Voices of leadership from past crises

I will start off by saying that I have been and always will be a Republican minded citizen. But what I have to say revolves around three Democrats and their thoughts. With all the problems facing the country, illness, stock market challenges and the general well being of America itself, it is sad that certain politicians on both sides are forcing their party values, ideals, plans, etc. above that of the nation as a whole.

Let's look back at our great country and the true leaders of modern democracy. There are three leaders that stand out for me, and they were leaders of the Democratic Party. At this particular time, we as Americans have to stand up and be Americans and that includes our Congress.

The first leader I look to is John F. Kennedy and his inspiring words, "Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country."

The second leader I look to is Harry Truman. At a time of great change, the country looked to President Truman, and he stood up; his motto resonates today, because "The buck stops here," at your doorstep. Our Congress' doorstep, not the doorstep of Democrats' ideals and Republicans' ideals. We need that when things are running day to day, but with today's problems, we voted our leaders in to represent us to do what's right, just, and real to solve the problems at hand.

The third leader I look to is Franklin Delano Roosevelt. When America faced nationwide problems head on, he said, "The only thing you have to fear is fear itself." Great democratic thinking not for his own party but for the nation, for which both /Democrats and Republicans stood for at the time. Wake up, calm our fears, and do your job. Do what is right for America.

Robert Lanning

Saint Charles