What We Fought For
When asked to provide material for a history of World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt offered extracts from his public statements that he considered relevant to the topic, “What We Are Fighting For.”544
(National Archives)
In his addresses to the nation he was always extremely effective in inspiring his fellow countrymen. More importantly, he was also able to capture the essence of their own motivation to sacrifice for a long and costly war.
We are not a warlike people. We have never sought glory as a nation of warriors. We are not interested in aggression… Our vast effort, and the unity of purpose which inspires that effort are due solely to our recognition of the fact that our fundamental rights are threatened by Hitler’s violent attempt to rule the world…
We are fighting today for security, for progress and for peace, not only for ourselves, but for all men, not only for one generation but for all generations. We are fighting to cleanse the world of ancient evils, ancient ills. We are fighting as our fathers have fought, to uphold the doctrine that all men are equal in the sight of God.
In this war of survival we must keep before our minds not only the evil things we fight against but the good things we are fighting for. We fight to retain a great past and we fight to gain a greater future. The issue of this war is the basic issue between those who believe in mankind and those who do not—the ancient issue between those who put their faith in the people and those who put their faith in dictators and tyrants.545
President Roosevelt’s words continue to inspire us and to remind us that we have duties and responsibilities to our nation and to God that go with the benefits of being an American.
Freely you have received, freely give.
—Matthew 10:8