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The INDEPENDENT, June 15, 2006
The
INDEPENDENT
Published on the first and third Thursdays of each month by
The Independent, LLC, 725 Bridge St., Vernonia, OR 97064.
Phone/Fax: 503-429-9410. Publisher Clark McGaugh,
clark@the-independent.net • Managing Editor Rebecca Mc-
Gaugh, rebecca@the-independent.net • Editor Noni Ander-
sen, noni@the-independent.net
Opinion
In 1942, America and most nations were involved in
World War II. Though it is not yet July 4, 2006, this ad-
dress is as relevant today as it was in 1942.
July 4, 1942
Address delivered by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
For 166 years this Fourth Day of July has been a
symbol to the people of our country of the democratic
freedom which our citizens claim as their precious
birthright. On this grim anniversary its meaning has
spread over the entire globe--focusing the attention of
the world upon the modern freedoms for which all the
United Nations are now engaged in deadly war.
On the desert sands of Africa, along the thousands
of miles of battle lines in Russia, in New Zealand and
Australia, and the islands of the Pacific, in war-torn
China and all over the seven seas, free men are fight-
ing desperately--and dying--to preserve the liberties
and the decencies of modern civilization. And in the
overrun and occupied nations of the world, this day is
filled with added significance, coming at a time when
freedom and religion have been attacked and tram-
pled upon by tyrannies unequaled in human history.
Never since it first was created in Philadelphia, has
this anniversary come in times so dangerous to every-
thing for which it stands. We celebrate it this year, not
in the fireworks of make-believe but in the death-deal-
ing reality of tanks and planes and guns and ships. We
celebrate it also by running without interruption the
assembly lines which turn out these weapons to be
shipped to all the embattled points of the globe. Not
to waste one hour, not to stop one shot, not to hold
back one blow--that is the way to mark our great na-
tional holiday in this year of 1942.
To the weary, hungry, unequipped Army of the
American Revolution, the Fourth of July was a tonic of
hope and inspiration. So is it now. The tough, grim
men who fight for freedom in this dark hour take heart
in its message--the assurance of the right to liberty un-
der God--for all peoples and races and groups and na-
tions, everywhere in the world.
More on President Roosevelt’s July 4, 1942 address:
Pres. Roosevelt's address was a call
to the nation for maintaining vigilance
amidst the nation’s hour of darkness.
Through his encouragement many con-
tinued working, not taking a day off on
Independence Day.
“War agencies of the government op-
erated regardless of the holiday. The
War and Navy Departments put in a reg-
ular day’s work, as did the Post Office
and State Departments,” and other
agencies of the government.
“President Roosevelt set the example
for the nation by scheduling a full day of
work at the White House.” Many busi-
nesses and corporations in the private
sector remained opened. Employees of
IBM, for example, were hard at work.
The few ceremonies held that day were
mostly military-related exercises. In
Philadelphia at the base of the Liberty
Bell, 200 young men were inducted into
the armed forces while in New York citi-
zens there heard over 400 air raid sirens
wail at noon. There was a marked ab-
sence of fireworks that night due to
blackouts in all cities and towns. In
Washington, D.C., “civilian protective
forces” were in place.
(Source: New York Times, 5 July 1942, 23.) Re-
searched by James R. Heintze. American University,
Washington, D.C.
NOTICE
The INDEPENDENT publishes on
the first and third Thursday of each
month. Because there are five Thurs-
days in June, the next issue will not be
published until July 6, 2006.
The deadline for articles and ads for
the July 6 issue will be Friday, June 30,
2006.