Recently I visited the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts — one of my favorite places. As a member and longtime admirer of Rockwell’s work, I’m always moved by the Four Freedoms series.
In 1941, as the world teetered on the edge of global war, President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave a State of the Union address that became one of the most defining moments of the 20th century. In it, he outlined Four Essential Freedoms that people everywhere in the world ought to enjoy: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear.
These ideals would become a moral rallying cry for the Allied effort in World War II — a reminder that the fight against fascism was not just about territory, but about preserving the dignity and rights of humanity itself.
Back home, these freedoms were echoed in Miami Beach, which played a critical role during the war as a training ground for hundreds of thousands of U.S. soldiers. The city became a hub of wartime mobilization — with troops drilling on the sand, marching along Ocean Drive, and preparing to defend the very freedoms Roosevelt described.
Today, Miami Beach’s proud connection to that legacy reminds us that these values are not abstract. They are rooted in places, people, and history — and they must be defended anew in every generation.
In a time of political division, these values still cut across party lines. They remind us that the real strength of our country lies in protecting everyone’s voice, treating each other with dignity, and ensuring opportunity and safety for all.
Let’s keep these freedoms alive — not just in art, but in our actions.
Check out our short video below about Daniel’s visit to the Four Freedoms:
Vote Daniel Ciraldo for Miami Beach Commission Group 1
Ballot #132
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Early Voting Oct 20 – Nov 2
Election Day Nov 4
