One of his best speeches came on March 8, the so-called Evil Empire speech. Referring to it as such however misapprehends about 90 percent of what the speech was about. Although people remember it as a speech against the Soviet Union, it is really about morality and why America is both important and great. It is well worth watching or reading for motivation about what is at risk in this election and to remember how precious the United States is, what America means in the world, and how it can be lost without religion and morality. (Watch from the Reagan Library at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcSm-KAEFFA) or read it from the National Center for Public Policy Research at http://www.nationalcenter.org/ReaganEvilEmpire1983.html).
Reagan's accurate view of America and what our Nation means in the great sweep of history stands in stark contrast to that of the Obama Administration.
Reagan warned of the great danger people of Obama's philosophical ilk pose to that which is good
and therefore, our Constitutional Republic:
Alexis de Tocqueville, put it eloquently after he had gone on a search for the secret of America's greatness and genius -- and he said, "Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the greatness and the genius of America. America is good. And if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."
Well, I'm pleased to be here today with you who are keeping America great by keeping her good. Only through your work and prayers and those of millions of others can we hope to survive this perilous century and keep alive this experiment in liberty -- this last, best hope of man.
I want you to know that this administration is motivated by a political philosophy that sees the greatness of America in you, her people, and in your families, churches, neighborhoods, communities -- the institutions that foster and nourish values like concern for others and respect for the rule of law under God.
Now, I don't have to tell you that this puts us in opposition to, or at least out of step with, a prevailing attitude of many who have turned to a modern-day secularism, discarding the tried and time-tested values upon which our very civilization is based. No matter how well intentioned, their value system is radically different from that of most Americans. And while they proclaim that they're freeing us from superstitions of the past, they've taken upon themselves the job of superintending us by government rule and regulation. Sometimes their voices are louder than ours, but they are not yet a majority.
Don't give in to modern day secularlism.
For a wide swath of voters, families, flag and faith still resonate. For these voters, the traditions of our democracy, the Constitution and our national history are not oppressive, but a source of pride. They chafe at the identity politics of the left, but recognize that profit maximization is not all important. They value freedom of opportunity over equality of outcome. They have economic concerns, but don't want government intervention in every issue.
Democrats forget that until the 1980s these were their base voters. Republicans have learned the wrong lesson from Reagan.
It wasn't his hawkish foreign policy or tax cuts that drove his landslide victories; it was his vision of America and what it means to be an American that propelled him. As we approach the 29th anniversary of what has become known as Reagan's March 8, 1983 "Evil Empire" speech, it may be worth revisiting his words. Although remembered for foreign policy, it is actually about moral values. Reagan denounced bigotry and hatred, but observed that America would cease to be great when it ceased to be good and abandoned its Judeo-Christian values. The country is not held together by the occupy movement, those who would impose a birth control mandate, the financial elites, or neoconservative interventionists.
The Reagan Democrats and blue collar Republicans are the glue that hold the country together, and remain a viable and winning coalition. There is nothing wrong with Kansas.
Happy Reagan Day!
