Day 305

 January 9, 2021

This is 2021. What kind of year will it be? If the first week is any indication then it appears as though it will be similar to 2020. It seems the tear in the fabric of democracy is still ripping it's way through our nation.

The world looks on in awe and shock as the events of this past week unfolded. The days and weeks leading up to January 6th were like a grenade rolling towards us and on Wednesday it exploded inside the Capitol. I will not rehash the insanity that ensued and the barbarity which occurred. Instead I will remind us of a time where the future looked bleak...1933... and how a new president changed our feelings of hopelessness to hopefulness and repaired our country.

The four months between Franklin D. Roosevelt taking office from Herbert Hoover saw two men who had different views on how to run the country.  While the world was watching Adolf Hitler take reign in Germany and Japan leave the League of Nations, the United States were in the midst of a depression as many banks were shut down and unemployment rose to 20 percent.

The economic crisis of 1932-33 showed large inequalities within our nation just as the pandemic has revealed these inequalities in 2020. I venture to say they are always there, but are brought to light when the country is in calamity. 

The passing of power in 1933 was not easy as Hoover did everything he could to oppose the actions  proposed by Roosevelt. Hoover insisted the economy was soon to be on the rise with his program, but Roosevelt was insistent and garnered his own plan through the advice of many experts. In creating his New Deal, Roosevelt was able to make progress during the first 100 days in office.

A sculpture of Roosevelt and his dog, Fala, are pictured here. Just one part of the fdr-memorial in Washington, DC.

President Roosevelt even coined the phrase, "first 100 days" and it continues to be a time measurement of the effectiveness of our new president. 

Thirteen laws were enacted in those first 100 days in 1933 and Roosevelt made himself available to the people. He was transparent and gave them insight into his plan to resurrect the economy. He began his famous fireside chats which deeply engrained his trust with the people. And once banks reopened the people deposited the money they had withdrawn giving a boost to the economy and the stock market.

Roosevelt addressed the needs of the poor with his Federal Emergency Relief Administration which was involved in the birth of projects, including construction, professional work opportunities in the arts and further production of goods. While tending to the poor and supplying jobs he was able to boost the economy and re-build the confidence people had not only in the government, but in themselves. 

In his inauguration speech before 100,000 people, Roosevelt addressed the Depression with the famous words, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

And while fear has reared it's head again there is a real virus causing physical suffering and death. We must reach down deep to find the resolve needed to overcome our fears and doubts while dealing with this virus and pandemic. We can be hopeful, but we must be more. We must endure, but inspire to do more. We must create our freedom dreams and not only see the change we want, but be the change.

It will not be easy. This year may feel much like its predecessor until we can empower ourselves, support one another and unite in a way that provides us with the healing and love needed to crush this virus and sent it back to the hell in which it came.