Friday, June 3, 2011

Freedom, a Shared Core Value

As a citizen of the United States of America, when I think about the values that we as a nation, on our best days display for all the world to see, I cannot help but be reminded of our 40th president, Ronald Wilson Reagan. He alone stands out in my mind as the brightest presidential beacon of freedom the last 100 years has had to offer. Freedom for him stood prominently as a core value, just like for our nation.
        The liberty we enjoy has been purchased at great cost and tremendous sacrifice. Though the payment has been dear, we have not shown ourselves to be selfish with this treasure. Battlefields around the world have been stained by the blood of Americans who have willingly placed themselves in harm’s way to both defend and provide the great gift of freedom to nations of this world.
        Freedom, as a core value, speaks to the heart of each individual, no matter their birth country. It resonates deep within humankind’s soul. In full bloom it is reminiscent of the free will our creator bestows upon mankind; its absence in turn, the very shackles of slavery itself. At first blush the defense of freedom seems unnecessary; its benefits manifold, simple to see and understand. But to those who seek to selfishly advance their own private quest for individual power, freedom stands as a threat.
        Reagan believed this gift of liberty must be defended and advanced or the passage of time would erode its very foundation. The tenuous nature of freedom was alluded to by many before him, as in the now famous words of Edmund Burke:
“All that is required for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing”
          Like light itself, Reagan believed freedom was a value best understood by its very absence. A favorite Reagan quote comes from a message he delivered to the annual meeting of the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce on March 30, 1961:
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”
        As a concerned American, Reagan felt duty bound to use his public stature as an actor, a union leader, and governor to help ensure that future generations would both embrace and advance these concepts. In both his terms as President, he was exceptionally convincing on the national stage, elevating our nation’s pride in the heritage we share as “the land of the free and home of the brave.”   
        While president, his plainspoken oratory skills and humor earned him the trust of a nation while his movie-star charisma and honesty helped him to win over many of even his strongest detractors. President Reagan had his share of critics, but also possessed the intrepid skills to successfully wade through the mire of partisan politics and the political debris that often bogged down lesser men.
        His courage and conviction to conservative first principles was so strong that his very name is often utilized to define them. The continued use of the terms “Reagan Conservative” and “Reaganomics” is testament to the impact he had on the conservative movement in America. Perhaps some of his success as “The Great Communicator” was due, in part, to his ability to understand the liberal mindset.
        Those watching the 1964 Republican National Convention will remember Reagan’s impassioned speech “A Time for Choosing.” So well written and powerfully delivered it has been nicknamed “The Speech.” A seminal moment for Reagan, it introduced him to a national audience and launched his political career in earnest. In that speech Reagan boldly proclaimed that America was headed in the wrong direction:
“You and I are told increasingly that we have to choose between a left or right, but I would like to suggest that there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down--up to a man's age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism, and regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.”
        Reagan understood self-determination to be America’s greatest asset. He soundly rejected the liberal notion that our traditional system of individual freedom is incapable of solving the complex problems of the 20th or 21st Century or that our Constitution is an antiquated document. Reagan’s dream for America’s return to first principles was both timely and timeless. His strength and conviction restored our nation’s self-esteem following the weak leadership of President Carter’s administration.
        Reagan’s influence reached across the globe and empowered even Socialist nations to embrace free markets and freedom in general. When Ronald Reagan called on Gorbachev to "tear down this wall," a surge of new generation confidence rose that would ultimately breach the bounds of the evil empire. As a result, many individuals tasted true independence for the first time. That event alone bears proof to the idea that certain values need to be personalized, owned and then acted upon.
        The fragile nature of freedom is painted for us by Reagan to be not unlike the old variety show acts where the juggler keeps an amazing number of multi-colored plates spinning. It is a rare and beautiful thing to see, because it takes skill and constant attention to maintain the delicate balance.
        I am training my own children to lovingly embrace many core values, mostly based upon our faith. Our country’s founding fathers and inspired statesmen like Reagan also offer wise instruction. We stand on the shoulders of these giants. As we celebrate Reagan’s 100th birthday, let’s remain balanced and ready ourselves to train up the next generation.

The essay above was my entry for the Ronald Reagan Centennial Award Sponsored by State Assemblyman Curt Hagman

2 comments:

  1. I loved this memorial to Ronald Reagan. Thanks for informing me about his early speeches and sharing the powerful quotes contained in this essay. Keep up the good work.

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  2. This is so well written and not only took in the quote but painted a broad picture, yet specific of the many qualities admired in Reagan while in leadership roles. It was personal yet informative. I hope your essay gets recognition, in fact I am praying you do very well!

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