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    The Moral Basis of Democracy
    The Moral Basis of Democracy
    The Moral Basis of Democracy
    Ebook71 pages55 minutes

    The Moral Basis of Democracy

    By Eleanor Roosevelt, Allida Black and Carol Howard Merritt

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    About this ebook

    A wartime manifesto on the moral obligations of democratic citizens from the most influential first lady in American history.

    With the threat of the Third Reich looming, Eleanor Roosevelt employs the history of human rights to establish the idea that at the core of democracy is a spiritual responsibility to other citizens. Roosevelt then calls on all Americans, especially the youth, to prioritize the well-being of others and have faith that their fellow citizens will protect them in return. She defines this trust between people as a trait of true democracy.
     
    Roosevelt advances an optimistic model for the democracy of the future, and although we’ve taken some steps in the direction of her vision, it’s still a long way from reality. The issues first addressed in this 1940 essay—namely financial inequality and racial discrimination—are sadly still relevant today, as bigotry continues to undermine our national unity.
     
    Her first publication as first lady, The Moral Basis of Democracy is an honest and heartfelt call for all Americans to choose love and faith over hatred and fear. Roosevelt takes an inspiring stance in defense of democracy, progress, and morality; the wisdom imparted here is timeless, and a must-read for every American.
     
    This edition features a foreword by Rev. Carol Howard Merritt, an introduction by Roosevelt historian Allida Black, PhD, and an illustrated biography of Eleanor Roosevelt including images from the author’s estate.
     
     
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOpen Road Media
    Release dateJul 19, 2016
    ISBN9781497663657
    Author

    Eleanor Roosevelt

    <p>Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was born in New York City on October 11, 1884. She married Franklin Delano Roosevelt on March 17, 1905, and was the mother of six children. She became First Lady on March 4, 1933, and went on to serve as Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly and Representative to the Commission on Human Rights under Harry S. Truman, and chairwoman of the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women under John F. Kennedy. She died on November 7, 1962, at the age of seventy-eight.</p>

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    • 4/5
      The history of democracy starts this book off. It is dry at first. When Mrs. Roosevelt then goes into her idea of democracy and Christianity it gets much better. I like how she corresponds how if we are living a truly Christian life we will think of the greater good of the community instead of the individual then democracy will happen because democracy is for the greater good of the community. Democracy is where equality exists or at least a level playing field exists. Differences in lifestyles will still exist because of people's skills, talents, and abilities but everyone has an equal chance in a democracy. I also liked how she states that we have a way to go still (and it is just as true today as in 1940) because we think more of the individual than the community. This is a book we all need. It is a timely today as it was 70+ years ago.
    • 4/5
      A nice, quick read by one of the historical figures I most respect. Eleanor Roosevelt wrote this short book in 1940 as a response to the rise of Fascism and Communism in Europe and Asia. She admits early on that this is not a deep philosophical or academic study, but a simply look at where democracy came from in America, and how democracy can best work in our country and in our world. I really enjoyed trying to put myself in 1940 to understand the importance of this work, and I think many of its messages still apply today.

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    The Moral Basis of Democracy - Eleanor Roosevelt

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    The Moral Basis of Democracy

    Eleanor Roosevelt

    Foreword

    I am a religious person. A clergy collar stiffly rings my neck on official occasions, just as certain ideals frame my life choices. I’m a vegetarian. I meditate when I get angry. I wear a smudge of black on my forehead on Ash Wednesday and turn down the thermostat as a Lenten act of solidarity. I work with people who are homeless. Every week, I take a day off to rest. I try to practice love for God, self, and neighbor in everything I do—whether it’s how I recycle plastics, spend money, or weigh job opportunities. Of course, I make mistakes regularly and can’t live up to my ideals, but then forgiving myself is part of my religion as well.

    It’s impossible to set aside that framework as I vote and act as a citizen. Religion doesn’t simply inhabit a small, dank corner of my life one hour per week. I breathe it every day. I walk through the world, sorting out my role as a pastor and advocate. I work with hundreds of people who orient themselves in society, with the same sort of framework, working in any number of professions: They may be counselors, teachers, social workers, businesswomen, or activists. For us to give up our religious framework would be like a musician plugging her ears, a painter slashing his canvas, an engineer denying numbers, or a chef discarding her spices. We simply order our lives around the love of God, neighbor, and self. It’s the way our brains are wired.

    This love of God, neighbor, and self encourages me to seek peace in times of warfare, preservation in the destruction of the earth, and dignity for those who are oppressed. But I understand the dangers of religious thinking in the midst of politics and so appreciate the separation of church and state.

    My Protestant tradition is not the only stream of religious thought in our great and diverse country, and for many people with more conservative religious views, there is the desire to protect and provide for a traditional family unit. In their understandings, they can preserve gender norms and roles by taking away the rights of women or same gender couples. On the basis of religious freedom, they have argued against women’s access to medical care and encouraged businesses to discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Certain Christian counselors want to maintain their credentials while refusing to serve LGBTQ clients.

    Of course, these are today’s issues. In the past, religion has also been used to uphold slavery, maintain segregation, deny scientific discoveries, and keep women out of the workforce.

    So we get caught in a snare. As a clergy person, I care about religious freedoms, but I worry: Do we protect the religious views of a minority if they take away rights from other individuals? Do we protect religious views to the detriment of the freedom and progress of the larger society? If we do protect a right to discriminate, then how do we avoid a theocracy where the majority must bow to the will of particular conservative morality?

    This is where Eleanor Roosevelt’s The Moral Basis of Democracy is particularly helpful. Roosevelt understands that democracy has roots in religious beliefs—both are built on the principal of loving your neighbor as you love yourself.

    Love of self and love of neighbor maintain a particular balance in religion and democracy. In this equilibrium, the love of self stays intact. The individual does not dissolve as it might under a totalitarian regime, but is encouraged to participate in society. The individual has the freedom to be informed, express opinions, attend meetings, organize people, protest injustice, and vote regularly.

    Furthermore, the love of self should not descend into narcissism, selfishness, and greed, because it

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