Words to Live By Since 1993 A SPIFF Publication Vol. 2, No. 7 Does the Rose Law Firm defend Flowers? Mother, May I? On February 3, President Clinton and Bill joined Owl and Tipper Gore in hosting the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. Uncomfortable as this must have been for the Clintons and the Gores, it only got worse when the keynote speaker began her presentation. The speaker for this event was Mother Teresa. In an eloquent talk with those gathered, Mother Teresa spoke for the need for families to pray together, making the point that peace and love begin at home. Mother Teresa spoke of the need for each person to give until it hurts. She gave example upon example of the work that her order has done over the years to help the sick, the weak, and the starving. She asked those assembled to remember the teachings of scripture and care for the least among us. When she spoke of the least among us, she told the audience that, above all, she was speaking of unborn children. She pleaded with the leaders of our nation to make America the moral example of a nation that chooses to honor the lives of children. "If you do not want the children, give them to me," she pleaded. "I will find them a home with good and loving people." She said that we cannot speak of peace or justice unless we first honor our children. When Mother Teresa asked this of our leaders, loud and sustained applause filled the room. But Hillary, Bill, Owl, and Tipper did not applaud. They remained noticeably silent before this woman of great deeds and simple truths. When Mother Teresa finished her remarks, she stepped gingerly down from the podium and left the stage without shaking the hand of President Clinton or Bill, a small gesture that spoke volumes about our current leaders. Bill Clinton followed her wonderful remarks with an ill-received joke about basketball players and a few insignificant pleas to his colleagues for honesty (Yes, he said that.) and humility. (Yes, he said that, too.) It was quite amazing to watch how uncomfortable our four moral leaders were in the presence of someone like Mother Teresa. Uncomfortable, yes, but probably not enough to improve their actions. To Our Posterity There he was again, just when we needed him. The face was a little older, the hair was a little grayer, and the voice was a little softer. But the message still shined through. Like so many times before, when the tide of lies from the cheap politicians in Washington seemed ready to sweep over the land, Ronald Reagan stepped forward with a simple and eloquent message. On February 3, the Republican National Committee paid tribute to the President on the occasion of his 83rd birthday. The old adage is true: with age comes wisdom. After some touching remarks from his great friend and ally, Margaret Thatcher, the President took the podium to remind us once again of who we are and why we are here. With just a few words, the President reminded us of the freedom that touches the very dignity of the human soul. Dignity does not come from the things government can give you. It is not derived from a promise of "security" that cheap politicians use to pass their agenda. It can only come from the feeling of knowing that you can try, sometimes fail, try again, and eventually succeed at whatever you choose to be. It comes only from within. When future generations look back at the time of Reagan, there is no doubt that they will see a nation strong, bold, and full of promise. Yes, in the current revisionist climate, it is difficult to imagine the President being given credit for his achievements, but the liberals in the White House and the press have forgotten one thing. They have forgotten those of us who watched and learned the lessons of the Reagan years. It is up to us to remind future generations of the way things were. They will know that the President took office in a time of fear. We as a nation feared our enemies and feared our own future. We were timid, weak, and had become conditioned to waiting on the government to solve our problems. Into this uncertain time, the President brought a message and a program of hope. From the time of his inauguration until the cheap politicians (aided by a willing press) began their systematic campaign of lies and distortions, we began to believe in ourselves again. It is up to us to remind those future generations of a world with two Germanys. They need to know of a time when walls and iron curtains held entire peoples in bondage. They need to know of a time when evil empires attempted to crush the human spirit and our government told us that our country's best days had come and gone. We will tell them that the newfound belief in ourselves emboldened more people than ever to strive to make something more of their lives. It's not about the dubious statistics and figures that liberals throw around, hoping to discredit the President's policies and the man himself. It's about ideals and conviction, the overriding faith in our people and their ability to do great things. That is the core of Ronald Reagan's legacy, the faith in America and her people, not America and her government. It is true that the political landscape is different now, but the message still rings true. The message gets lost occasionally amid the whining cries of those who tell us that we are in a state of daily crisis. The government now not only tells us that our best days are gone, they tell us that our best days were bad. Once again, we are told that only government can solve the problems that government has created and, once again, we lose faith in ourselves. The President once said that the ideals he believed in came from human freedom and the sweep of liberties that make us a great people. That is what we will tell those who will follow. That is why we will refer back to the message of the President every time the cheap politicians tell us that only they, with their programs and taxes, can solve our problems. That is why we will make sure those liberals who have long ago lost the battle of ideas will not be allowed to change history to fit their agenda. Even if they would like to, we will never forget. Quote of the weak: "From one, many" Owl Gore, explaining E Pluribus Unum or the latest tax policy. We don't know which. Quote of the strong: "Consensus is the death of leadership." Margaret Thatcher Words to Live By is published every week at about this time by Spiff. You can send a fax to us here in the Spiff Executive Plaza, towering over beautiful downtown Donelson, Tennessee at 615-883-0435.