It was the legendary illustrator Norman Rockwell who once said, “I paint life as I would like it to be.”
That philosophy is what prompted the famed artist, inspired by a speech President Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave on January 6, 1941, to sit down at his easel and begin painting what became known as “The Four Freedoms.”
Walking past prints of these paintings hanging in our foyer on this Election Day, it struck me how the more things change, the more they remain the same.
“In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms,” reflected President Roosevelt.
“The first is freedom of speech and expression – everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way – everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want – which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants – everywhere in the world.”
Roosevelt continued:
“The fourth is freedom from fear–which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor–anywhere in the world.”
It’s been more than 83 years since FDR delivered that address – and 81 years since the four paintings debuted on successive Saturday Evening Post covers in 1943.
“Freedom of Speech” was published on February 20, “Freedom of Worship” on February 27, “Freedom from Want” on March 6 and “Freedom from Fear” on March 13.
The magazine received millions of requests for reprints. Over 2.5 million sets were produced, and the allotment sold out. Postage stamps were also commissioned.
Americans cast their vote for all kinds of reasons – but many are doing so this year to protect and preserve these same four freedoms.
We recognize that our Founding Fathers and countless patriots have bled and died to protect our freedom of speech. We vote to preserve it.
We are grateful we can worship at will, not just within the walls of a church, but anywhere and everywhere. We vote to protect it.
We work and we save to put food on our tables and clothes on our backs. We agree with Milton Friedman who warned, “Inflation is taxation without legislation.”
And then there was Ronald Reagan who declared, “Inflation is as violent as a mugger, as frightening as an armed robber and as deadly as a hit man.” We vote to defeat it.
Finally, we are committed to defending the safety and security of our loved ones. We vote to strengthen it.
Life isn’t a painting – but Rockwell’s work resonated, because pictures and paintings are worth thousands of words.
We’re voting to preserve these four freedoms for future generations. Elections have consequences long beyond a president’s term of office. Appointments and decisions ripple across the nation and world.
Yes, the Lord is sovereign – but our faith doesn’t afford us the luxury of being blasé about electoral outcomes. Evil and wickedness are on the march – and we have an obligation and opportunity to serve as His hands and feet to bring relief and hope to the world.
Image credit: Norman Rockwell, Fair Use
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