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Happy New Year, everyone!
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<big>'''On Christmas Day, 1776, nearly all thought the Revolution was lost, except for a valiant few who still believed in "The Cause." We owe our liberty today to those valiant few.'''<br /> <br />
<big><big>'''A Happy New Year (and the Principles That Should Guide It)'''</big></big><br /> <br />
'''Led by George Washington, most of his army, dressed in rags and barefoot, faced a winter gale of rain, sleet, ice and snow. This band of patriots braved a midnight river crossing and a nine mile march over frozen roads to win a spectacular victory at Trenton, New Jersey, the following morning. Those were indeed times, as Thomas Paine would write, that "try men's souls."'''<br /><br />
'''As we prepare to round the corner from 2008 to a new year in 2009, it goes without saying that we face many challenges. But one challenge that shouldn't get lost amidst the inevitable focus on the economy and our national security is the role of God and religion in our national life.'''<br /> <br />
'''In a season that has become too commercialized and -- worse yet -- had much of its religious meaning driven from the public square, Washington's Christmas crossing is a story that should be remembered and celebrated, this Christmas and every Christmas.'''<br /><br />
'''Protecting our religious heritage and belief from those who would deny it or suppress it is a good in and of itself, of course. But the preservation of faith in our public life also bears on how we view the proper role of government in our lives, how we approach the education of our children - indeed, how we expect to survive as a democratic republic.'''
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'''Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Christ, to be with family and friends, and, I would add, to give thanks to God for those who endured so much on that Christmas night, 232 years ago.</big> <small>--Newt Gingrich'''</small>
'''On this question, the American Founders were explicit: Virtue is a necessary pre-condition for democracy, and religion is a necessary pre-condition for virtue. In his Farewell Address, George Washington famously said that "reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle." Benjamin Rush said simply, "Where there is no religion, there will be no morals."'''<br /><br />
'''These are words to reflect on as we prepare to begin 2009. America is on the precipice of change - politically and economically. How we will negotiate this change and what kind of nation will emerge will be greatly influenced by whether or not we take George Washington's and Benjamin Rush's words to heart.
<small>--Newt Gingrich'''</small>
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'''''Read about "Reconstructing American History" [http://newt.org/Portals/0/Capitol%20Visitor%20Center%20Report_.pdf here.]'''''
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