One of the outstanding inspirational speakers and authors - that would be you, Mr. Smith. You built and lived a dream career in business. Now you're a philanthropist and a humanitarian. Everyone benefits by your work.
Your books: The 10 Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management and What Matters Most are useful treasures of knowledge and advice. I'm impressed by the depth of the messages. If I didn't believe so much in liberty, I would advocate your books for "required reading."
Humility and respect for the author and the book bring a hesitation in beginning my next few paragraphs. I'm a history buff and have to have the truth, nothing else. Please allow me to challenge a couple of your heroes.
Nelson Mandela of South Africa certainly was responsible for toppling the apartheid laws of racism. But you did not mention that despite his heroics for the Blacks or for his nation, Mandela was a communist terrorist. Perhaps you can rationalize and justify this because the situation seemed hopeless. The worst symbol of Mandela's terrorist acts is something he invented: The Fiery Necklace. The necklace was a tire soaked in gasoline, placed around someone's neck and set afire. This barbaric practice became widespread, horrifying the world. Mandela deserved prison time, but did he deserve the Nobel Peace Prize he received years later?
Winston Churchill was a controversial figure for decades, but history's artists are painting him in broad strokes of having saved the world from tyranny. I want this letter to be brief, which inhibits my case against Sir Winston. May I present some thoughts about him which you might have overlooked?
He was instrumental in pulling America into both world wars. Several historians claim that Churchill was guilty of skullduggery in regard to his efforts to get us involved. He was a notorious drunk, a drug user, a pampered fellow with servants, and one mean man. When the British Air Force was dropping poison gas on the natives during the Boer War, Churchill said: "I do not understand the squeamishness about the use of gas. I am strongly in favor of using poison gas against uncivilized tribes."
Let's not forget that the British people voted Churchill out of office after the war ended. The Sir Winston adulation was not unanimous.
The examples of Mandela and Churchill ring hollow to me. I would welcome an opportunity to go over the details of true history in this regard. What I have pointed out does not eclipse the valuable messages readers can gain from your book.
My wife and I would like to have your speaking schedule because we would drive quite a distance to see and hear you.
~~~
Hot Stuff
* North Korea launched missiles somewhere today. How many and where we don't know yet. We only know that South Korea is concerned, Japan is upset, Austrailia is mad, and the U.S. is frustrated.
* We are building a missile defense system in the Czech Republic, a neighbor of Russia. The Russians feel insulted, even threatened. If Russia built such a creature in Mexico, wouldn't we be riled? Riled, hell! More like preemptive war.
* That was a strong protest meeting at the Federal Building in St. George yesterday, in front of Senator Bennett's office. The group wants to change the senator's mind about the proposed Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act. Now we'll find out if Bennett represents the people or the problem.
* More than a quarter of Utah's graduating seniors failed the state exit exam. Now let's test the school boards.
Dixie Thinker. Serious fun - not for the snug and smug.
Twenty-Years-From-Now News
The booming oil industry in Mexico is drawing so many former illegal immigrants back to Mexico for high paying jobs that the president and congress are considering stricter border control. A White House official who asked to be unnamed said, "This country has jobs that must be performed. The borders are sealed and no one gets out."
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