Orrin and fellow bloggers, Every time I hear Reagan make that speech it seems to have more and more meaning. I recently (last week some time) made a humorous (or at leat attempted to) post on Chris Brady's blog about a German man I was working with. We were working on some equipment that we had not been able to get to work despite three previous attempts during the past year. This German man was named Holger and he is now a Plant Manager in Manheim, Germany. In his previous job, he did some experiments in a pilot plant, on test equipment that is 50 times smaller than the equipment we now have in the plant I work in. Despite all the previous efforts, we still had not achieved success. As of last Friday March 9th, I had worked 8 twelve hour days in a row, specifically helping Holger attempt to get this equipment to function properly. Over those days, I used my ever expanding Team Leadership Development skills, and I got to know Holger better, even with a slight language barrier. Holger was born and raised in East Germany. He shared with me some of what it was like to grow up and be "educated" in East Germany during his childhood. Living in this great country, it is so easy, even today, to fail to understand how human beings can be lied to, manipulated, and controlled, for whatever reason or excuse that is given, by those in power over them. When it is not happening to you personally, it is easy to turn your head and look the other way, maybe even to think that it couldn't possibly happen to you. Holger shared with me some of the outright lies he was taught as a young man. He told me that he knew in the pit of his stomach that he was being lied to. However strong and powerful the government and education system were, there was always someone there, quietly whispering the truth. I asked Holger if he was able to hear Ronald Reagan's speech when he gave it. For a man without much of a sense of humor, Holger could not contain the little smile that danced at the corner of his mouth. He looked me dead in the eye and said, "Yes, I heard it. It was one of my best days." He didn't go into details, he just said they had "ways of hearing" important things. I have always been proud of President Reagan, but I have to tell you fellow bloggers, my chest swelled with pride until I thought I would bust. Holger was one of the young people who lived through the tyranny. He lived through the propaganda called "education". He watched as his countrymen attempted to escape the wall, by any means neccessary. He watched some of them die trying. I guess you could call execution the one thing that would perfect a non-compete/non-escape clause. (no contract in particular...generally speaking) It is really hard to believe that in the Year of our LORD, 2008, that as Americans, we can look around and see how the vestiges of tyranny are pervasive in our own AMERICAN SOCIETY. I am not an idiot. I understand the need for rules. Chaos does not usually make people have good days. But, when a person steps back, shakes the cobwebs from their eyes, in any situation, and realizes that another human being, or group of human beings, has been exerting control over their life. Has been controlling their thinking. Who they do and do not speak to. Who they associate with. What information is "suitable". When a person looks at the "punishment" for "breaking the rules" and sees frothing at the mouth, rabid, insanity. It may be time to very carefully re-evaluate your situation. Maybe when as a supposedly "FREE" citizen of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, a person starts to realize, by that little twinge in the gut, that something is just not right, with any situation, maybe we should LISTEN to that still small voice. In any area of life. Business, relationships, employers. This could happen in any area of life. Last Friday I was asked to work the weekend. We were right on the cusp of utter success with the equipment I mentioned earlier. Some of the folks that I worked for seemed to want me there to savor the success that had so far eluded us on previous attempts. I told them no. Eight days was more than my fair share. Another guy came in and finished the job. I spent the weekend with my Wife and step daughter. I went to church on Sunday. I did call out to the plant after church. The guys were hooting and hollering and high fiving in the control room. The test had been declared a "success". (Funny how the guys who had been off showed up and achieved instant success :) We still have one small technical issue to resolve, but we have the brain power available to overcome that small challenge. I thought I would be disappointed hearing those other people celebrating the victory. I wasn't. I realized that I really didn't care who got the credit. I guess the saying I have heard so many times in books and on cd is true. "It is amazing what can be accomplished when you don't care who gets the credit." Holger flew back to Germany on Monday at noon. I started nights that night. I didn't get to say goodby to him. Holger was a young 23 year old man that we may have seen on the news. One of those young German people who picked up anything they could find, and started beating down the wall. Ronald Reagan spoke out loud a thought that many people had quietly thought. An idea that once unleashed could not be stopped. I sit here today blessed to have met Holger and heard his stories. Were it not for what I have learned through Team, I never would have taken the time to get to know this man. Thanks for that. That to me is the more important "success". I can only pray for strength, faith, and truth like some of those people had to have. I am sure it had to be a daunting task to rush that wall with a pocketnife, a fork, spoon, or a little hammer. (Talk about a BIG Obstacles!) I pray for the wisdom and strength of a President Reagan to hold fast to BIG IDEAS that have consequences. I give thanks for the association of the greatest group of people, LEADERS, that I have ever had in my life, the honor of being around and learning from. Thanks for letting me share my thoughts. Ian from Texas