From: Tara
I just finished reading a wonderful book, and the ending was so moving, I feel compelled to share. The book, "America: The Last Best Hope" was written by William J. Bennett, who served as Regan's Education Secretary. The book, broken up into two volumes, is a fantastic narrative of our nation's history. Both books are quite large, but give you a sense of our history like none I've ever read. I highly recommend it to everyone, especially if you are a history buff. You will not be disappointed.
Bennett chose to end the second volume with the end of Regan's presidency, stating that not enough time has passed to "dispassionately describe the relevant history of the past two decades." Fair enough. But he concluded the epilogue of the novel with an excerpt from a Reagan speech dating back to 1974. When I read this speech to Brandon, my darling husband had the same reaction as I did to the moving words of encouragement.
It made us both very proud. I encourage you to read it aloud, because it was more meaningful to me when I read it aloud to Brandon.
Regan said:
I just finished reading a wonderful book, and the ending was so moving, I feel compelled to share. The book, "America: The Last Best Hope" was written by William J. Bennett, who served as Regan's Education Secretary. The book, broken up into two volumes, is a fantastic narrative of our nation's history. Both books are quite large, but give you a sense of our history like none I've ever read. I highly recommend it to everyone, especially if you are a history buff. You will not be disappointed.
Bennett chose to end the second volume with the end of Regan's presidency, stating that not enough time has passed to "dispassionately describe the relevant history of the past two decades." Fair enough. But he concluded the epilogue of the novel with an excerpt from a Reagan speech dating back to 1974. When I read this speech to Brandon, my darling husband had the same reaction as I did to the moving words of encouragement.
It made us both very proud. I encourage you to read it aloud, because it was more meaningful to me when I read it aloud to Brandon.
Regan said:
We are not a sick society. A sick society could not produce the men that set foot on the moon, or who are now circling the earth above us in the Skylab. A sick society bereft of morality and courage did not produce the men who went through those years of torture and captivity in Vietnam. Where did we find such men? They are typical of this land as the Founding Fathers were typical. We found them in our streets, in the offices, the shops and the working places of our country and on the farms.
We cannot escape our destiny, nor should we try to do so. The leadership of the free world was thrust upon us two centuries ago in that little hall in Philadelphia. In the days following World War II, when the economic strength and power of America was all that stood between the world and the return to the dark ages, Pope Pius XII said, "The American people have a great genius for splendid and unselfish actions. Into the hands of America God has placed the destinies of an afflicted mankind."
We are, indeed, and we are today, the last best hope of man on earth.The meaning is as relevant today as it was in 1974. There are times when we doubt our nation, and doubt our leaders, and doubt ourselves. And today, the day after the anniversary of an act designed by those who wish to destroy the American ideal, I felt these words to be very moving and inspiring. I wish I could thank the author for sharing them with me. It reminds me of why millions of people around the world still dream of coming to America in the hopes of a better future, despite all the negativity our country faces, despite the critisism of many other countries. We are still the last best hope.
terally about ten minutes from our front door. It’s WONDERFUL to have someone else deal with the traffic, the parking, the hassle of maneuvering around stupid people who never quite learned the meaning of GO at a green light. I wish places back South had commuter trains like this one. Imagine living in Lake Charles, but still being able to commute to Lafayette in only about 45 minutes as a passenger! And have train stops at convenient walking distance to wherever you need to go. Of course, my dear friend Eric answered this question for me. He said that the South did in fact have trains until a man named Sherman screwed them all up about a hundred years ago. Sigh. Damn Yankees!
