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Charles E. Gillman Company Accounting Specialist Health Care CENTRAL ARIZONA COLLEGE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT Mechanical Komatsu Equipment Co Resident Field Mechanic Trades/Construction RANCHO RESORT MAINTANANCE POSITION Sales and Marketing Everready Glass Sales Reps Administrative & Professional Jorgensen Brooks Group Counselor Health Care Dependable Health Services Physical Therapists OpinionOut of our past: A pep talk, courtesy of FDRTucson, Arizona | Published: 10.13.2008
Watching the Dow plunge lower and lower and lower last week, we sought a presidential pep talk.
President Bush Friday talked of tools in the box, but he didn't reveal how the tools would be used. Candidates John McCain and Barack Obama are talking, but they're focused on getting themselves elected.
So we turned to Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States, the Democrat who held office from 1933 through 1945 during much of the Depression and pre-World War II financial crisis.
While all may not agree with FDR's policies and programs, few would deny that his words and warm fireside chats were inspirational and united our nation.
A few of our favorite quotes attributed to FDR:
● If you treat people right they will treat you right — 90 percent of the time.
● When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.
● Competition has been shown to be useful up to a certain point and no further, but cooperation, which is the thing we must strive for today, begins where competition leaves off.
● Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.
● Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.
● If civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships —the ability of all peoples, of all kinds, to live together, in the same world at peace.
● Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a president and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country.
We realize words didn't solve the financial crisis during the 1930s and early '40s and they certainly won't solve today's. But reading FDR's words is inspirational — and a bit of a Monday morning pep talk.
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