The study of our history marks the first step in understanding our earlier period which usually helps us to have a perceptive of the happenings and events that have taken place over years which can also facilitate improving the future. In this research paper, we shall review the four freedoms which were articulated by President Roosevelt in the year 1941 (Crowley, 2010).
Throughout the discussion we shall elaborate the four freedoms in a broader way for better understating; we shall also describe the several measures that were put in place in order to ensure the four freedoms are fully achieved for the better of US administration and for the wellbeing of the entire population as well.
Discussion
The four freedoms reflect the goals and objectives of the American state. The four freedoms were spoken by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on 6th January the year 1941 (Crowley, 2010). During a gathering of the State of the Union Address, when President Franklin Roosevelt was giving his speech he mentioned the four freedoms which he argued are basic for the humanity and all the population in the world ought to enjoy them across the planet.
At this particular time, the congress had made a gathering to discuss the necessary measures of protecting the state of America which they argued had been facing the worst security threat of all times. In the speech, Roosevelt started by declaring that there is a greater need to tighten the means of security for America because of protecting its citizens in the future days to come.
In fact, he said that “in the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms” (Crowley, 2010) which according to the US administration is the only ultimate solution for a better-secured future. The four chief freedoms are; freedom of speech and expression, freedom to worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear (Wwnorton.com, 2011).
The first freedom of speech and expression advocates that, all human beings should be able to express themselves through speech freely anywhere in the world without any restrictions, while the second freedom represents the freedom to worship; it advocates that any individual should be at liberty to worship based ones believe anywhere in the world regardless of nationality (Wwnorton.com, 2011).
The third freedom from want is a freedom policy seeking humanity’s liberation which if when translated into earthly terms it refers to the worldwide or global economic unity which when put in place can be able to secure economic stability, peaceful life, and healthy life among other necessities for the entire humanity in the world (Wwnorton.com, 2011).
Lastly, the fourth freedom policy is the freedom from fear which also when described in worldly terms it calls for global reduction of weapons such as missiles, military force, and nuclear arms among other deadly armaments of mass destruction to such a point that, no nation or state can be in any position of committing national threat or actual physical damage to their neighbors around the planet (Wwnorton.com, 2011).
As elaborated the four freedoms are policies to promote national unity, international peace and enable human development for a better society. As such, the four freedoms were accepted and welcomed unanimously by the congress based on the fact that they would improve the lives of the citizens and make progressive changes to the administrative system. Most importantly, the four freedoms can be argued as the basic liberty policies which when implemented will enhance the worldwide security since they oversee harmony.
Based on the fact that the four freedoms were seen as a positive quantifier in the attempt to integrate safety measures in the planet, the US administration took this as a challenge in a way of fulfilling its promise to the humanity and as a mark of loyalty to the peace mission by keeping Franklin Roosevelt’s dream alive and honoring it (Eggers, 2010).
Up to date, the four freedoms have been honored for social change. The following discussion will broadly elaborate the numerous means and ways which Roosevelt’s dream was honored during those days and how it has continually been kept alive up to date both at the international and domestic levels.
Immediately after implementation of the four freedoms of speech in the 1941, America was now under a new order. To honor the four freedoms, President Roosevelt influenced the introduction of the United Nations Honor Flag which marks the first step to honoring the freedom speech by Roosevelt in his execution of the duty to the citizens. As such, the “The Four Freedoms Flag” (Eggers, 2010) was adopted in the year 1948 and was declared to be a universal mark to symbolize all allies of the Second World War and their commitment to the goals of the Four Freedoms.
In honoring this progress, the flag was designed and accorded the name United Nations Flag which was unanimously accepted worldwide as a way to promote unity and peace (Crowley, 2010). Additionally, with the implementation of the Flag of The United Nations, all the associates’ nations made an agreement in which they also signed a treaty as a sign of commitment to the Four Freedom goals (Raskin and Spero, 2007).
Furthermore, to indicate the level of commitment to the goals and meeting the objectives of the Four Freedoms, the US administration and other associated nations made a universal crusade across the globe to advocate for the freedom policy. One such way is through keeping the recordings of President Roosevelt’s speech which have been preserved up to date (Crowley, 2010).
The recordings were also distributed for communication through the various forms of mass media such as the print media, the TV, and even through the internet to ensure that every individual could at least have an access to the message of freedom.
Apart from this, the Four Freedoms were also widely communicated through works of art by several individuals in an attempt to ensure effective communication of the message to promote the concept of liberty; a factual example of the case is the paintings of the freedom of speech, freedom from fear, and freedom of worship by one renowned artist known as Norman Rockwell among others who carried the art as a campaign strategy and as a way of thanksgiving to the liberty policies (Bhikkhu, 2002).
Today, the magnificent paintings are available in the library, museums, and national archives, and even in the mass media to facilitate universal access.
The foundation of the modern America was formed from the comprehensive struggle and determination to honor the freedom from fear which the civilians and US federal army schemed a strategy although it was painful considering what the commanders and the state men went through in order to conquer the fear of the ordinary Americans and achieve the numerous victories (Bhikkhu, 2002).
Today, the US is enjoying the same freedom which can be attributed to Roosevelt’s motivational speech and the war victories America has achieved over years.
On the other hand, the Americans have always honored the liberty policies by keeping every freedom alive. For instance, the freedom of speech and freedom to worship is one notion that has been endorsed over time. In America, people are at liberty to worship according to one’s believes.
In fact, the modern America has a variety of religions ranging from Christians, pagans Buddhists, and even American Muslims among others. Alternatively, the freedom of speech and expression is one among the other freedoms that has been honored and is very crucial in US up to date (Raskin and Spero, 2007).
Conclusion
Generally, the speech by President Franklin Roosevelt marks the first step towards global realization regarding humanity and rights. To the US, the speech was a mark of tribute to the many struggles of fearless individuals who seek independence.
Today, America has continually honored the goals of the four freedoms by the fact that US administration stands on the front line to integrate peace; as such American government has always campaigned for the worldwide peace by ensuring that mass weapons and other deadly armaments are not among the technological changes in the planet. The recent sanctions against Iran and Korea mark the signal that US is still committed to the four freedoms for a better society.
References
Bhikkhu, T. (2002). Freedom From Fear. Web.
Crowley, J. (2010). Four Freedoms: A Novel. New York: HarperCollins.
Raskin, M & Spero, R. (2007). The Four Freedoms under Siege. California: Greenwood Publishing Group.
Wwnorton.com (2011). The four freedoms. Web.
Eggers, D. (2010). Zeuton. New York: Vintage Books Press.