06/26/2026
Yesterday, we visited the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial on the National Mall. The memorial is divided into four sections, one for each of Roosevelt’s terms as president, and each section includes a fountain, artwork, or sculpture. I found it deeply moving to see how Roosevelt, a leader who lived with a disability, guided the country through some of its most difficult times, including the Great Depression and World War II. Each section includes one of his sayings, reflecting the wisdom of a man shaped by suffering and called to lead during a critical era. Near one fountain, I sketched this fountain with the quotation: “We must scrupulously guard the civil rights and civil liberties of all citizens, whatever their background. We must remember that any oppression, any injustice, any hatred, is a wedge designed to attack our civilization.” These few sentences express a powerful truth: we must not allow hatred to divide the citizens of this country. History shows us the consequences when injustice, oppression, hunger, and desperation are ignored. The French Revolution, for example, reminds us of what can happen when the working class suffer under unfair conditions. During Roosevelt’s time, the Great Depression also brought hunger, unemployment, and hardship. These historical lessons remind us that our words, actions, and decisions have causes and consequences, both for government leaders and for citizens.
