A WEDGE AGAINST OUR CIVILIZATION
WE MUST SCRUPULOUSLY GUARD THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES OF ALL OUR CITIZENS, WHATEVER THEIR BACKGROUND. WE MUST REMEMBER THAT ANY OPPRESSION, ANY INJUSTICE, ANY HATRED, IS A WEDGE DESIGNED TO ATTACK OUR CIVILIZATION.
In 1940, as President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s second term drew to an end and his unprecedented third term drew near, war had broken out in Europe and totalitarian forces were seizing control of democratic allies and friends.
In America, the New Deal was beginning to take shape, keeping the Depression from consuming Americans. But the United States was divided - fighting over food and work and housing. Divided over the war in Europe - isolationists reluctant to take on a foreign war. And, dangerously in the face of war, America faced again a rising tide of prejudice, injustice, and intolerance.
Into this mix, Roosevelt welcomed the American Committee for Protection of Foreign-born. This civil rights organization stood in defense of immigrants facing deportation and unjust immigration laws. Roosevelt dispatched a letter which, in only a few paragraphs, set the tone for what is our duty as Americans.
“We must be constantly vigilant against the attacks of intolerance and injustice”, Roosevelt wrote. “We must scrupulously guard the civil rights and civil liberties of all our citizens, whatever their background.” Domestic bigotry, intolerance, and political bitterness act as “a wedge”, one that enemies, foreign and domestic, can exploit to break our democracy from the inside out.
In 1940, Franklin D. Roosevelt was well on his way to reinventing our government, our nation, our Democratic Party when he gave America these words.
We have tried to heed his warning ever since - defending Freedom by dispensing Justice and granting Opportunity to “all our citizens, whatever their background.” It’s our Duty as a government of the people to carry out this mission, and to do it well for all, equally.
It’s our Democratic Creed - our standard - our aspiration - our promise.
Photo of Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial, Washington, DC. Quotations from Greeting to the American Committee for Protection of Foreign-born
