A memorable half-hour of our history that you’re probably too young to know about
What is the difference between someone who is a leader, and someone who is simply in charge?
You may or may not have an opinion on Ronald Reagan; though it’s likely you have an opinion about those who claim allegiance to Reagan ideals. But this generation, and by that I mean most of us under the age of 50, has no solid recollection of what a Reagan speech was, back when we had real leadership in Washington D.C.
Before the government controlled nearly as much as it does now, there were actual leaders to be found, who met to discuss the heady and weighty matters that affected Americans everywhere. Leaders who understood that the hearts of Americans needed trust and guidance from their elected representatives — not whips, handcuffs and prosecution.
There was an expectation that the smartest found among us would be sent to Washington to belabor the concerns we had, and come back with solutions — not create problems that simply surpassed or replaced other problems.
Since most everyone I have recently spoken to has lost whatever memory they might have had of those who have gone before, I recommend that you take half an hour of your life, and watch (or read) a speech by Ronald Reagan, from back in 1964 (a few years before I was born).
It’s not just the calming cadence of his voice that matters — some say we’ve had plenty of that in later Presidents. It’s not the tireless intellect that provides an impression of trustworthy competance — most believe we have had that in every other President (though which is which is up for debate).
But there was always an understanding, a teachable moment, that came from his speeches — crafted such that even if you disagreed with him, you likely would still believe that the country is in good hands, with good men at the helm.
Allt-too-faint memories of speeches like this are why there are so many in this country moving from the Republican Party, and toward a possible, new, Conservative Party. It’s become obvious why the Democrats are losing the ears and eyes of those who can or will read a newspaper or any web page so long it requires scrolling — and the Republican Party is trying hard but quietly dying off in it’s own ignorance.
Here are the links to a transcript, and the YouTube of this memorable half hour of our history.
Ronald Reagan: “A Time For Choosing”
