Photo by John C. Hawthorne, for The Crossing Votes: 2020.

On the eve of the election, we turn back to F.D.R.’s words, as set by Robert Maggio for The Crossing Votes: 2020.

Democracy

Created and filmed at a different time: outside, socially distanced, trying to connect and address the issues of an ailing country.

Four years later, the message is of equal importance.

We must be the great arsenal of Democracy.

At an election of even greater importance. 

So, we share again, what we believe in.

Video of Democracy by Four/Ten Media; audio by Paul Vazquez.

Democracy

by Robert Maggio

setting words from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s address to the nation, December 29, 1940

My friends: I well remember that while I sat in my study in the White House, preparing to talk with the people of the United States, I had before my eyes the picture of all those Americans with whom I was talking.

I saw the workmen in the mills, the mines, [in] the factories; the girl behind the counter; the small shopkeeper; the farmer doing his spring plowing; the widows and the old men wondering about their life's savings.

Frankly and definitely there is danger ahead – danger against which we must prepare. Let us no longer bind ourselves to the undeniable fact that the evil forces are already within our own gates. They try to divide our people, to divide them into hostile groups and destroy our unity and shatter our will.

I would ask no one to defend a democracy which in turn would not defend everyone in the nation.

We must be the great arsenal of democracy.

In case you missed it last week:

VOTE drawing by Steven Bradshaw w/ Nyahzul C. Blanco