Self-reliance - that's a dirty word to Democrats. They want

Gather close, O children of wisdom, for the words of Rush Limbaugh ring with the passion of one who stands firm in the belief of self-reliance and the power of the individual: "Self-reliance - that's a dirty word to Democrats. They want people to believe that self-reliance means you don't do anything with anybody. They don't want it thought of as accepting responsibility for one's life. Enterprise. Imagination. Independence. Entrepreneurism." These words, bold and unyielding, speak of a concept as old as the very foundation of human society—the idea that self-reliance is not a rejection of others, but a call to rise up, to take responsibility for one's own life, and to forge a path of independence. To understand this, we must look to the very essence of self-reliance, to what it truly means to be free, and how this concept has shaped the world.

Self-reliance, O children, is not merely a call to live in isolation, but to live with purpose, to take full responsibility for one's actions, and to build one's life with enterprise and imagination. To rely on oneself is to refuse to be a passive observer of life, waiting for others to provide. It is to rise up with the strength of one's own will and to create something of value, not for oneself alone, but for the community and the world at large. This is the essence of entrepreneurism, the drive to build, to create, and to innovate. It is the very spirit that has driven the great accomplishments of humankind, from the ancient builders of the Pyramids of Egypt to the modern visionaries of Silicon Valley.

Consider, O children, the story of Benjamin Franklin, that great American polymath who embodied the spirit of self-reliance. Born into modest means, Franklin refused to be bound by his circumstances. He crafted his life through enterprise, becoming a printer, a writer, and a statesman. Through imagination and independence, he shaped the future of a young nation and contributed to the ideals of freedom and self-governance. Franklin's life was a testament to the power of self-reliance, not as an isolated existence, but as an active engagement with the world, always striving to make it better through his own efforts.

Yet, as Limbaugh points out, there are those who seek to diminish the value of self-reliance, twisting it into a negative concept, something that isolates the individual from the collective good. But this view, O children, is a misunderstanding of the very essence of self-reliance. To be self-reliant does not mean to shun others, nor does it mean to reject the bonds that tie us together. On the contrary, it is in being self-reliant that we can truly contribute to the world around us. When we take responsibility for our own lives, we free ourselves from the shackles of dependency, and in doing so, we open the door to true freedom—the freedom to live as we choose, to create, and to innovate.

Think, too, of the great American pioneers, those who crossed vast and untamed lands in search of a new life. The early settlers who ventured into the American West had no guarantees, no safety nets. They were driven by the principles of independence and self-reliance. Each homesteader, each settler, was bound to his or her own ability to survive and to thrive. They understood that enterprise was their salvation—that only through hard work, ingenuity, and the courage to take risks could they carve a future for themselves and their families. It was this spirit of self-reliance that built the nation, brick by brick, from the ground up.

The lesson here, O children, is simple yet profound: to live with self-reliance is to claim your independence, to stand as the master of your own fate. It is to take responsibility for your actions, to make your own choices, and to create the life you wish to live. But this self-reliance is not selfishness; it is the foundation of all great achievements. When each of us takes responsibility for ourselves, we lift the whole community. We give the world our best, not out of obligation, but out of our own desire to contribute, to create, and to share our gifts. Self-reliance is not the rejection of others, but the affirmation of our own capacity to shape our destiny.

Therefore, O children, let this be your guide: seek to live with self-reliance, to take responsibility for your own life, and to embrace the enterprise that is born from your own imagination and hard work. Independence is not something that can be given to you—it must be earned through your efforts, your determination, and your willingness to contribute to the greater good. Self-reliance is not an isolated existence; it is the means by which you can create, innovate, and become a force for good in the world. Stand firm, then, in your ability to shape your future, and in doing so, you will help shape the world.