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Lessons Reagan Taught

Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2024
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by AMAC, Robert B. Charles
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13 Comments
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What would Ronald Reagan make of the mess we are in? He would not be happy with us, with our leaders, how we spent our grandkids’ money, indifference to evil. If he – or any real leader from our past – were again alive, they would marvel at how soon we forget, tell us “be brave.”

What have we forgotten? A lot. We have forgotten major lessons of history, and need to remember them.

First, evil unattended grows. Reagan knew it, as did JFK, Truman, FDR, Wilson, TR, Lincoln, our Founders, the generals of WWI, WWII, and others. As Edmund Burke wrote, laconically:  “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men should do nothing.” He meant, good men, good women, all lovers of freedom.

What have we done in two dozen years, interrupted only by leaders fighting the tide? Indulged terrorists, given them a nation we swore to liberate and left 100,000 allies, who pledged their lives to us, to die at their hands. Unforgivable.

We have paid money to the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, trying vainly to buy their allegiance, despite their sworn opposition to our whole way of life and form of government.

We have let Europe come under fire by inviting an old Soviet chieftain, now autocrat, to take a chunk of it, the chunk that paid our president under the table through his son for favors.

We let a communist country more powerful in economic and conventional military terms than the Soviet Union was, wrap its tentacles around our economy, technology, and worse – allies.

We have allowed Marxism to root in schools, infecting the next generation, and cheapened citizenship like the Romans, only worse – given sacred rights to criminal non-citizens.

What did Reagan say? “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” How could we have forgotten so fast, and cared so little about our children’s freedom?

Second, life requires faith. While most Americans count themselves Christian, others Jewish, Muslim, or Buddhist, our leaders pushed God from the public square, schools, and workplaces. Atheism has crept forward, and government slowly – as Orwell predicted – becomes God.

As Shakespeare wrote, “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” skunk the same.  As Robert Burton wrote in 1621, “call a spade a spade.” This spade has no heart.

Reagan, citing the Pledge of Allegiance, also vanished when he said: “If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.” Most have not; our leaders have.

Third, we forgot to limit government. Even those not worshiping the government forgot to limit it, something our Founders told us we had to do. Reagan cut taxes, regulations, departments, the burden and power; we reversed that. Federal debt then was one trillion; today, it is 35 trillion.

Part of why the Founders limited government – with our Bill of Rights – was to prevent dependence. They knew the process could produce graft, and kill self-reliance. The premise on which our Declaration, Constitution, and first 150 years were all based – was limited government.

As Reagan succinctly stated, and world history teaches, “Either you will control your government or your government will control you.” He did not let us forget; we have.

Fourth, we lost territorial integrity. No nation in history opened its borders and avoided collapse. Empires and nation-states fall when they disrespect their citizens. As Reagan observed, in his strangely prescient way, “A nation that cannot control its borders is not a nation.”

Fifth, we misunderstand our culture. Our culture – the American culture – is not relativistic, not “anything goes,” not crime or lawlessness over order and mutual respect. It is the reverse.

Saying we are strong for differences means respecting others’ freedoms, uncensored speech, education, faith, self-defense, due process, and equal protection. To twist these concepts for purposes of oppressing the citizen’s freedom is to wholly misunderstand who we are.

Reagan cogently said what the culture has long known: Words are cheap, freedom hard to maintain, yet the battle for freedom – the courage to preserve it – is what we were founded on.

Wrote Reagan, “We must condemn those who seek to divide us… teach tolerance and denounce racism, anti-Semitism, and all ethnic or religious bigotry wherever they exist …” The idea is mutual respect, not lawlessness or persecution of speech, faith, and guaranteed rights.

Truth is, Reagan knew, is timeless. Freedoms central to our culture are timeless. Yet today, we trash them, along with our national security, “peace through strength,” deterrence, and readiness.

Perhaps the best lesson Reagan taught, one that guides us now, how we should think, stand our ground, resist oppression, and defend those who do is this one: “The future doesn’t belong to the fainthearted … It belongs to the brave. So, in a phrase, let us be brave.

Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, attorney, and naval intelligence officer (USNR). He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (2018), and is National Spokesman for AMAC.

