That Dark Ghetto In The Valley

One of Ronald Reagan’s most memorable speeches talked about American being that shining city on a hill. Mr. Reagan believed in American exceptionalism and greatness. He believed that each one of us contained the ability to pull himself up by his boot straps through ingenuity, smart work and sheer determination.

I bought into Mr. Reagan’s views and went on to become the first person in my family to finish college and to get a post graduate degree. I went on to author several books and dozens of articles on topics of Americanism, inspiration and ways to help others.

Fast forward to a speech delivered by President Obama in which he discussed how his parents and grandparents had to get government help to make it. I did not feel a bit inspired but felt pulled down by his view of reality. I believe that anyone who does not try to encourage me to stand up on my own actually pushes me down. My dreams go past having just enough to get by to the belief that anyone can go beyond the positions espoused by Mr. Obama.

The Great Society did little to inspire towards greatness. Other liberal programs constantly hurt those who they say they want to help. One person once said, “if you give a person a fish, you can feed him today, if you teach him how to fish, he can feed himself.” I am afraid that our government has been giving out some many fish that is it running out of fish money. Sadly, many of the present administration’s policies are beginning to smell like fish.

The shining city has been replaced by the dark ghetto. Unless we do all we can to return to the place of inspiring greatness, even that ghetto will be repossessed by some government lending agency. Let us reach for the stars instead of becoming satisfied with the squalor of mediocrity.