Reader:

Freedom creates opportunity. Character determines what we do with it!

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What Are You Doing with Your Freedom? Freedom creates opportunity. Character determines what we do with it.

​In 1921, millions of people across Russia and Ukraine faced starvation.

​World War I, revolution, civil war, drought, and Communist policies had devastated agriculture and food supplies.

Desperate for help, Russian writer Maxim Gorky appealed to the world:

Please send us food and medicine.

America responded.

Although the United States fundamentally opposed the new Communist government, an American relief organization, ARA, offered to feed one million starving children.

But there were conditions.

American relief workers had to control the distribution. They would determine who received the food, and assistance would be provided without regard to race, religion, social status—or politics.

The principle was simple:

People were hungry. That was enough.

When the Americans arrived, they discovered that conditions were far worse than anticipated. The mission expanded. America sent flour, rice, milk, clothing, and medicine. Plus, seed grain so farmers could begin producing food again.

By August 1922, the American Relief Administration was providing a daily meal to approximately 10.5 million Russian people.

​President Warren Harding explained why America helped people living under a government we strongly opposed:

“The big thing is the call of the suffering and the dying.”

Now here's the part of the story you may not know.

The American who directed this enormous humanitarian effort strongly opposed Communism, but believed America still had an obligation to help starving people.

His name was…

​Herbert Hoover.

Eight years later, Hoover became President of the United States. Seven months after his inauguration, the stock market crashed, and his presidency would forever be associated with the Great Depression.

But before becoming the president remembered for economic catastrophe, Hoover directed a humanitarian effort credited with saving 2-3 million Russian lives.

There's a lesson here larger than Herbert Hoover.

​Freedom creates opportunity.

​Opportunity can create prosperity.

And, prosperity gives us the capacity to help others.

But character requires us to answer a different question.

We inherited freedoms others sacrificed to preserve.

And opportunities others worked to create.

So instead of simply asking: “What has America given me?”

Ask: “What am I doing with what America has given me?”

Because freedom isn't only something we inherit.

It's something we exercise, protect—and use in service to others.

Ans remember: Information without Transformation is wasted energy!

Keep Learning!

Keep Leading!

That is today’s Morning Minute.

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The quote of the day:

“Leadership is not about domination. It is about service. True greatness is measured by how much we serve – not by how much we control.”

CHARLIE KIRK

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(published by the Bonorato Creative Group. LLC; all rights reserved)