"The defense of our democracy against the forces that threaten it from without has made some of its failures to function at home glaringly apparent"
- Wendell Willkie
About this Quote
Wendell Willkie's quote, "The defense of our democracy against the forces that threaten it from without has made some of its failures to function in the house glaringly apparent," speaks with the paradoxical result that external dangers can have on a country's internal stability and self-assessment. Willkie, the 1940 presidential prospect who ran versus Franklin D. Roosevelt, was acutely knowledgeable about the international challenges of his time, particularly the growing risk of fascism and totalitarianism during World War II. His declaration underscores the idea that in times of external dispute, a nation's attention is often drawn outside, concentrating on preventing or combating these external hostilities. This heightened concentrate on external hazards may, paradoxically, brighten internal weak points that may otherwise remain obscured or ignored during peacetime.
In this quote, Willkie recommends that the pressures and demands of safeguarding democracy from external threats can highlight and worsen the domestic drawbacks of that really system. For example, during wartime or in the face of global adversaries, the pressures placed on a nation's political, economic, and social structures can become more noticable, exposing inefficiencies, inequalities, or failures to properly support or represent all residents. The requirement to support democratic values on a worldwide phase can therefore put a spotlight on circumstances where those worths are not being totally recognized at home.
This dual focus-- while essential for national security-- is likewise a call to action for self-questioning and enhancement. Willkie's observation indicates that challenging external hazards need to not come at the expenditure of resolving domestic problems. Rather, it should catalyze a more extensive examination and reform of democratic institutions to guarantee they are resistant, fair, and robust both domestically and internationally. The quote underscores the continuous journey of self-improvement that a genuinely democratic nation need to undertake, making every effort to bridge the space between its ideals and its practice, especially when challenged by forces from the exterior.
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