Two Inspiring American Lives

While visiting an older friend who is someone who definitely ranks as a member of The Greatest Generation, I picked up the paperback version of the autobiography of Ronald Reagan - An American Life. It is the book that I gave him as a gift several years ago on Christmas Day. He always admired Ronald Reagan. Now, I have become very interested in reading it.

I noticed the similarity in the titles of Reagan's autobiography and Sarah Palin's recent best-selling book - Going Rogue - An American Life. They both deeply value their upbringing and the life they enjoy[ed] here in America. They both regard[ed] the United States of America as the greatest nation on the planet! They are proud of our heritage, our nation, our military strength, the hard working and dedicated people of this country; and they both express genuine Christian faith and a gratefulness to God for all that we enjoy here in America.

Despite the fact that I have only read the first 28 pages so far, I find myself longing for another great American - a Reagan Conservative who believes the same things about our country and people as Reagan did - to get voted into the presidency in 2012. Could Sarah Palin be the one to follow in Reagan's footsteps of greatness? I hope so! I find her background, policies, Conservative political positions, support for small business job creation, low taxes, ideas for fixing what's broken in our nation, demonstrated fiscal restraint while Governor of Alaska, support for our brave military, determination on the War on Terror, and her love for America and family to be quite refreshing from what we are now enduring from this current terrible administration.

Two reviews at the Reagan book link above say it well:

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Ronaldus Magnus in his own words., February 16, 2007
By Rocco B. Rubino "Rocco R." (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: An American Life: The Autobiography (Hardcover)
My first vote in a presidential election was for Ronald Wilson Reagan. I was a freshman in college and quickly coming to grips with my political philosophy and world view, when this idealistic, bright ray of sunshine declared it was "morning in America." Having remembered all to well the horrors of Watergate, the tepid Ford presidency, and the...well...you fill in your own pejorative for Jimmy Carter's presidency, Mr. Reagan, for me at least, was a breath of fresh air.

If you are looking for pure history of the Reagan years, the works of Lou Cannon and Richard Reeves will provide more objective views; i.e. the type of stuff political junkies like myself love to chew on. However, if you are looking for a first person account of a uniquely American story, this memoir will both uplift and inspire.

This book is quintessential Reagan. Missing is the self-adulatory, self-promoting tripe you read in autobiographies. Also, although he was bitterly opposed by "The Establishment," the literati, Hollywood, socialists, communists and the like, there is not an ounce of rancor to be found.

An American Life, despite the fact that it is 700+ pages, is a quick and fairly easy read. In order to obtain a full view of his presidency, I not only recommend this work, and the aforementioned volumes, but also the book that is the compilation of his letters. Far from being the "amiable dunce," you'll discover that "Dutch" was a unique and complex man and we are a better country for having him a part of the body politic for as long as we did.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Greatest President of the 20th Century, June 11, 2004
By Brad C Haines (Rensselaer, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An American Life (Paperback)
This is the definitive book by and about a truly great leader, and a great man. Ronald Reagan came to office at a time when America desperately need a man of his strength and character. After a decade of downturn - particularly the Carter malaise years, Reagan renewed our faith in ourselves and our nation. Today's conservatives - especially our so-called "leaders" - need to read this book.
Ronald Wilson Reagan - Ronaldus Magnus - will be missed, and we may never see his like again.

I sincerely hope that the last part of the last sentence of the second reviewer is not true! Reagan is missed by a majority of Americans (except those in the first reviewer categories of ""The Establishment," the literati, Hollywood, socialists, communists and the like,") but I do see evidence of "his likes again" in Sarah Palin. Heck! We already know that they both share extreme and rabid hatred being hurled at them from the same enemies list above [just add ObamaBorg Bots to the list against Palin]!

It was interesting to find out that Reagan learned to read at the young age of 5. His mother would read story books to him each night and run her finger under the words of the story as she spoke them. Reagan surmises that he just picked up reading very earlyin his life because of that. He also became adept at memorizing what he had read quite quickly and easily. I think that such an ability, plus his perpetual optimism about America's heritage and greatness helped make him the encouraging type of orator that he was during all 8 years as president and beyond.

