THE REASON WHY By Caroline Clemmons

 One of my favorite artists is Norman Rockwell. He captured emotion with paint that conveyed a story.  After President Franklin Delano Roosevelt introduced his concept of the Four Freedoms, Rockwell created these amazing illustrations of those rights for The Saturday Evening Post.

 The ideas enunciated in the Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms were the foundational principles that grew into the Atlantic Charter declared by Winston Churchill and FDR in August 1941; the United Nations Declaration of January 1, 1942; President Roosevelt’s vision for an international organization that became the United Nations after his death; and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations in 1948 through the work of Eleanor Roosevelt.

 The Four Freedoms are: 

1.    11. Freedom of Speech:

The right to express one's opinions and ideas without censorship or restriction.

2.    

2. Freedom of Worship:

The right to practice one's religion or belief without fear of persecution or discrimination.

3.    33. Freedom from Want:

The right to a basic standard of living, including access to food, housing, healthcare, and other necessities.

4.    44. Freedom from Fear:

The right to live without the threat of violence, aggression, or war.

These freedoms were not only a statement of American ideals but also a call to action, inspiring the war aims of the Allied forces during World War II. 

·      The text of the  "Four Freedoms" speech, delivered by FDR, is available here. 

I look forward to a world founded upon the four essential human freedoms. The first and most important freedom is freedom of speech and expression.  As a writer, this freedom is particularly important to me.  I hope you will also use your freedom of speech and expression in a positive way to make the world a better place than you found it.

During this time of unrest and fear of what’s in store for our country, please keep our inalienable rights, as outlined in our Constitution and the Bill of Rights, in mind. As you celebrate July 4^th, remember it’s America’s Independence Day.

Happy Fourth of July! Thanks for stopping by.

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