This week, we had to read the packet entitled "F.D.R. And the Framing of the New Deal." As I read, it was remarkable how many times I wrote the word "parallel" next to the margin. The political and economical clashes during the Great Depression of the 1930s and the economical crisis we face now are similar in so many ways. The feelings, the causes, the effects, and so much more stood out to me, but there was one line in the packet that made the most realistic parallel to me:
"F.D.R. kept popular attention focused on the need for change, rather than on the tougher and riskier question of what kind of change" (726).
After reading this line, I truly realized the validity of the statement, "The past is never dead. It's not even past" (William Faulkner). Past events aren't just present, but the people of the past are present!! The line about F.D.R. and his focus on change relates so much to the modern day election between Barack Obama and John McCain.
We are in a time of economic crisis just as America was back in the 1930s. The election today between Obama and McCain is one of the most important ones that our country will ever face, just as it was between FDR and Hoover in 1932.
I would primarily like to examine the parallel between Barack Obama and F.D.R. in 1932. I could make an argument about the idea that McCain parallels Hoover, as two Republicans who would bring about no change when dealing with the economic crisis, but that itself is an entirely different and controversial story.
Senator Obama's campaign slogan is well known now as "Change we can believe in." As the quote I took from the packet explained, F.D.R. also led a campaign focused on a "...need for change." As peril takes over America now as it did in 1932, in the midst of the depression, the citizens look to change, new ideas, or anything that can save the country. Obama, just like F.D.R., is an inspirational leader who says that he can make this change if he is elected.
The second part to draw a parallel to between Obama and F.D.R. is the idea of what kind of change they will make. Obama and F.D.R. both propose to make change if elected, but do not say exactly what they are going to do. Here we are now, in the midst of a similar economic depression/recession, and Obama is beginning to take an advantageous lead in the polls as F.D.R. had. The significance of this is that not only does this parallel the two men, but parallels a common theme of human nature.
This common theme shown is that in a time of crisis, people will look for immediate change. The situation we are dealing with now, as well as those that did in the 1930s, is a situation where there is no easy solution. A secure, lengthy solution is not always what we look for. We simply wish to believe that the person we elect to lead our country will bring about some type of change that will save us from these dangerous times. It is obvious then that American citizens would begin to favor Obama/F.D.R. during these perilous times, for they themselves represent change. Obama and F.D.R. did not have precise, laid-out plans at first to deal with the economic crisis; but the fact that they emphasize change, however, gives faith to the people.
This parallel is a very deep one, and it is one that could potentially make voters realize who to vote for in the upcoming election. I would therefore like to end with a quote that is also from the "F.D.R. And the Framing of the New Deal" packet that can really provoke the reader to draw one last parallel to Obama and F.D.R. It is then up to the reader to determine whether or not this parallel is true, and if it is what we NEED during this time in our country's history.
"But F.D.R.'s unfailing optimism and utter unflappability gave millions of Americans new faith that things would improve. The most famous line in his inaugural address--'We have nothing to fear but fear itself'--was catchy nonsense. In 1933, there was plenty for Americans to fear in addition to fear itself. But F.D.R.'s magic made people believe it" (726).
2 comments:
I think the "change" argument can be very, very convincing, but it's also interesting that sometimes voters don't even care what the change entails -- they just want change! Even President Bush in the 2000 election mentioned "change" several times.
Great post Jonny!
I really agreed with all the major points of your post. When you mentioned that this upcoming election is one of the most important in our lifetime, not unlike FDR/Hoover during the Great Depression, I couldn't help but remember Senator Biden's statement during his debate with Governor Palin where he stated that this is the most important election since 1932. I also agree that this current economic situation is giving Obama an edge, as he has been talking about the problems with our economy all along. In contrast, I recall McCain stating a day before the economic crisis that the economy was doing just fine. Probably not the best timing, McCain.
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