In case you have not heard , the Princeton Review recently released the 2008 "Best 366 Colleges" rankings. Of course, at Ole Miss, everyone has focused on our listing of second in the best "Party Schools" category.
However, it would be wise for all Ole Miss students to consider another of our rankings. Our university is listed a being the 18th "Most Nostalgic" for Ronald Reagan."
While there are those who would not agree with this distinction, it is apparent that the majority of students on campus have fond memories of the "Reagan Years," whether through personal experiences or those all-too-familiar stories told us by our parents. Whatever the case, most of us trust the principles and lessons which Pres. Reagan left for our learning.
Why should we at this point in our country's history forget those things Reagan taught us? Should we not at least consider what Reagan had to say about situations which were similar to those we face today? With this course of actions, perhaps we would see things in a different, more enlightened manner.
Obviously, the situation I am referring to is Iraq. Ronald Reagan once said, "A leader, once convinced a particular course of action is the right one, must have the determination to stick with it and be undaunted when the going gets rough."
Currently, we are confronting an enemy similar to those faced by other great leaders. The question before us should be, do we have such a leader today? I believe we do. Although he rarely gets credit, this leader is our president, George W. Bush.
Pres. Bush is bombarded daily with criticism for his handling of the war in Iraq and the larger war on terror.
There are those who argue we should pull out of Iraq immediately. Clearly, these critics have no foresight. They care nothing for the generations that will come after them. Thankfully, President Bush does look to the future.
Terrorism is not an issue exclusively for law enforcement. Previous presidents have treated it this way. This approach has been somewhat successful in solving the problem for the present, but not for the future.
The problem, as Bush sees it, can only be solved by taking the fight to the enemy. Thus, he said, "The best defense against terrorism is a strong offensive against terrorists." There is little doubt that this is the only way by which the world can ever hope to be rid of "thugs and assassins," as Bush likes to call them.
We must remember the difficulty of the task ahead. Helping to bring freedom, democracy, and stability to others is not easy.
Iraqis are joining the Iraqi National Guard and defending their country. Our troops are fighting bravely to free people from the bonds of tyranny and oppression. Saddam Hussein has received his reward, and others have followed. All sponsors of terrorism, such as Iran, should be on notice that the same fate awaits them.
The next time you hear someone criticize President Bush on this topic, remember that he has our best interests at heart. The men and women of our armed forces are the best on Earth. The president knows they can win in Iraq. They can make the world safe for freedom and democracy.
Remember that Bush is leading our world in the right direction, just as did those unwavering patriots before him. He was correct when he said, American leaders - from Roosevelt to Truman to Kennedy to Reagan - rejected isolation and retreat because they knew that America is always more secure when freedom is on the march."
Recall that Iraq is a fight for ideals. One will be victorious and the other vanquished. As Pres. Bush said, "The challenge in Iraq comes down to this: Either the forces of extremism succeed, or the forces of freedom succeed. Either our enemies advance their interests in Iraq, or we advance our interests."
Most of all, remember Bush and our troops need our support. America has proven that when she stands behind a cause, it is successful. What more just cause is there than the liberty of all people? Have we forgotten the words of our own Declaration of Independence?
Do we really mean it when we recite, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness"?
Ask yourself what Reagan would do. Would he not fight to protect future generations of Americans from horrible attacks similar to 9/11? Would he not also say this is a fight which will be won in the end by determination and ideals?
Let his answer stand for itself. "The ultimate determinate in the struggle now going on for the world will not be bombs and rockets but a test of wills and ideas - a trial of spiritual resolve; the values we hold, the beliefs we cherish and the ideas to which we are dedicated."
--As Appeared in The Daily Mississippian on Tuesday, September 4, 2007
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