In the beginning of Chapter 2, Reagan writes:

I grew up observing how the love and common sense of purpose that unites families is one of the most powerful glues on earth and that it can help them overcome the greatest of adversities. I learned that hard work is an essential part of life--that by and large, you don't get something for nothing--and that America was a place that offered unlimited opportunity to those who did work hard. I learned to admire risk takers and entrepreneurs, be they farmers, or small merchants, who went to work and took risks to build something for themselves and their children, pushing at the boundaries of their lives to make them better.

I have always wondered at this American marvel, the great energy of the human soul that drives people to better themselves and improve the fortunes of their families and communities. Indeed, I know of no greater force on earth.

I think growing up in a small town is a good foundation for anyone who decides to enter politics. You get to know people as individuals, not as blocs or members of special interest groups. You discover that, despite their differences, most people have a lot in common: Every individual is unique, but we all want freedom and liberty, peace, love and security, a good home, and a chance to worship God in our own way; we all want the chance to get ahead and make our children's lives better than our own. We all want the chance to work at a job of our own choosing and to be fairly rewarded for it and the opportunity to control our own destiny.

The dreams of people may differ, but everyone wants their dreams to come true. Not everybody aspires to be a bank president or a nuclear scientist, but everybody wants to do something with one's life that will give him or her pride and a sense of accomplishment. And America, above all places, gives us the freedom to do that, the freedom to reach out and make our dreams come true.

There are a lot of similarities between the beliefs that Ronald Reagan had, and the beliefs that Sarah Palin currently shares with the American people. This brief blog post is by no means an exhaustive account of them all. However, what I think has propelled Sarah Palin into the hearts and minds of the majority of Americans is that similar vision that Reagan had as to what direction is right for our country. I'm certainly not alone in comparing the two. Take a look at this "A Toast to Sarah Palin" magnet that has the images of Palin and Reagan on it!

I was glad to hear on Fox News Sunday that Ms. Palin has not ruled out a run for the White House in 2012. She hasn't committed to a decision yet (which I think is wise), and her reasons for deciding to run 9if she does) are very admirable. She has stated that if the country and her family wants her to run, thn that would be a huge part of the criteria that she would use to weigh her decision.

She would be a leader who wants to serve this nation...not to be served. She has already demonstrated this through what she did while governor of Alaska. And she has iron-clad grit! She didn't earn the nick-name "Sarahcuda" for nothing you know!

Despite the Media of Mass Deception's attempt to destroy her - she grows stronger and more loved by the normal, America-loving patriots of the TEA Party movement which is growing every single day. No matter what the haters throw at her, she will not be moved away from her goals to be outspoken about changing the direction of the current Marxist/tyrannical form of government that Obama & cohorts & clueless Congress have conspired and planned to inflict upon our beloved nation!

Thank you Sarah! No matter what you decide to do about the 2012 presidential race, we have confidence in you and know that you only want what is best for America! We support you all the way - in whatever direction God leads you to pursue now and in the future!

Inspiring The 'Precious Ones' And Us All!

I am reading Sarah Palin's "Going Rogue" book. One of the best chapters so far happens to be Chapter Six, aptly entitled "Going Rogue" as well. Love the quote at the beginning of the chapter:

I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our attitudes. - Charles Swindoll

This portion of the book begins by describing how Governor Palin was whisked away out of Anchorage Alaska on a private jet so that her introduction as the Republican vice presidential nominee would be a surprise.

The chapter is filled with examples of how Sarah Palin and her family were so horribly treated by the press and political detractors. As we now know, the "detractors" became whipped up into a weird and ugly political frenzied machine; intent on trying to destroy Governor Palin and her family.

But what was so heartening to recall and read a year and 3 months after the fact, was how Sarah connected with the children who were born with Down syndrome and their parents and caregivers who she had met along the rope lines at several U.S. cities throughout the nation. The following portion of her account of the events made me tear up:

After, in the rope line, I was moving through the crowd, shaking hands and signing posters and hats and shirts, when I suddenly came to a stop. Standing on the other side of the rope were a woman and two teenagers whom I could not miss. The kids had Down syndrome. A boy and a girl.

"Hi, what's your name?" I said to the girl, smiling.

The girl stammered for a minute and finally managed to say, "Sarah."

"Sarah!" I said. "That's my name, too! It's so great to meet you, and we have the same name. Isn't that amazing?"

Then I turned to the boy, and my heart just melted. Trig's face flashed into my mind, and I thought, This could be my son fifteen years from now.

