Imminent threats to world memorably addressed in 1938

There are two imminent threats to the world which were highlighted during 1938. Each was succinctly, precisely and memorably addressed by an educated friend of humanity.

A thinker and teacher was one; the other was Franklin Roosevelt.

The former, who wrote anonymously, described a condition which persists today. He wrote: “People say, ‘the sun rises, the moon shines, and everything is in order, yet for some mysterious reason we feel threatened.’

“Those who can see will point to unusual events that are influencing human nature, while other events will pass unnoticed. Many things happen in unpredictable places, and if you were to record the whereabouts of earthquakes, floods, epidemics, unusual atmospheric events and unexplained tensions, you would have a book about the sickness of the planet.”

Roosevelt did not directly address climate change, but what he said about the political situation is indirectly related.

“The first truth is that liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism — ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any controlling private power.

“The second truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if its business system does not provide employment and produce and distribute goods in such a way as to sustain an acceptable standard of living,” Roosevelt said in a 1938 speech to Congress.

Raphael O’Suna

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