| Your neighbor’s hose analogy | |
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| Jul 8, 2008 04:08 |   |
| guesthistory | Does somebody know ‘your neighbour’s hose’ analogy? I was tested in the exam paper on American History. The question was: who made the “your neighbor’s hose” analogy? What does it refer to? I was misled by the question. Sorry, I slept in my history teacher’s class and missed the point. I knew the lesson was about the World War Two. Could you help me? I couldn’t find the answer from the books and internet. |
| Jul 8, 2008 07:37 | #1 |
 | It refers to President Roosevelt's speech or comments to the press in December 1940 in convincing the people of the U.S. to lend aid to Britain in the form of supplying arms and munitions to them in the early stages of WW2. The analogy of "lending your water hose to your neighbor if his house was on fire" was used. During this period of time the majority of the U.S. public was opposed to being involved in another military conflict and it was difficult for Roosevelt to gain support for aid to Britain. How times have changed!! |
| Jul 8, 2008 07:57 | #2 |
| In the U.S. ,and other countries, if a home has piped in water, there will be a spigot on the outside that a garden hose can be attached to. A garden hose is used to water a garden, wash your car, water the lawn or whatever. It is so common that when U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt made his speech in March 1941 asking Congress to approve the lend/lease act everyone understood. In March 1941, Germany had conquered or overrun Austria, Czechoslovakia,Denmark,Poland, Holland, Belgium, Norway and France. Great Britain was fighting the Nazis and in need of equipment and food. The U.S. was not at war yet but as a good neighbor, would be willing to help. As if your neighbor's home was on fire, it would be natural for you to lend him your garden hose to help put out the fire in such an emergency. You would expect the hose back when finished and wouldn't charge your neighbor for the use of the hose. Eventually the U.S. supplied goods to most allied countries, including China. Look up other references to "Lend/lease". |
| Jul 9, 2008 04:55 | #3 |
| Yinduffy/Garry, I certainly recall the US being late (again) in joining this conflict. But to imply a hand out is stretching it a little. It took the UK years to pay off this debt. They paid through the nose for this hose. Dodger. |
| Jul 10, 2008 21:07 | #4 |
| " Garden Hose Analogy" Franklin D. Roosevelt justified the evasion of neutrality legislation with the "garden hose analogy". " If your neighbor's house is on fire, you lend him a garden hose. " At the initial stage of WWII, Roosevelt increasingly maneuvered US toward aiding the Allies despite opinion polls shows USA was still an isolationist. He persuaded the Congress to repeal Neutrality Acts and allows the sale of munitions to Britain and France. Actually,Americans thought the USA had two choices: write off Britain and become " Fortress America" or use Britain as a way to combat Germany. After the fall of France, American public sentiment changed. Most people supported the aid to Britain and France, but the majority still opposed to military intervention. So Roosevelt justified his proposal with the "garden hose analogy". Roosevelt's opponents shot back with an example of their own："chewing gum＂ comparing military equipment to chewing gum. "Once loaned, you don't necessarily want it back"! GUESTHIS... good luck for your history exam! I got extra credit from American history teacher for answering the question when I was a sophomore.^_^ |
| Jul 13, 2008 23:21 | #5 |
| GUESTHISTORY | Thank you for all your help! I passed the makeup exam. |
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