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johnh
johnh
1 month ago

This is the best article ever on this AMAC site. Reagan was the best POTUS in my lifetime & why did the future leaders abandon the teachings of Reagan? I pray to GOD that the Republicans find another like Reagan & soon!

Rob citizenship
Rob citizenship
1 month ago

President Ronald Reagan had great qualities and knew how to reach people with ideas that were meaningful ,inspiring and worthy of serious thought . His uplifting sense of humor often helped to convey his message ,and that is an art of sorts. A sense of reverence for doing things right could be felt listening to his State of the Union speeches. How true. about the future belonging to the brave — just one very good example of his insight . In. November of 1963 ,at age 13 , the assassination of President Kennedy took something new to understand ; the previous year visited Washington D.C. with my parents, was very impressed with the Capitol building , what all it represented even more so than the architecture. So, watching the funeral procession of President Kennedy on television the organization of that event was something impressive, the thousands of people involved , the solemnity of what was going on , being emotionally moved by the cadence of the drums during the funeral procession. And thinking afterward how courage was going to be essential for the Country to deal with this change in what happened on November 22nd . The idea of being brave in order to stand for what is right — something vital for sure. The Edmund Burke quote is very appropriate — this whole article is very appropriate ! Much appreciated Robert . Noble thoughts for the endeavors needed to maintain liberty for this great Nation.

anna hubert
anna hubert
1 month ago

Reagan and Thatcher were two good leaders . Not perfect. no one is, but solid and decisive., no nonsense.

Max
Max
1 month ago

RBC, as usual, wonderful article of the truth. If one thinks of the situation as one big circle and visualize the top is the good times, the nation is and has been definitely going downward towards the bad/evil. The nation will bottom out and start the upward swing back toward the good. It will be up to the people to wake up or the nation will remain on the bottom for a while.

stella
stella
1 month ago

I think Donald J. Trump is a gift from God for this nation . I cannot understand when people harp on Oh , he said a mean thing ? The man has been persecuted now since 2016 , They have accused him of everything in the book .. the lies & hatred from the left never stop .. AND , you THINK he shouldn’t hit back . I think you need to walk a mile in that man’s shoes . And, never forget they have targeted his home , his family , his businesses , his good name . Greatness is Donald J Trump .. Give him a problem and he comes up with a simple solution . I do not think any other man could of with stood what this man has endured . So , people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones .

Fredric Ducolon
Fredric Ducolon
1 month ago

I donated to him

uncleferd
uncleferd
1 month ago

All true, and President Reagan surely did warn us… though we allowed the cancer of the left to infest our capital, and take control of our republic for the purpose of destroying it. We have much work to do in little time.

Kyle Buy you some guns,and learn how to shoot
Kyle Buy you some guns,and learn how to shoot
1 month ago

Like as said,History repeates itsself. Kyle L.

anna hubert
anna hubert
1 month ago

Define the poor and explain why they remain poor. What keeps them in that slot.

uncleferd
uncleferd
1 month ago

Well, at least we all can still tell which party is less truthful, right “comrade”?

gerald pedoto
gerald pedoto
1 month ago

I honestly believe that AMAC must provide bullet point summaries of each article they post.

John Shipway
John Shipway
1 month ago

Short article that manages to really lay on the myth of Reagan. Mr. Charles forgets what President it was that initiated the FIRST illegal migrant amnesty program allowing crap tons of “wets” to remain in country, apparently forever as the ones still alive are still here.
Mr. Charles also forgets how when faced with a terrorist bomb blast on a Marine barracks in Beirut, where we should NEVER have been in the first place, well we left so fast all the locals could see was shoe bottoms and backsides clad in olive.
Reagan was a decent President in one way and probably one way only. Other than the only victory this nation has ever had as a singular nation in our “great” actions in Grenada, the country was not embroiled in foreign conflicts during his tenure. All the rest is myth that over time will expose “The Gipper”, just as time exposed the myth of FDR

virginia state flag and voter box
President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the economy at a roundtable with business and labor leaders, Friday, November 18, 2022, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House. (Official White House Photo by Erin Scott)
jim nicholson and kamala harris with bible and rosary behind them about her anti-catholic acts
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