The Four Freedoms, 2017

As I noted in my daily historical note on my Facebook page yesterday, on February 20th, 1943, The Saturday Evening Post cover featured “Freedom of Speech” - the first of Norman Rockwell's paintings illustrating the “Four Freedoms” that President Franklin Roosevelt said, in his 1941 State of the Union address, that everyone in the world should enjoy.

Rockwell's paintings illustrating the other four freedoms: Freedom of Worship - 

Freedom from Want - 

and Freedom from Fear - 

were published on the magazine's cover over the following three weeks.

At a time when our freedom of speech is challenged by a contemptuous president who blames “fake news” for critical coverage of which he does not approve, and by people on all sides who would rather shout down opposing views than debate them honestly; when freedom of worship applies only to one's own choice of religious belief; when children in the most wealthy and powerful nation on earth lack food, housing, and good schools - and a government willing to stand up for them; and when government relies on a steady drumbeat of fear and accusation in an attempt to force its agenda, strong defense of our crucial First Amendment rights is more important than ever.

Do your part.

Have a good day. Speak out. Defend your freedoms against those who would take them away. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo