January 6 was once the day of the Four Freedoms speech, but it will instead forever be remembered by a president acting against everything these freedoms stood for.
The history you’ve cited was unknown to me. I had no idea about the Dutch connection. Thank you for this important lesson in history, a wonderful tribute both The Netherlands and America can share in pride.
The irony of the two January 6ths is astounding!
A travesty that these many years later Trump sullied that date by a despicable action that was in grievous contradiction to the Four Freedoms in FDR’s State of the Union speech. Those Four Freedoms are hallmarks that every new administration should embrace and protect with the power that comes with the Presidency.
The difference in these two men (or I should say three men and one woman) is poles apart. Both Presidents Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt were icons of American leadership who legacy will be forever honored. Whereas Donald Trump should be relegated to a footnote for when America was tainted with a sewer rat in the White House. Never again.
Thank you for a genuinely outstanding piece that makes me so proud to read.
You excelled! 🙏
PS, love the tiny feet reference to match the tiny hands 😉
There are so many more historical (and present day) connections between our two countries. I grew up in Leiden, the city where the Pilgrim Fathers lived for a decade before the sailed with the Mayflower in 1620. And the Dutch gave the first salute, as beautifully described by Barbara Tuchman.
"A woman is like a teabag; you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt. I believe to a great extent it will be the strength of the women of my country that will turn the tide of Election 2024.
From Rockwell's "Rosie the Riveter" to his iconic painting of Ruby Bridges, the first African American to desegregate New Orleans Schools in 1960, women and civil rights became "The Problem We All Live With" And we are still here.
The Four Freedoms the Roosevelt Legacy championed are more important than ever. The truth is being bent in real time every day by Trump. He bends it a little further and a little further. When it breaks, so does our Democracy and his "get out of jail free card" perpetuated on the American people becomes real.
When I see women like Liz Cheney and Kate Cox of Texas who will be sitting beside Dr. Biden at the State Of The Union, I believe the teabag is getting stronger.
A very nice article, Alex. You have captured a slice of Americana we all need to embrace before it's too late.
Thank you, Sharon; 2024 is the year of living on the razor's edge. Scary times, and so much is at stake. I can't think of this year other than pivotal in world history; if the world leader is no longer a democracy all bets are off.
Exquisite choice of topic. However, I do wish you had come to it by way of Biden’s emulation of FDR. The less oxygen TFG receives, the better for Election 2024, which in my estimation will be won by Biden, not the anointed leader of a sick cult. I’m so relieved by last night’s primary in New Hampshire, all the exiting of that anxiety has made me so very sleepy and relaxed I can barely stay awake today. We all (Democrats) still have much to do to assure a win in November and I expect there will be some violence and pushback from the GOP but the game is turning in our favor.
I’ve already submitted my absentee ballot in SC for our Democratic primary on 02/03/2024. Only three names qualified; Biden, Dean Phillips, and Marianne Williamson the latter two with no chance. Odd that the GOP primary is slated later in February.
I must comment on the beautiful “Americana” in those four illustrations published no doubt in the Saturday Evening Post. I was blessed to meet the artist, Norman Rockwell, in his studio in Vermont while the leaves were changing in the fall of 1973. He was amazing; an American icon. He is missed as is the Saturday Evening Post. I have no doubt all would be criticized as unrepresentative of “critical race theory.” But Vermont was very white, very American in so many ways. They do not have the history of racism that I observed first hand in my home in AL and now in SC. The alternate realities are mind boggling. Great piece tonight. Thank you! Love the Dutch connection too. It’s really such a small world! 🌎
How amazing that you have met Norman Rockwell! And you're right, the iconic images are not representative for the diversity of the US population. But these were made in 1943, a very different time, with different norms and values, and as you already stated, he lived and worked in Vermont. It's an interesting question how he would recreate these works if he could, together with FDR, briefly return to our present world.
Thank you for another great piece of wordsmanship. What a surprise to learn of the Roosevelt's Dutch-American bridge. I will be happy to substitute this happy commemoration and relegate the other to the horrific file marked "Don't Let This Happen Again." Unfortunately, we have a populace placing a monster in battle once again for the White House. I will take this opportunity to remind everyone to vote in local elections.
I can think of numerous reasons why not to vote for Biden, but I can't think of any reason why Americans shouldn't do everything possible to avoid having Trump back in the White House. Therefore, those numeous reasons become insignificant; a united front is needed to save democracy in the U.S. All other details can be dealt with later. It's sad that it has come this far in a country that proudly refers to itself as 'the land of the free' (even though I never understood that phrase, there are other countries where people are more free if you measure it along the four freedoms yardstick).
This November I will cast a ballot, not for a favored candidate, but against a criminal and authoritarian with goals of dictatorship. There will be tears in my eyes as I leave my precinct's polling place and curse my naiveté. I will continue to rage against my government for its greed, corruption, arrogance, and complicity in war crimes. I will continue to fight for the four freedoms for the people of this city I love. And I will continue research for my new home.
A masterful essay! And excellent visuals.
