All this week,we've been examining the legacy and current state of President Roosevelt's famous "Four Freedoms" speech. We've spoken to a Japanese-American about freedom from fear; a Catholic priest about freedom from want; an openly homosexual, African- American journalist about freedom of speech. And we've heard from you — our listeners — about what freedoms you value most, and believe are in danger of losing,in 2016. A listener from Missouri said they value freedom from fear "because it embodies the plan that as Americans we should not beget to fear the unknown or anything else. I believe it is the freedom we should strive for most because it makes our society more open and welcoming.
Today, we conclude our witness at FDR's "Four Freedoms" with a witness at freedom of religion, and freedom from religion. Roosevelt could not beget possibly known of the the contemporary problems associated with freedom when he slowly and deliberately dictated his now famous speech to advisor Sam Rosenman back in January 1941. And yet,bold vision for "the freedom of every person to worship God in his own way" is one that resonates deeply with Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel Dawud Agbere, a Ghanaian immigrant and Muslim Chaplain in the U.S. Army.
Chaplain Agbere has committed the final 20 years of his life to helping American soldiers of all religious traditions exercise their proper to freedom of worship. At least the ones who want to, or because,according to Agbere it's the freedom to worship — or not to — that truly makes America great.
Source: wnyc.org