democracy —2020

“democracy” was commissioned by The Crossing | Donald Nally, conductor, for The Crossing Votes: 2020, a pre-election project of four new films. Watch the video on YouTube.

more about The Crossing Votes: 2020 at https://www.crossingchoir.org/2020

Words of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, address to the nation, December 29, 1940

My friends: I well remember that while I sat in my study in the White House, preparing to talk with the people of the United States, I had before my eyes the picture of al l those Americans with whom I was talking.

I saw the workmen in the mills, the mines, [in] the factories; the girl behind the counter; the small shopkeeper; the farmer doing his spring plowing; the widows and the old men wondering about their life’s savings.

Frankly and definitely there is danger ahead — danger against which we must prepare. Let us no longer bind ourselves to the undeniable fact that the evil forces are already within our own gates. They try to divide our people, to divide them into hostile groups and destroy our unity and shatter our will.

I would ask no one to defend a democracy which in turn would not defend everyone in the nation.

We must be the great arsenal of democracy.

film by Four/Ten Media (link in audio sample)

audio by Paul Vazquez