Yesterday was the 100th anniversary of the birth of our 40th president and the 33rd governor of the State of California, Ronald Reagan. Friends and followers gathered in Simi Valley while his widow, Nancy, laid a wreath at Reagan’s grave at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Although his presidency was loaded with issues that spawned heated debates, Reagan himself is remembered for his eloquence in delivering speeches that calmed a nation.
His political career began with support of Barry Goldwater in the presidential race of 1964, when Reagan successfully highlighted Goldwater’s aptitude in a rousing speech. This act got the attention of the Republican Party, and led to his candidacy for the California governor’s office. The rest is history.
While he dealt with the cold war, the Iran-Contra affair, the War on Drugs, the bombing of Libya, and of course, internal economics, Reagan is best known for his ability to address these highly inflammable topics and keep the country informed and confident in its leadership. Reagan has been called “The Great Communicator,” and the importance of keeping constituents aware of a leader’s thoughts and reasons for acts has never been better illustrated. Although this seems purely logical, many great people never reach their potential because the fail in this area. We all know the coworker that fails to produce but excels in taking credit – communicating wins over action from time to time.
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The Academy Awards have recently recognized a film that highlights the significance of communication. "The King’s Speech" is nominated for 12 awards, including best picture, and best actor for communicator Colin Firth. The story centers around King George of England and his unusual ascent to the throne. A key concern was the ability to communicate in a manner that portrayed strength and control, and the greatest victories came when obstacles in delivery were overcome – the result of tremendous effort and support.
Our community enjoys open communication from leaders in city government, the schools and various community groups. We are invited to meetings, receive newsletters and can browse the websites of the organizations as needed, but for communication to be effective, it must be two-sided. The leaders in our community depend on feedback to the messages they put out, and the way citizens fulfill their duties is by answering back when they have an opinion. Too often, people grumble but they fail to take a stand on a subject that is important to them. Reach out to our public officials, or let us know what’s on your mind. By working together, Fountain Valley remains “A Nice Place to Live.”