“Poor schools in our communities today mean poor citizens in these communities in a few years—men and women ill-prepared to earn a living, or to participate in government.”
On Black History Month:
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Eleanor Roosevelt was one of the leading advocates of her day for the equality of the races and the freedom of all people. She recognized that racism was a barrier to the improvement of society. On March 8, 1946, she wrote in her “My Day” column:
“No . . . organization can succeed when peoples of one race approach those of other races in a spirit of contempt.”
She emphasized that accepting and promoting the freedom of all people, regardless of race or other factors, was crucial to the functioning of a true democracy. She wrote:
“It depends on what each of us does, what we consider democracy means, and what we consider freedom in a democracy means and whether we really care about it enough to face ourselves and our prejudices and to make up our minds what we really want our nation to be, and what its relationship is to be to the rest of the world.”
Although Black History Month, which we now celebrate every February, was not established until 1976, fourteen years after Eleanor Roosevelt’s death in 1962, there is no doubt that Eleanor would have wholeheartedly supported the idea of promoting equality, education, and understanding in order to eliminate racism and prejudice from our American democracy.
Today (February 8) in Eleanor Roosevelt’s History:
Friday, February 8, 2008
On February 8, 1944, Eleanor Roosevelt wrote in her “My Day” column:
“I have known only a few very happy marriages. By that I do not mean just people who get along together and live contentedly through life, but people who really are excitingly happy. These people have somehow preserved the ability to rejuvenate their love so that neither the man nor the woman need wander off to find the romance they long for somewhere else.”
Today (February 7) in Eleanor Roosevelt’s History:
Thursday, February 7, 2008
On February 7, 1939, Eleanor Roosevelt wrote in her “My Day” column:
“. . . all wars eventually act as boomerangs and the victor suffers as much as the vanquished.”
On Super Tuesday:
Monday, February 4, 2008
Tomorrow, February 5, marks Super Tuesday, the day when twenty-four states hold their primary elections in the 2008 presidential race. Married to a U.S. president who was elected four times, Eleanor Roosevelt was very familiar with the campaign process. She also knew how important it was for the people to make their voices heard by taking part in that process and voting for the candidates of their choice. She wrote:
“Politics is the participation of the citizen in his government. The kind of government he has depends entirely on the quality of that participation.”
We would do well to remember Eleanor’s words tomorrow, and take the time to go to the polls on Super Tuesday (if our state is one of those holding its primary on February 5). As Eleanor said, the government we have depends on us, so let’s do our part in creating the kind of government we all would like to have.
On people who are opposed to war:
Thursday, January 31, 2008
“I can not help feeling very sorry for honest conscientious objectors, for I am quite sure that many a young man must find it bitter to let other young men of his own age die and fight and give up time in occupations they care little about.
It is only because of these young men, however, who are willing to fight that anyone can indulge himself in a personal viewpoint. Some day, perhaps, the world will be the kind of civilized place in which we can all live in safety according to our own lights. But it isn’t that kind of place today, and so you and I are defended in our peaceful lives at home by those who will do what their Government asks of them, no matter what that task may be.”
Today (January 29) in Eleanor Roosevelt’s History:
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
On January 29, 1934, Eleanor Roosevelt wrote to her friend Lorena:
“People are never satisfied . . . unless things are done for them. It is unfortunate that we have to do it, they like doing for themselves. Human beings are poor things, think how much discipline we need ourselves & don’t get too discouraged.”
Today (January 24) in Eleanor Roosevelt’s History:
Thursday, January 24, 2008
On January 24, 1934, Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt entertained Albert Einstein and his wife at the White House. Eleanor wrote to her friend Lorena Hickok, describing the visit of the famous scientist:
“The Einsteins arrived [at the White House] & are priceless, so German & so simple with many wise gentle German qualities.”
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day:
Monday, January 21, 2008
Eleanor Roosevelt believed strongly that all people should have equal rights, and that equality would allow people of different races to live together peacefully. Like Martin Luther King, Jr., whose life and work we celebrate today, Roosevelt looked to a day when all people would be equal. She wrote:
“There is no reason why all of the races in this country should not live together each of them giving from their particular gift something to the other, and contributing an example to the world of “peace on earth, good will toward men.”
On the dangers of the world:
Monday, January 14, 2008
“. . . there can be a real development of understanding among human beings, though it may take a great many years before there is sufficient change throughout the world to eliminate some of the dangers which we now face daily.”