Presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama is often compared to JFK for his lofty ideals and eloquent rhetoric. When Senator Obama inspired approximately 200,000 Germans to listen to his oratorical skills in the heart of Berlin last week, however, his speech emulated the universal values espoused by Frankin D. Roosevelt on 6 January 1941 in a memorable State of the Union Address.
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FDR regaled both lawmakers in Congress and radio listeners worldwide with the 'Four Freedoms' or four essential human rights of mankind: the freedom of speech, the freedom to worship God (as one wishes), the freedom from want (i.e. hunger) and the freedom from fear.
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Obama resurrected the ghost of FDR in Berlin with not only similar words but a similar impassioned plea as well. On the day of the 'Four Freedoms' speech, FDR was contending with isolationists in Congress, the onslaught of the Axis powers in Europe, the vulnerability of Britain to Nazi aggression and the rape of China and Korea by Japanese armies. A bleak picture indeed.
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By contrast, the US economy, despite high gas prices and inflationary pressures, seems to be relatively stable. While the effects of global warming are potentially dire, American technology and consumer habits seem poised to reduce carbon admissions drastically over the next 10 years regardless of the leader in the White House. Although terrorism is still a minatory threat, US and NATO forces have broken up or contained extremist violence in Iraq and Afghanistan to a large degree.
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On the other hand, Americans are fretful about an endless commitment to wars in the Middle East, a spiraling deficit, losses of thousands of manufacturing jobs to China, a widening gap between rich and poor, a mortgage crisis, a weak dollar and an overall loss of confidence in political leadership.
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Will the cool, resolute McCain or the passionate, idealistic Obama prevail in November? Regardless of which candidate wins, one thing is certain. There is only one FDR.
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To view the 'Four Freedoms' Speech, see the following link:
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Question: Which president possessed the greatest oratorical skills?
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a) Thomas Jefferson
b) Abraham Lincoln
c) Theodore Roosevelt
d) Woodrow Wilson
e) Franklin D. Roosevelt
f) John F. Kennedy
g) Ronald Reagan
h) other
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J Roquen