Wednesday, November 25, 2009

The Four Freedoms ~ Happy Thanksgiving!

" The Four Freedoms"

Can be clicked on to enlarge

The "Four Freedoms" series, was painted by Norman Rockwell in 1942, after he was inspired by President Franklin Roosevelt's speech of the same name. They are seen above in clockwise order as Freedom Of Speech, Freedom Of Worship, Freedom From Want, Freedom From Fear.
Rockwell intended to donate the paintings to the War Department, but after receiving no response, the painter offered them to the Saturday Evening Post, where they were first published on February 20, 1943. Popular reaction was overwhelming, and eventually the United States government used them as inspiration to promote these values at a time when it was most needed.

"In the future days which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.

The first is freedom of speech and expression -- everywhere in the world.

The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way -- everywhere in the world.

The third is freedom from want, which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants -- everywhere in the world.

The fourth is freedom from fear, which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor -- anywhere in the world.

That is no vision of a distant millennium. It is a definite basis for a kind of world attainable in our own time and generation...."

- Franklin Delano Roosevelt, excerpted from the Annual Message to the Congress,January 6, 1941

A recorded excerpt of this speech given by President Roosevelt can be heard at this National Archives link.

As our nation celebrates the Thanksgiving holiday, I believe the desire that these four freedoms can be one day be achieved throughout the world is still what our Nation strives for.
Perhaps thoughts of these four freedoms would also be good to be remembered and included in our prayers today when we say grace with our families before our Thanksgiving dinner? God bless the brave men and women of our armed forces who continue to keep us free, please also keep them in your prayers today, especially those far from home.

"For each new morning with its light.
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.....
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!"

~Ralph Waldo Emerson



Some fun number facts about Thanksgiving:


5
- the number of deer brought to the first Thanksgiving by Massasoit and his tribe (Pilgrim hunters bagged four fowl)

53
- Pilgrims and 90 Native Americans attending the dinner we call the "first" Thanksgiving

41
- Pilgrims signing the Mayflower Compact while docked in Provincetown Harbor (Nov. 11, 1620)

102
- the amount of passengers of the Mayflower --plus 20 to 30 crew members, and two dogs.

3,000
-estimated length in miles of all cranberries grown in the U.S. last year if stretched end to end

675,000,000
- pounds of turkey enjoyed each Thanksgiving in the United States




Blessing, and glory, and wisdom,
and thanksgiving,
and honor, and power,
and might, be unto our God,
for ever and ever. Amen

Revelation 7:12



A quick reminder:

If you haven't already left a comment on my give away post there are still a few more days that you can do so. I am so thrilled with the response! Thank you so much! I have been trying to visit every one who commented, although I apologize that it has taken be longer than I intended to do that, as I have had a few family functions to attend in the past few days and we also celebrated our daughter's birthday, all of which have kept me away from my computer.

I am tallying everyone's entry amounts and the draw will take place the evening of December first and I will announce the winner on my blog on December 2. It has been wonderful to find many of your blogs through this give away, and I'll be very excited to see who wins!

Wishing Everyone a Very Happy Thanksgiving!


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45 comments:

Willow said...

This post is a wonderful reminder of how very blessed we all are!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Grace said...

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving along with your family! Hugs Grace xoxoxoxo

RoeH said...

Neat post! I loved Rockwell. The Saturday Evening Post was an 'always looked forward to event' in younger years to see what the cover would be that month. I bought a book of his work at a thrift shop. I want to do something with the art on each page but I don't know what. So it still sits and waits. Have a great Thanksgiving!!

Tara said...

Pat

Hoping you enjoy a wonderful holiday!

Barb said...

great post,have a wonderful thanksgiving....Barb

The Quintessential Magpie said...

What a wonderful post, Pat! I left you a message in the last post wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving, but allow me to say again here that you are definitely one of the blessings I count!

Love you!

XO,

Sheila :-)

Just a little something from Judy said...

You are one very good post writer! You help me learn so many new things. I love this post. Sadly, we do not hear about this Norman Rockwell print very often. It is an inspiring picture.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful post, but most of all..

Thanksgiving Day
brings to mind
the blessings in our lives
that usually go unnoticed:
a home that surrounds us
with comfort and protection;
delicious food,
for pleasure
in both eating and sharing;
clothes to snuggle up in,
books and good entertainment
to expand our minds;
and freedom to worship our God.
Most of all we are thankful
for our family and friends,
those treasured people
who make our lives extra special.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Gisela
(in Canada, we celebrated our Thanksgiving earlier)

Claudia said...

Gorgeous post. A very Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Leslie said...

I'm in tears, and I'm linking to your wonderful post. Thank you!

Jeanne said...

Dear Pat, I have not been able to visit for several days and I always love your posts so much. This Thanksgiving post is awesome. Thank you for the story and the facts. Love it.

I want to wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Blessings and love, Jeanne

Oh, I would LOVE to be in your drawing. Thank you!

Rhonda Hartis Smith said...

Thanks for such a wonderful post and very informative as usual. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Judy said...

What a wonderful Thnaksgiving Day post! I am not familair with those Norman Rockwell paintings...or the background...and love his work.

We truly are blessed! Wishing you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving celebration.

steviewren said...

Happy Thanksgiving Pat! It's funny, I posted Norman Rockwell paintings this week too. He captured the hopes and ideals that Americans have always aspired towards.

