On this Fourth of July I was reflecting on how great our country is and those individuals who were instrumental in its greatness. People like George Washington, John Adams, Bob Hope and of course Ronald Reagan.
For Father's Day Katie got me the Reagan Diaries and I have enjoyed reading the thoughts of Ronaldus. These were his personal feelings not a P.R. stunt. He was not writing his journal with the intent to increase his approval ratings. With that in mind here is an excerpt from his journal, this was written March 30, 1981.
"My day to address the Bldg. & Const. Trades Nat. Conf. A.F.L.-C.I.O at the Hilton Ballroom---2 P.M. Was all dressed to go & for some reason at the last. min took off my really good wrist watch and wore an older one.
Speech not riotously received--still it was successful.
Left the hotel at the usual side entrance and headed for the car--suddenly there was a burst of gun fire from the left. S.S. Agent pushed me onto the floor of the car & jumped on top. I felt a blow in my upper back that was unbelievably painful. I was sure he'd broken my rib. The car took off. I sat up on the edge of the seat almost paralyzed by pain. Then I began coughing up blood which made both of us think--yes I had a broken & it had punctured a lung. He switched orders from W.H. to Geo. Wash. U. Hosp.
By the time we arrived I was having a great trouble getting enough air. We did not know that Tim McCarthy (S.S.) had been shot in the chest, Jim Brady in the head & a policeman Tom Delahanty in the neck.
I walked into the emergency room and was hoisted onto a cart where I was stripped of my clothes. It was then we learned I'd been shot & had a bullet in my lung.
Getting shot hurts. Still my fear was growing because no matter how hard I tried to breathe it seemed I was getting less and less air. I focused on that tiled ceiling and prayed. But I realized I couldn't ask for Gods help while at the same time I felt hatred for the mixed up young man who had shot me. Isn't that the meaning of the lost sheep? We are all Gods children and therefore equally beloved by him. I began to pray for his soul and that he would find his way back to the fold.
I opened my eyes once to find Nancy there. I pray I'll never face a day when she isn't there. Of all the ways God has blessed me giving her to me is the greatest beyond anything I can ever hope to deserve.
....Whatever happens now I owe my life to God and will try to serve him in every way I can."
I feel this is a wonderful insight to Reagans true character. What made Reagan so great? I feel it was his love of God, Country and his family. He had a desire to do good and not worry about his legacy. Remember our politicians receive their authority from us, the people. We have the duty to find out if our politicians are seeking to serve our country or to satisfy their need for power.
Our country is great and will remain so as long as the government understands that our greatness is with the individual.
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