My dad had a photo of FDR hanging in our garage when I was a kid...

[Javaman]

My mom and dad being children of the depression understood hardship. I asked my dad once about the photo and this is roughly what he said, "he saved the nation, how I could I ever forget someone who did that?"

As I kid born in 1963 almost 20 years after WWII and over 30 years since the start of the depression, I only had a vague idea of what the depression was and only knew WWII through recounting from my family.

I studied FDR while in junior high and in high school but didn't really get a true measuring of what kind of effect FDR had upon this nation until I was an adult and became an avid fan of history.

Today, I am hanging a photo of the junior senator/president elect, Barak Obama in my garage.

Now, I can't predict the future. I have no idea how he will be as a president, but you know what?

He has given me hope, he has brought light once again upon a dark place. For that, I will hang his photo.

We have and are still passing through one of the bleakest times in our nations history and for the very first time in my adult voting life, I honestly have faith in our new president. What a complete and alien concept that is to me. I'm still trying to grapple with this sensation.

Little kids have faith, pictures of people from years past have faith, but people today have become so cynical, so disillusioned that when a person of Mr. Obama's caliber comes along, it's almost hard to comprehend.

Beside my dads photo of FDR, he had a the poem written by John Donne, "No man is an island". When my dad passed away and my mom moved from my old childhood home, I took that poem and it will hang right along side the photo of Mr. Obama.

No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manner of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.

Peace.

[Uzybone]

1. Beautiful. n/t