Yesterday in Second Life, the members of the group "The Grand Old Party" met at the GOP Cafe at 6pm. The group meets on a weekly basis to discuss matters of a political nature. The subject of discussion yesterday was not really a discussion, but the opportunity to listen to Ronald Reagan's first State of the Union Address.

The address itself is just over 5,100 words and ends with a powerful message:

"One hundred and twenty years ago, the greatest of all our Presidents delivered his second State of the Union message in this chamber:

'We cannot escape history,' Abraham Lincoln warned. 'We of this Congress and this administration will be remembered in spite of ourselves.' The 'trial through which we pass will light us down in honor or dishonor to the latest generation.'

That president and that Congress did not fail the American people. Together, they weathered the storm and preserved the union.

Let it be said of us that we, too, did not fail. That we, too, worked together to bring America through difficult times. Let us so conduct ourselves that two centuries from now, another Congress and another President, meeting in this Chamber as we are meeting, will speak of us with pride, saying that we met the test and preserved for them in their day the sacred flame of liberty--this last, best hope of man on Earth."
-Ronald Reagan

According a January 28,2010 article by Aaron Zelinsky, Articles Editor, at the Yale Law Journal, current American president Barack Obama's State of the Union speech was inspired by Reagan. For those who are not aware Ronald Reagan is often referred to as the Gipper.

"The three major themes of Obama's State of the Union were straight out of the Gipper's playbook: First, resolve in the face of adversity. Second, a folksy demeanor laced with jokes. Third, a persistent reminder that he took office amidst a sea of trouble.

President Obama's glance toward Reagan for inspiration is unsurprising. During the 2008 campaign, candidate Obama stated that he "admired" Reagan for changing the "trajectory" of American politics. "