Speech Karla Peijs Four Freedoms Awards 2011

"Greetings from Zeeland"

 

 

 

 

Distinguished laureates, ladies and gentlemen,

 

A few weeks ago I saw an interview with a Libyian rebel in Tripoli on our national news. This man was a blacksmith and he lived in a town
near Benghazi I believe. Anyway, he was a long way from home. He told the reporter that he missed the smell of his workshop and the feel of metal. And that
he was, of course, very anxious to see his wife and children again. But he would not go back. No. He would continue fighting until his people and his
country were free from tyranny. Only then would he go home. When I listened to this man two thoughts came to my mind.

 

The first was how relevant the Four Freedoms, and everything they stand for, still are today. Compared to many we live relatively comfortable lives, but we càn, mày and wìll not close our eyes to the fact that people still have to fight for their basic freedoms. Freedoms which constitute the basic and essential conditions for human happiness and well-being and which were formulated so powerfully by President Roosevelt 70 years ago.

 

And it makes me proud that we in the Netherlands can contribute, together with the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute to keep people conscious of this fact. The fact that we should continue to fight for a better world. The Four Freedoms Awards Ceremonies in New York and Middelburg remind us every year of the fact that we are not there yet.

 

It makes me proud to join you here and to honour the laureates, who serve as outstanding examples to us as ambassadors and advocates of the Four Freedoms and the great cause they represent. The people of Zeeland salute you and send you their warmest greetings.

 

The second thought that came to my mind was a quote from the writer Samuel Rosenman. In his memoirs he said the following:

 

The Four Freedoms were not presented by Roosevelt as something from on high; in stead he spoke of them in terms of  the desires and needs of all human beings in the world, and each person who heard the President talk about them could feel: 'Yes, that's what I'd like to see happen myself'.

 

The Four Freedoms are not something from on high. They are about the small farmer who works hard every year to bring in the harvest and who just wants to earn enough to feed his family; about the journalist who wants to comment on the news, and should not be afraid to be arrested for it; and about the shopkeeper who wants to practice his religion openly, and should not fear discrimination because of it.

 

They are about a blacksmith in Tripoli who wants freedom for his people and his family and is willing to fight for it. And they are about all of us, who need to enjoy our freedom in peace and harmony and who desire to leave a better world to our children and our children's children.

 

Thank you.