist hence the country’s hand must not be tied when the country’s life is under threat. Moreover, while putting the happiness of the future generation on the line, we should also place the continuation of that happiness in the hands of the American people; hands that have to be free fast and capable of tackling whatever challenges might arise. In a nutshell, we must always be prepared to make sacrifices that the emergencies demand, virtually as serious as the war itself.
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References
Roosevelt, F. D. (1941). The four freedoms. Outlined in a speech on January , 6 .
