I’ve always loved to read, but during the child rearing and career building years, I didn’t have much time.  I have returned to an almost voracious reading pattern.  This includes some older books given to me by my parents from their collection of books.  One that I read about a year ago was Barry Goldwater’s Memoirs entitled: “With No Apologies.” It was written in 1979.  On pages 152 and 153, he writes about the Cold War with communism.  His words seem very relevant to today’s situation with ISIS.  Here are some excerpts with items in parentheses added by me:

There is only one antonym for victory, and that is defeat. In every contest, there is a winner and a loser.  There can be no such thing as a stalemate.  The communists (ISIS) have never renounced their dedication to ultimate victory.  The war with communism (ISIS) is not of our making.  It is unlike any other war in which we have ever been engaged.  Our enemy is committed to the destruction of the United States (and Israel) and the domination of the world.

Communism calls for a completely regulated, dictatorial society with all aspects of life compelled to conform to a master plan. (Radical Islam wants Sharia Law every where.)  This requires the elimination of all individual freedom, independent thought, personal choice.  The exponents of this new society freely admit it is necessary to employ ruthless compulsion. It is estimated that more than 100 million people have been murdered in the effort to establish a new classless world order.

Having grown up in Arizona, Barry Goldwater held an elevated position in the eyes of my family.  He personified being an Arizonan – independent thinker, strong moral compass, horse-back riding, cowboy hat and cowboy boot wearing, say it like it is communication style.