Thursday, December 10, 2009

Obama Plagiarizes FDR in Nobel Speech

Obama wants to be a 21st century FDR. We know that.

It makes sense that in his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech Obama would plagiarize President Roosevelt.

Obama's speechwriters have no shame and neither does Obama.

On January 6, 1941, Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivered his "Four Freedoms Speech."

Transcript and audio here, at American Rhetoric.

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT: 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.

Here's an excerpt from Obama's speech today in Oslo:
OBAMA: Third, a just peace includes not only civil and political rights -- it must encompass economic security and opportunity. For true peace is not just freedom from fear, but freedom from want.

I wonder if Obama knows that his speechwriters lifted FDR's words.

He may.

If Obama is going to quote FDR, he should at least have the decency and integrity and honesty to provide the appropriate attribution.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Mary, We should do a word search on your comments and see who we can show you have "plagerized" by using the same English words as a notable and quotable person.

He was clearly acknowledging throughout the speech that his goals and valued were identical to many whom he acknowledged have gone before him in seeking and at least partly achieving these same goals.

Perhaps he should have edited out any familiar words that might be used to refer to today's conditions: war, freedom, democracy, sacrifice, human dignity. What words would you leave him?

Mary said...

"Plagerized"?

Why did you misspell that and put it in quotes?

I don't get it.

I'm not pointing out "any familiar words" as being lifted from FDR. Don't be ridiculous.

I'm pointing out Obama's reference to FDR's famous "Four Freedoms" speech, using the terms, without giving proper attribution.

Jb said...

It's called an "allusion."

It would be wise to familiarize yourself with it.

Mary said...

Have you ever tried to use the "allusion" defense when charged with inadequately citing works?

I would not recommend that.