Dear ,
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Welcome to Issue 284. The mission of "Marvelous Mondays" is to offer an inspirational thought, a practical exercise, some humor, or a simple tip to jump-start your week and to enhance your life, business, outlook or relationships.
Please feel free to forward "Marvelous Mondays" to others who will enjoy it.
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Click here to view an Archive.
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HAPPY INDEPENDENCE WEEK
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As we approach Independence Day, we pay tribute to the founders of our country and to the patriots whose great sacrifices gained our independence from England and the freedoms we enjoy today.
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THE BACKSTORY TO FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT'S FOUR FREEDOMS SPEECH
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The scene is January 6th, 1941. The Nazis are ravaging Europe. The U.S. has not yet entered the war, but Roosevelt wants to encourage support in various ways by appealing to the universal human rights of all people. This is the background for his State of the Union Address to Congress.
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FDR'S FOUR FREEDOMS SPEECH
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He then identified the following four freedoms:
1. Freedom of speech
2. Freedom of worship
3. Freedom from want
4. Freedom from fear
These four freedoms became a theme for rallying support for the war. After FDR's death and the end of World War II, his widow Eleanor eloquently referred to these Four Freedoms when she advocated for the passage of the United Nations. In fact the Four Freedoms became part of the very charter of the United Nations.
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ENTER NORMAN ROCKWELL
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The artist and illustrator Norman Rockwell was a strong supporter of our war efforts and was inspired by Roosevelt's Four Freedoms Speech. In 1943 he began a weekly series of illustrations in the acclaimed Saturday Evening Post. Each issue highlighted one of the Four Freedoms and was accompanied by essays of great American thinkers. Rockwell's illustrations of the Four Freedoms had a great impact on Americans, including FDR himself.
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| EXERCISE |
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I invite you this week, perhaps on July 4th, to pick one of the Four Freedoms for which you are most grateful. Then share that gratitude with someone and why you are so grateful. Of course I'd love to hear from you.
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