| Annual Appeal for the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. Radio Broadcast. January 29, 1944 | |
| TONIGHT, on behalf of the National Foundation for Infantile
Paralysis, I wish to express heartfelt thanks to all of you who have contributed
your dimes and your dollars to further the fight against a cruel disease
-a disease which strikes primarily against little children.
The generous participation of the American people in this fight is a sign of the healthy condition of our Nation. It is democracy in action. The unity of our people in helping those who are disabled, in protecting the welfare of our young, in preserving the eternal principle of kindliness - all of this is evidence of our fundamental strength - the strength with which we are meeting our enemies throughout the world. Early in our history, we realized that the basic wealth of our land is in its healthy, enlightened children, trained to assume the responsibilities and enjoy the privileges of a democracy. The well-being of our youth is indeed our foremost concern -their health and happiness our enduring responsibility. If any become handicapped from any cause, we are determined that they shall be properly cared for and guided to full and useful lives. How different it is in the lands of our enemies! In Germany and Japan, those who are handicapped in body or mind are regarded as unnecessary burdens to the state. There, an individual's usefulness is measured solely by the direct contribution that he can make to the war machine -not by his service to a society at peace. The dread disease that we battle at home, like the enemy we oppose abroad, shows no concern, no pity for the young. It strikes--with its most frequent and devastating force -- against children. And that is why much of the future strength of America depends upon the success that we achieve in combating this disease. |
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Copyright © 1997 University
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