World We Want To Live In (1942)

once upon a time and not so long ago at that America could look across the mighty ocean and see a Europe in which children still could play as freely as they do today in America that is where our story starts Europe of two decades ago and a tiny voice a voice that grew into two voices and still more voices louder and louder the Peace of the world war Le without land without jobs not only the peace we would have plenty even now but our country is overrun with Outsiders we take our homes our bread our very existent we must people from our country there is no room for these people who are not a follow race but voices shrieking against minority groups were not enough the printing press began to pour out more words of hate against people who were not wanted [Music] what easier way to show hate for men than to desecrate their houses of worship that was the dictator's way destroy the synagogue the Catholic Church imprison the Protestant Minister who refuses to sell his conscience for political immunity our leader says there are to be no more trade unions our leader says you are now working working for the state alone the state will tell you where to work and how much you shall be paid hail the leader but I have it on the best Authority my dear if we drove the Catholics out of all the government jobs we could run this nation properly for the right people yeah the Jews still there are too many but our leader has shown us the way why do we fit why do we leave even one Jew in Pon that is part of the story of the world we live in the part of a Europe ridden by dictators but what of our own country what sort of story are we you and I writing for America's children oh we're not too proud of all our chapters are we men of hate on the march here too men inflamed by words that mean discrimination against minorities against those who worship differently America too is known and don't you forget folks this is a country for white Anglo Saxon few words here few words there like a snowball plunging down a steep hill they've got our jobs too many don't vote for him I got it straight Hitler's got the right idea too many too many sorry all right kid we got no jobs for your kind is this the future which our forefathers planned and for which they died the glorious tradition of those early Americans was one of religious freedom and justice for all Washington Jefferson Roger Williams Patrick Henry Lincoln what would such great champions of Liberty think of their country today is the America we know now a fulfillment of their dream that's a good point Rabbi we Catholics agree with you that none of us can have freedom of worship unless we all do exactly you worship God according to your conscience and we according to ours that's how it must be here in America anyhow we Protestants also agree our very consciences if we are truly religious must constrain us friendliness in community life thus we in America are writing the story of our world a world that will be a worthy Heritage for our children experts are now at work preparing lesson materials lessons for boys and girls in Protestant churches to help them live democratically with and understand girls and boys of other Faith it's your turn Tommy don't you agree well yes father but but supposing we're in a baseball game for instance do you mean that we should play with every boy on the Block no matter who he is it's like this Tommy you shouldn't refuse to play with another boy just because he has a different religion pick your friends for what they are deep inside then they'll do the same for you oh I get it father you mean if a Fell's a real guy well that's it huh Little Tommy and Great American leaders theirs are the ideals that find expression at the great Nationwide Institute of human relations at Williamstown Massachusetts here men and women from all walks of life offer their words of understanding to help write the story of our world the world we want to live in is a world in which everyone lives in freedom but freedom is not possible until people know how to use that freedom for the good of all it's the task of us Educators to show the new generation how to use Mankind's knowledge wisely for justice and for Liberty of our story that we and our children might have Liberty to worship as we please and from that fundamental of freedom to follow all the walks of life as free men and women today we in America are still free all this is still possible in America because a century and a half ago men wrote a Bill of Rights and because even today people are not afraid to speak free to go to the schools they choose free to get a job living free to do business and live their lives without being attacked for what they believe and remember this the people who lost their freedom in other parts of the world made the mistake of listening to those who said that they could attack religious freedom and still have the other Freedom it cannot world we want to live in the next chapters are up to us how are we going to continue this story America oh [Music] [Music]