There is so much to be thankful for in our country. We are all so blessed. I love the verse you quoted from Revelation. What a wonderful reminder that all our blessings are of God and from God. He truly desires our worship.

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

You have written a wonderful post, as usual...thank you for all the Thanksgiving information and quotes.

I love your teapot giveaway, but I have not left a comment there because I think someone else should win that beautiful gift! You certainly garnered an amazing response there!

Sue said...

Dear Pat, What a great post. Rockwell's paintings will always be favorites. Hope you will have a Happy Thanksgiving with your family. hugs, Sue

dianasfaria.com said...

a great post for today, Happy Thanksgiving Pat!

Unknown said...

Happy Thanksgiving Pat :)

My name is Riet said...

What a beautiful post you have again. So fun to know all this. Happy Thanksgiving

Tracy said...

What a feast is this post, Pat...wow...I feel full of knowledge and happy... Wishing you & yours many blessings--Happy Thanksgiving :o) ((HUGS))

Anonymous said...

The happiest of Thanksgivings to you and yours!

As for the deer or the fowl line at the first feast...I would have been in the fowl line...teehee...but I guess if hungry enough I would have got into the deer line and been thankful!

Thanks for such an informative post!

Gracie said...

Have the best of time with your family and Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
Gracie at http://mylittleplace.blog.com

nanny said...

I am so thankful of these 4 freedoms! Great Post! Have a Happy, Happy Thanksgiving!

Ciao Chow Linda said...

What a lovely post to wake up to. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving.

aliceinparis said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family Pat. I wish you a day of warmth and joy. xo

Anonymous said...

This is very special.

I hope you have a wonderful, sitting down-and-resting-your-foot Thanksgiving!

Foodie with Little Thyme! said...

Wonderful post! Thanks for sharing this with us!
Happy Thanksgiving to you!

Carol said...

Super post! Love Rockwell, have you ever been to his house in Stockbridge, Mass? Fabulous!

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Just A Girl said...

Happy Thanksgiving Pat. You're probably in the kitchen already whipping up a delicious feast ;-). I hope you have plenty of time to relax and enjoy!

God bless my sweet friend!

Love, Cori

Kat said...

What a wonderful post for today. I've always loved "The Four Freedoms", I've always felt it was one of Rockwell's strongest works. Hope that you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Kathy

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Taking a quick break from the kitchen to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! I was watching the parade on tv and thinking about you. Have a wonderful day.
♥, Susan

Marg said...

Thank you for sharing that wonderful post and reminder of the Four Freedoms. Too often we take things for granted.

GMG said...

Hi Pat! Happy Thanksgiving!
Bilbao is at Blogtrotter (after the turkey...;)) for your joy. Have a great time!!

Beverly said...

Pat, you are definitely counted among my blessings. You always share such wonderful things with us. And, this post is a perfect example.

Thank you, my friend. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

I hope you are taking care of yourself.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you too. Great post with lots of things to 'think about'.... Love the 'trivia' stuff also. Thanks!!!

Hope you all had a wonderful day--and didn't eat too much turkey!!!! We had a wonderful day and are now in the mountains of East TN--ready to do some hiking and waterfalling the next couple of days!!!! BUT--they are saying we may get some snow here tonight/tomorrow....SO????? Who knows!!!

Hugs,
Betsy

Cynthia K. said...

Love, love, love, love these 4 freedoms by Rockwell - always have. Thanks for showing them. We certainly don't see them in the media these days. Also enjoyed the pilgrim Thanksgiving information. It seems that they have been almost forgotten about so I'm glad you reminded us.
It is just a fabulous post...

Cynthia K. (Beauty and Blessings)

Unknown said...

Pat, what a lovely post! Thank you for sharing this . . . I didn't know about the four freedoms and am happy to now!

Hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving and have plenty of leftovers for today!

I'm off to check out your give-away . . . what a beautiful teapot!

Hugs,
Teresa

Jill said...

Very touching and so true! Don't know if your giveaway reaches as far as Canada but even if not - it is lovely to see your blog and as you say- meet new friends. I will be following your blog. Hope you can drop by and see my newbie effort!

Jenny said...

I love that Norman Rockwell series. It was a good reminder. And, as always, your words are poignant and lovely. Happy Thanksgiving.

Mary said...

The Lenox Teapot is beautiful. Thank you for having such a generous giveaway.

Blessings,
Mary

Anonymous said...

Awesome post. I love Norman Rockwell. Enjoyed reading the excerpt. I'm sending good thoughts that you heal very quickly. In the meantime, take it easy. Take good care of yourself. ;-)

Paz

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hello Pat...

What a wonderful and endearing post, my friend! We truly are a blessed people who live in this wonderful country! I have so much to be thankful for!!! I am thankful for our four freedoms!!!

Warmest wishes,
Chari @Happy To Design

Marilyn Miller said...

A beautiful teapot. I would love having a Christmas teapot to use in the celebration of the season.

GailO said...

What a powerful speech that was...and how beautifully Rockwell illustrated it....thanks for bringing these four freedoms to our attention during Thanksgiving....it feels like we haven't made much progress in these goals but they are good goals to always have before us...

Hope your Thanksgiving was glorious Pat!

Laura @ the shorehouse. said...

I hope you had an amazing Thanksgving Pat! I am so very thankful for the happiness -- and education! -- you and your blog brings to me. So thank YOU and congratulations on your blogiversary!