By then, Trig was going on five months old and we were still learning the ropes of having a child with Down syndrome. We were so enjoying this little guy with his just-happy-to-be-here demeanor and his silly smiles, and watching him get stronger, chubbier, and more fun every day, just like any other baby. Still, we were curious about what was ahead. We were managing well with him as a baby, but what about a toddler? As a teenage?

I reached across the rope and laid my hand against the boy's face. "Let me look at you," I said, "I want to get a good look at how beautiful my Trig is going to grow up to be."

If that last sentence from Sarah doesn't make you well up with tears, maybe nothing will.

Here is a woman who is just learning to deal with a baby with whom most people in society would label as "imperfect." Yet, she turns such a societal label completely around by using uplifting words of support to let that teen aged boy with Down syndrome know that he is beautiful! No wonder crowds of people with special needs children felt emboldened to attend the rallies. They already knew that they would have an ally in the White House if John McCain and Sarah Palin won the election.

Governor Palin writes:

That was a significant turning point for me, personally. At that moment , I realized in awe that these precious ones are all brothers and sisters. Before Trig was born, I didn't know what to expect and we had a natural uncertainty about perceived "imperfection." There on the rope line in Cedar Rapids, I realized that my Trig is part of a large and very special community. And look how this mom was making it work with these two precious teenagers! Look how she cared so much to bring them out to a crowded, hectic, but fun rally and given them what might be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, a presidential campaign event in their own hometown. And I just knew there was no need to fear anymore. At this rowdy rally in Iowa my world became a more peaceful place. Todd was right: everything was going to be all right.

As it turned out, the number of special needs kids and adults who began showing up at events along the trail was spectacular. It was one of the absolute best parts of the campaign. I heard from experienced staffers that organizers would typically need maybe a sign language interpreter and a handicapped area large enough to accommodate a few dozen wheelchairs. But it seemed that at all our stops, the number of wheelchairs multiplied, as did the number of kids and adults with various challenges. At a rally in Fairfax, Virginia, I remember looking about and seeing scores of wheelchairs. In the middle of my speech it started pouring rain. Within five minutes, I looked like a wet dog and my makeup was running off my face. I wanted to keep going and finish because I didn't want to disappoint all those people who had been waiting for hours to hear our ticket's message. Even more, I was inspired to see that not one of the people in wheelchairs made a move to leave.

I thought, This is inspiration!

Governor Sarah Palin? YOU are an inspiration! You were a great inspiration to millions of Americans during the entire 2008 campaign and you continue to be a true voice for Americans today! You were real during the campaign. You are a real, patriotic, God-loving American who brought out the best in people everywhere. There is nothing phony about you; unlike the presidential opponent and well-oiled (and bullying) "machine" that you and John McCain faced during the election race. Those foam faux Greek columns that were placed near Obama when he made another one of his typical teleprompter speeches - filled with great rhetoric but empty promises - showed just how phony he was as a candidate. Governor Palin's speech writer even predicted how Obama would be as president:

A bit later, I launched into a part of the speech that, since Barack Obama's election, has proved Matthew Scully prescient:

"...when the cloud of rhetoric has passed...when the roar of the crowd fades away...when the stadium lights go out and those Styrofoam Greek columns are hauled back to some studio lot--what exactly is our opponent's plan? What does he actually seek to accomplish, after he's done turning back the waters and healing the planet?

"The answer is to make government bigger...take more of your money...give you more orders from Washington...and to reduce the strength of America in a dangerous world. America need more energy...our opponent is against producing it.

"And let me be specific, the Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes...raise payroll taxes...raise investment income taxes...raise the death tax...raise business taxes...and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billion of dollars."

Yep...what a terrific prediction that is now coming true (unfortunately) right before our very eyes!

Back to the rallies.

Sarah goes on to briefly describe other rallies where special needs children and people attended. One group of fifteen kids with Down syndrome wore shirts that read, WE LOVE TRIG! and TRIG IN THE WHITE HOUSE! The fact that these kids could identify with a national campaign was awe-inspiring...to Palin, her family, the people who showed up, and now the entire nation as millions of people read Sarah's best selling book!

May God continue to bless you, Sarah Palin, in all that you do and through any and every endeavor that the Lord leads you to pursue!