09/25/2025
Eleanor Roosevelt wrote these powerful words in December 1945 as she sailed to London to represent the United States at the first United Nations meeting: "In the end... we are 'One World' and that which injures any one of us, injures all of us." Her vision of interconnected humanity, where national pride coexists with global responsibility, stands in stark contrast to the message delivered today at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly by Donald Trump, who told assembled world leaders: "I'm really good at this stuff: Your countries are going to hell."
Roosevelt believed deeply that "Our own land and our own flag cannot be replaced by any other land or any other flag. But you can join with other nations, under a joint flag, to accomplish something good for the world that you cannot accomplish alone." She understood that patriotism and internationalism were not opposing forces but complementary strengths, and that human rights violations anywhere threatened peace everywhere.
In contrast, Trump's speech today was dominated by attacks on allies and international cooperation itself. He has withdrawn the United States from multiple UN bodies, including the Human Rights Council, and today spent part of his speech complaining about not receiving a UN renovation contract years ago, snidely remarking that "These are the two things I got from the United Nations: a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter." He boasted about America being "the hottest country anywhere in the world, and there is no other country even close."
Meanwhile, Eleanor Roosevelt spent her many years at the UN working tirelessly to build bridges, chairing over 3,000 hours of contentious deliberation to create the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She believed, as she said at the Sorbonne, that "the struggle for democracy and freedom is a critical struggle, for their preservation is essential to the great objective of the United Nations to maintain international peace and security."
Today's speech represents not just a different approach, but a fundamental rejection of the post-World War II order that Roosevelt helped build -- one based on the belief that we are indeed "One World" and that international cooperation, however imperfect, remains humanity's best hope for lasting peace. Where Roosevelt offered the world America's outstretched hand, Trump offered only a clenched fist and a mirror -- it was a graceless airing of petty grievances and bullying that sought to elevate himself by belittling others, embarrassing the very nation he claims to make great.
Roosevelt warned us that "It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it." Today, we witnessed what happens when that belief is abandoned and that work is undone.
With such shameless displays of narcissism and vindictiveness coming from the nation's highest office, it's more important than ever for parents and educators to embrace Eleanor Roosevelt's wisdom that human rights begin "in small places, close to home" -- in our neighborhoods, schools, and communities. "Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere."
When our leaders fail to model dignity, compassion, and respect for others, the responsibility falls to us to teach our children that true strength lies not in belittling others, but in lifting them up; that real patriotism means working to make our nation worthy of respect, not demanding it while offering none in return. The work of building "One World" must continue, even if it must now begin in our classrooms and around our kitchen tables.
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For a beautifully illustrated picture book to teach children about the importance of human rights, we highly recommend "Small Places, Close to Home: A Child's Declaration of Rights" at https://bookshop.org/a/8011/9780063092587 (Bookshop) and https://amzn.to/3VkAmrG (Amazon)
For books for children and teens about the importance of standing up for truth, decency, and justice, even in dark times, visit our blog post, "Dissent Is Patriotic: 50 Books About Women Who Fought for Change," at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=14364
To introduce children to Eleanor Roosevelt's incredible life and legacy, we recommend "Eleanor, Quiet No More" for ages 5 and up (https://www.amightygirl.com/eleanor-quiet-no-more), "Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery" for ages 8 and up (https://www.amightygirl.com/eleanor-roosevelt-a-life-of-discovery), and "Eleanor Roosevelt, Fighter For Justice" for ages 10 and up (https://www.amightygirl.com/eleanor-roosevelt-fighter-for-justice)
For adult readers, we recommend Eleanor Roosevelt's excellent autobiography (https://www.amightygirl.com/the-autobiography-of-eleanor-roosevelt) and the exceptional biography "Eleanor" (https://www.amightygirl.com/eleanor)
For books for tweens and teens about girls living - without human rights protections - in nations controlled by real-life authoritarian regimes, visit our blog post "The Fragility of Freedom: Mighty Girl Books About Life Under Authoritarianism" at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=32426
To read an overview of Trump's UN speech today, visit https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/23/us/politics/trump-un-aid-israel-gaza.html?unlocked_article_code=1.oE8.wTnh.nickNlDjRaRy&smid=url-share
Thanks to Facing History & Ourselves for sharing this image!
