If They Could Speak Now

Have you ever wondered what historical leaders would say if they were with us now?  Maybe not.  That thought might make you think I have been watching old re-runs of the twilight zone.  The thought actually occurred to me recently as I read the stories of Andrew Carnegie and Henry Ford.  As I read about these men I was amazed at the trials each of them prevailed through.  I then started to jot down others speakers on a pad of paper.  Business leaders, politicians, community leaders… the list kept going. 

As I read through the list of people i started asking myself did they have it better or worse than we do now?  Teddy Roosevelt in the midst of an assassinated president?  Benjamin Franklin in the revolutionary war? I even watched Davy Crockett at the Alamo with my kids tonight. Here is what I realized.

1. None of the previous leaders and heroes had it better in their time period than we do in this time period we live in. 
2. We have better health care, technology and standards of living than any before us.
3. Most every generation before us has had a period of sacrifice to face greater than what we have faced. (World Wars, Depression, Civil War, Revolutionary War, etc.)

While we do have many things in common, I wonder what these past leaders would say to us now.  Spend less money? Pay off your debts? Sacrifice for what is important?

I can’t speak for these past leaders, but I can ask the question.  I think it is worth raising.  The answers may serve us all well.

Posted on October 22, 2008 in Historical Leaders