This Presidents Day let’s take a step back in time to get some wisdom from Dwight Eisenhower on a topic that is timeless: world peace.
It was President Eisenhower who said “no military victory, no diplomatic triumph, no precision-perfect foreign policy of our own can mean very much for very long — if it does not bring hope to hundreds of millions of people who live today in fear or need or hunger. As surely as we seek lasting peace, we shall find it only as these people come to have faith in their own future in freedom.”
We should remember Ike’s words in our struggle to win peace today. With so many wars and hunger emergencies taking place we cannot neglect the victims who are suffering. Whether it’s a family fleeing for their lives from conflict or a child suffering in malnutrition, they should all matter to us in every nation.
For no peace can emerge in this world if people are living in the horrible conditions of hunger and poverty. This is why it’s so important we fund humanitarian aid programs. They are the vital ingredient for peace.
Back after World War II those who survived the fighting were at risk of dying of starvation had it not been for American generosity. It was food from America that won the peace after the war. Funding for our global food aid and other humanitarian programs are essential to our national security today too. A world in desperation and chaos is not a safe one for anybody.
Eisenhower understood this and described the grave threat of world hunger in a speech with a warning “In vast stretches of the earth, men awoke today in hunger. They will spend the day in unceasing toil. And as the sun goes down they will still know hunger. They will see suffering in the eyes of their children. Many despair that their labor will ever decently shelter their families or protect them against disease. So long as this is so, peace and freedom will be in danger throughout our world. For wherever free men lose hope of progress, liberty will be weakened and the seeds of conflict will be sown.”
Look at West Africa right now as terrorism thrives in a region which is mired deep in hunger and poverty. Hunger and instability leads to more chaos. Lack of funding for humanitarian aid in that region and many others leads to worsening hunger and despair.
President Eisenhower understood the importance of helping people and nations through difficult times.
The Food for Peace program started by Eisenhower aided nations in their recovery from World War II and to cope with natural disasters. The aftermath of the Korean War and conflict in the Middle East made Food for Peace donations necessary to help the victims. Whether it was life-saving food or programs to help restore agriculture, it was critical to the peace and reconstruction effort.
Eisenhower sent food packages to the hungry in Berlin and this showed America’s goodwill during the Cold War. People looked at America as a beacon of hope. We cannot lose that today.
Sadly last year saw massive cuts to America’s humanitarian aid programs. This was a stunning development as it went against years of American tradition and undermined our current efforts for peace.
We need to be increasing humanitarian aid this year especially with war and hunger in Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine, Syria, Yemen, Congo, Burkina Faso, South Sudan and many other areas. There is no chance for peace on tiny budgets for foreign aid. Everyone should insist that their elected officials support increasing funding for Food for Peace and other aid programs.
This Presidents Day we should remember Eisenhower’s words to inspire us to do better. We need to step up our global humanitarian aid, not withdraw it, during times of trouble.
Compassion for those in hunger and poverty is a big part of what America stands for. We cannot lose that which has made America a great and noble country for many years.
William Lambers is an author who partnered with the UN World Food Program on the book “Ending World Hunger.” His writings have been published by the Washington Post, Newsweek, History News Network and many other news outlets.