In reading over FDR's first Inaugural Address in 1933 it is stunning to realize it was such a prescient speech. It is as if FDR knew we would have the likes of a George W Bush in the White House, as well as the likes of Tom Delay, Bill Frist, Dick Cheney, and others who seek personal gain while holding political positions.
Roosevelt got the greatest applause when he promised that day, on the steps of the capitol, that executive power would be used, if necessary, to wage war on the Depression as if it were an enemy.
Some of his words that are so striking are the ones that follow:
...the only thing we have to fear is fear itself--nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.
And this:
The money changers have fled from their high seats in the temple of our civilization. We may now restore that temple to the ancient truths. The measure of the restoration lies in the extent to which we apply social values more noble than mere monetary profit.
As a contrast...fast forward to G.W. Bush's address to a Joint Session of Congress and the American people on September 20, 2001.
Here we are 9 days after 9/11 and some of the words that rolled off Bush's conniving tongue now seem so pre-planned and meant to push us on this unforgivable journey to endless war. Not a war on poverty or injustice, but true war for the "money changers".
..and night fell on a different world, a world where freedom is under attack
..[the terrorists] are sent back to their homes or sent to hide in countries around the world to plot evil and destruction.
They hate what we see right here in this chamber--a democratically elected government
And on and on it went. These words...danger, terror, terrorists, attack, enemies...evil, destruction, threat, and violence were used nearly 50 times in the speech. But, by far, the words of choice were terrorists or terror.
So here we are, knowing what the actual plot of Bush and his cohorts was, how it was spun into this perfect storm of fear and chaos.
Ironically, I do believe that Bush's speechwriters may very well have had their eyes on the FDR speech for this little tidbit. Just substitute terrorism for Depression and their argument is made!
I shall ask the Congress for one remaining instrument to meet the crisis [the Depression]--broad executive power to wage a war against the emergency, as great as the power that would be given to me if we were in fact invaded by a foreign foe.
It is truly painful to realize what we have lost. That the words, thoughts, and deeds of a courageous man sit juxtaposed to the words, thoughts and deeds of a demented, deranged man is unbearable and agonizing.