Values and Common Sense.

Tonight's Moon by Gene Sasse

It is a blessing to live in this place and time- to live in peace and freedom under a moonlit sky. To hold in one's hands a transcription of the  notes James A Baker, III prepared for his delivery of  "The Life and Legacy of Ronald Wilson Reagan" at the Centennial Celebration of President Reagan's Birthday at his namesake presidential library and museum.

History judges speeches not so much for how words are strung together or the style of delivery. History rates timelessness on actual content. These are a few remembrances of James Baker that I believe hit the mark in setting the tone of the times and wisdom. These thoughts are as true today as when Reagan was President.

"Gloom at home was matched by humiliation abroad... Into that storm marched an humble Illinois native with a background a diverse as the country he loved....Through dynamic policy, sound wisdom and inspirational words, he launched the Reagan Revolution and showed us how to be the very best Americans we could be- citizens defined by optimism, determination and self-reliance. At the same time, he defended American exceptionalism..."

"...Ronald Reagan confronted tyranny. And he did it by "speaking the truth to power".

"He reminded us how to work together, While he held convictions as firmly as anyone I've ever known, he was also a pragmatist who saw the world as it is."

"And perhaps most importantly, like Ronald Reagan we must re-learn that as citizens of a democracy, it is OK to voice our disagreements. But at the end of the day, we must come together to solve problems rather than cynically rely on them for partisan advantage."

"Were he here today... he would remind us that each generation of Americans must rediscover its values and its common sense."