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fdr
September 2009 
No Time to Lose
Posted on May 18th, 2008
by 
Melissa
Melissa
Yesterday I picked up Pema Chodron's "No Time to Lose," her commentary and guide to "The Way of the Boddhisattva" which I've been looking forward to reading for some time now but wasn't quite ready for. Now I feel I am.
This last week PBS in my area showed the complete "American Presidents" episodes covering the life of Franklin Delano Roosevelt - the man who got the United States out of The Great Depression and led us into World War II because he felt he could not let England and Europe fall to Hitler. There are those who truly hate FDR, who would like to completely undo everything he set up in our government. I'm not one of them, and I would ask anyone who hates the man to look The Great Depression in the face and tell me if it would have been okay to let millions of Americans starve to death.
The fascinating thing is that many of those who hate FDR ended up benefiting greatly from the industrial war complex that World War II set into motion. Until that time we were really more a country of isolationists. But I don't want to go off on that tangeant, I want to focus on the power of hope and kindness. FDR was a man born into great privilege and wealth - but he was raised by grownups and homeschooled. He didn't know how to deal well with his peers. He found Prep school very challenging. He didn't get into the social organization he wanted to in college.
But gradually he learned great charm and the art of small talk and became the favorite of society ladies. The universe, however, had something else in mind for him - and he fell madly in love with his very serious and gifted distant cousin Elenor. And then he decided to go into politics. As Govenor of the state of New York he shocked high society by implementing social reforms to benefit the needy when the Great Depression hit. While on an outing with the boyscouts FDR would contract what they thought was simply the flu but ended up being polio - he would lose the ability to walk in his early 30's.
It was by dealing with polio (though some say now it might have been another disease) FDR found the true depth of his character, his humility and his great humanity. He revamped a crumbling resort in a small town in Georgia called "Warm Springs" where he would soak up the healing waters of the local hot spring, and eventually build a school to teach children with polio how to better deal with their lives. He wanted to find a cure - he didn't, but along the way he invented many items that still make life easier for those dealing with being crippled today.
During his time in Georgia (where his active mind and curiosity led him to create a completely hand driven car so he could get about the countryside) FDR got to know the common man well. He would simply drive up to people with that terrific grin and introduce himself. Later he would use that knowledge to run for president of the United States as champion of that common man - and win not two times, but four. No one had done it then, and now there is a law that no one can do it since.
FDR wasn't perfect, no one is. One has to have a terrific ego to run for government and then withstand and succeed at it. But FDR believed in the common man, and he believed in hope. He believed the government could truly help people (nudged and guided often by his wife's passions) and had a responsibilty to make a difference.
We are at a similar crossroads again. I pray enough of us want to chose hope to more of the same old same old wealthy getting their way under the supposed idealology that everyone should be left to fend for themselves.
This last week PBS in my area showed the complete "American Presidents" episodes covering the life of Franklin Delano Roosevelt - the man who got the United States out of The Great Depression and led us into World War II because he felt he could not let England and Europe fall to Hitler. There are those who truly hate FDR, who would like to completely undo everything he set up in our government. I'm not one of them, and I would ask anyone who hates the man to look The Great Depression in the face and tell me if it would have been okay to let millions of Americans starve to death.
The fascinating thing is that many of those who hate FDR ended up benefiting greatly from the industrial war complex that World War II set into motion. Until that time we were really more a country of isolationists. But I don't want to go off on that tangeant, I want to focus on the power of hope and kindness. FDR was a man born into great privilege and wealth - but he was raised by grownups and homeschooled. He didn't know how to deal well with his peers. He found Prep school very challenging. He didn't get into the social organization he wanted to in college.
But gradually he learned great charm and the art of small talk and became the favorite of society ladies. The universe, however, had something else in mind for him - and he fell madly in love with his very serious and gifted distant cousin Elenor. And then he decided to go into politics. As Govenor of the state of New York he shocked high society by implementing social reforms to benefit the needy when the Great Depression hit. While on an outing with the boyscouts FDR would contract what they thought was simply the flu but ended up being polio - he would lose the ability to walk in his early 30's.
It was by dealing with polio (though some say now it might have been another disease) FDR found the true depth of his character, his humility and his great humanity. He revamped a crumbling resort in a small town in Georgia called "Warm Springs" where he would soak up the healing waters of the local hot spring, and eventually build a school to teach children with polio how to better deal with their lives. He wanted to find a cure - he didn't, but along the way he invented many items that still make life easier for those dealing with being crippled today.
During his time in Georgia (where his active mind and curiosity led him to create a completely hand driven car so he could get about the countryside) FDR got to know the common man well. He would simply drive up to people with that terrific grin and introduce himself. Later he would use that knowledge to run for president of the United States as champion of that common man - and win not two times, but four. No one had done it then, and now there is a law that no one can do it since.
FDR wasn't perfect, no one is. One has to have a terrific ego to run for government and then withstand and succeed at it. But FDR believed in the common man, and he believed in hope. He believed the government could truly help people (nudged and guided often by his wife's passions) and had a responsibilty to make a difference.
We are at a similar crossroads again. I pray enough of us want to chose hope to more of the same old same old wealthy getting their way under the supposed idealology that everyone should be left to fend for themselves.
Access: Public
