--- title: I want to preach a sermon... url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/i-want-to-preach-a-sermon-us-rubber-1941/ description: 'United States Rubber Company ad sheet: a man stands up in a church pew among a family and neighbours, above a long first-person text beginning ''I have no' section: Collection --- 1. [Home](https://propagandaarchive.org/) 2. [Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/) 3. I want to preach a sermon... [![I want to preach a sermon..., 1941 US advertisement: United States Rubber Company ad sheet](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/i-want-to-preach-a-sermon-us-rubber-1941.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/i-want-to-preach-a-sermon-us-rubber-1941.jpg) # I want to preach a sermon... United States Rubber Company ad sheet: a man stands up in a church pew among a family and neighbours, above a long first-person text beginning 'I have no explanation for turning this family pew into a pulpit'. The speaker says he talks 'for all Americans' and urges giving sugar, rubber, steel and money for war. The ordinary-man voice is plain-folks, with a claim of shared opinion. ## Propaganda techniques used in this advertisement [Plain folks](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/plain-folks/) [Bandwagon](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/bandwagon/) ## Text on the object Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked ``` I want to preach a sermon... I have no explanation for turning this family pew into a pulpit, except, just now, the spirit moved me. With your permission, I want to say what others, later on, may say better, but what I feel must be said now! ★ ★ ★ The time I lost my job we ate beans six weeks in a row. But I got back on a payroll! The day the banks closed, I felt like I'd been hit with a ton of bricks. But I got up and dusted my pants off! The year I worked my fingers to the bone, and took a cut instead of a raise, I swore I'd quit. But I stuck! The night we got the telegram about our boy, we thought the sun would never shine again. But . . . we're carrying on! ★ ★ ★ It seems to me, somebody's got America sized up wrong. This country was born at Valley Forge! This country outgrew the grief of Gettysburg! This country came to manhood at the Marne, and in the shattered forest of the Argonne! The point I want to make is . . . We've been through the hardships and the heartaches all before! Our only trouble is that when it comes to making war, we're a little short of practice. But what we haven't any shortage in, is courage . . . fighting spirit . . . and the will to win! That's why we want to know the truth about this war, The whole truth and nothing but the truth, plain . . . unvarnished . . . with the bark on! That way we all can figure out how big the job is and buckle down to lick it. So, let's have it! If we need sugar to win this war, take it. If we need rubber to win this war, take it. If we need steel to win this war, take it. If we need cash to win this war, take our money and buy War Savings Stamps and Bonds! Take everything we've got to win this war, and welcome! Because there's one thing no one's ever going to take from you and me, so help us God, And that's America! ★ ★ ★ I'm not talking for myself alone, or for my family. I'm talking for all Americans. So, the words could just as well be yours as mine, And I say: We'll live on bread and water, if we have to, And we'll like it . . . fine! UNITED STATES RUBBER COMPANY ROCKEFELLER CENTER · NEW YORK CITY [signature:] [illegible] ``` [← I need your money to win this war](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/i-need-your-money-tva-war-bond-drive-1941/) [I was careless! 'it ALL depends on ME' →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/i-was-careless-it-all-depends-on-me-1941/) ## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques - [Trois Tetes sous l'meme bonnet (three heads under the same cap)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/trois-tetes-sous-le-meme-bonnet-1789/) (France · 1789 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities) - ['This log cabin was the first building erected on the North Bend', Whig print by T. Sinclair, 1840](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/harrison-north-bend-log-cabin-sinclair-1840/) (United States · 1840 · Plain folks, Transfer) - [Treeing Coons (pro-Polk cartoon), 1844](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/treeing-coons-polk-1844/) (United States · 1844 · Name-calling, Plain folks) - [Zachary Taylor, People's Candidate for President (Currier banner), 1848](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/taylor-fillmore-peoples-candidate-1848/) (United States · 1848 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities) - ['Little Mac.' (from the Democratic presidential campaign songster)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/little-mac-song-sheet-feeks-1864/) (United States · 1864 · Bandwagon, Plain folks) - [The peoples' choice, H. Greeley G. Brown](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/peoples-choice-greeley-brown-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Bandwagon, Plain folks) - [The working-man's banner. For President, Ulysses S. Grant, 'The Galena Tanner.' For Vice-President, Henry Wilson, 'The Natick Shoemaker.'](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/working-mans-banner-grant-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Plain folks, Transfer) - [The Chappaqua farmer](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/chappaqua-farmer-1872/) (United States · Jul 1872 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)