The history you’ve cited was unknown to me. I had no idea about the Dutch connection. Thank you for this important lesson in history, a wonderful tribute both The Netherlands and America can share in pride.
The irony of the two January 6ths is astounding!
A travesty that these many years later Trump sullied that date by a despicable action that was in grievous contradiction to the Four Freedoms in FDR’s State of the Union speech. Those Four Freedoms are hallmarks that every new administration should embrace and protect with the power that comes with the Presidency.
The difference in these two men (or I should say three men and one woman) is poles apart. Both Presidents Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt were icons of American leadership who legacy will be forever honored. Whereas Donald Trump should be relegated to a footnote for when America was tainted with a sewer rat in the White House. Never again.
Thank you for a genuinely outstanding piece that makes me so proud to read.
You excelled! 🙏
PS, love the tiny feet reference to match the tiny hands 😉
There are so many more historical (and present day) connections between our two countries. I grew up in Leiden, the city where the Pilgrim Fathers lived for a decade before the sailed with the Mayflower in 1620. And the Dutch gave the first salute, as beautifully described by Barbara Tuchman.
Very well written. Thought provoking.
Thank you Evelyne :-)
This is a lesson in US’s history. Gratitude and appreciation to you.
Thank you, Aida
"A woman is like a teabag; you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt. I believe to a great extent it will be the strength of the women of my country that will turn the tide of Election 2024.
From Rockwell's "Rosie the Riveter" to his iconic painting of Ruby Bridges, the first African American to desegregate New Orleans Schools in 1960, women and civil rights became "The Problem We All Live With" And we are still here.
The Four Freedoms the Roosevelt Legacy championed are more important than ever. The truth is being bent in real time every day by Trump. He bends it a little further and a little further. When it breaks, so does our Democracy and his "get out of jail free card" perpetuated on the American people becomes real.
When I see women like Liz Cheney and Kate Cox of Texas who will be sitting beside Dr. Biden at the State Of The Union, I believe the teabag is getting stronger.
A very nice article, Alex. You have captured a slice of Americana we all need to embrace before it's too late.
Thank you, Sharon; 2024 is the year of living on the razor's edge. Scary times, and so much is at stake. I can't think of this year other than pivotal in world history; if the world leader is no longer a democracy all bets are off.
Exquisite choice of topic. However, I do wish you had come to it by way of Biden’s emulation of FDR. The less oxygen TFG receives, the better for Election 2024, which in my estimation will be won by Biden, not the anointed leader of a sick cult. I’m so relieved by last night’s primary in New Hampshire, all the exiting of that anxiety has made me so very sleepy and relaxed I can barely stay awake today. We all (Democrats) still have much to do to assure a win in November and I expect there will be some violence and pushback from the GOP but the game is turning in our favor.
I’ve already submitted my absentee ballot in SC for our Democratic primary on 02/03/2024. Only three names qualified; Biden, Dean Phillips, and Marianne Williamson the latter two with no chance. Odd that the GOP primary is slated later in February.
I must comment on the beautiful “Americana” in those four illustrations published no doubt in the Saturday Evening Post. I was blessed to meet the artist, Norman Rockwell, in his studio in Vermont while the leaves were changing in the fall of 1973. He was amazing; an American icon. He is missed as is the Saturday Evening Post. I have no doubt all would be criticized as unrepresentative of “critical race theory.” But Vermont was very white, very American in so many ways. They do not have the history of racism that I observed first hand in my home in AL and now in SC. The alternate realities are mind boggling. Great piece tonight. Thank you! Love the Dutch connection too. It’s really such a small world! 🌎
How amazing that you have met Norman Rockwell! And you're right, the iconic images are not representative for the diversity of the US population. But these were made in 1943, a very different time, with different norms and values, and as you already stated, he lived and worked in Vermont. It's an interesting question how he would recreate these works if he could, together with FDR, briefly return to our present world.
Thank you for another great piece of wordsmanship. What a surprise to learn of the Roosevelt's Dutch-American bridge. I will be happy to substitute this happy commemoration and relegate the other to the horrific file marked "Don't Let This Happen Again." Unfortunately, we have a populace placing a monster in battle once again for the White House. I will take this opportunity to remind everyone to vote in local elections.
I can think of numerous reasons why not to vote for Biden, but I can't think of any reason why Americans shouldn't do everything possible to avoid having Trump back in the White House. Therefore, those numeous reasons become insignificant; a united front is needed to save democracy in the U.S. All other details can be dealt with later. It's sad that it has come this far in a country that proudly refers to itself as 'the land of the free' (even though I never understood that phrase, there are other countries where people are more free if you measure it along the four freedoms yardstick).
This November I will cast a ballot, not for a favored candidate, but against a criminal and authoritarian with goals of dictatorship. There will be tears in my eyes as I leave my precinct's polling place and curse my naiveté. I will continue to rage against my government for its greed, corruption, arrogance, and complicity in war crimes. I will continue to fight for the four freedoms for the people of this city I love. And I will continue research for my new home.