Chris Salamone - Rescue America: Our Best America Is Only One Generation Away

Published by Greenleaf Book Group Press
Austin, Texas
www.gbgpress.com

Copyright 2012 CMS Media Group LLC

All rights reserved.

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Ebook ISBN: 978-1-60832-2-282

Ebook Edition

Special thanks and recognition to those who have been such incredibly supportive and influential figures in my life:

My father, Anthony: For your never-ending support, inspiration, and unconditional loveyou are the wind beneath my wings. Words cannot possibly express the love and gratitude that I feel for all you have given to me, unselfishly, every single day of my life.

My mother, Rita, God rest your soul: For giving me fifteen years of love and teaching me the values of respect, kindness, and integrity.

My sister, Karen: For your constant love and support, and for pouring your heart and soul into helping build my businesses. Im blessed to have you as a sister. I love you very much. Beauty and brainswho says you cant have it all?!

My great-grandparents, Antonino and Lucia (who, out of respect, was always referred to as Donna Lucia): For making the long journey to America in 1903 with only twenty dollars in their pockets and the shirts on their backs. Without your courage and sacrifice, our family history would be very different.

My grandparents, Leondina and Cristenzio Salamone, and my Aunt Rose (every Italian family has an Aunt Rose, but mine was very special): For living the American dream every day, and making our past, present, and future possible. Salute a la famiglia!

Gilbert Morris, one of my closest friends and a colleague for the past seventeen years: For your friendship and unmatched knowledge of history and philosophy. This book would not have been possible without your support and collaboration. While we do not always agree, you are one of the worlds truly great thinkers and will always be my brother.

Mark Gensheimer: For your steadfast friendship in good times and tough times. I am truly blessed to call you my dear friend and to be godfather to your children.

Lt. Col. Dan Colfax, Sgt. Peter Gary, and Lt. Col. Stuart Jolly: With gratitude not only for your friendship and unquestioned support over the years, but also for your committed service to this great nation. It is an honor to count you among my closest of friends.

Kim Marjenhoff, Alice Branton, and Carolyn Sampson: For being such an important part of my lifefriendships that last a lifetime are an amazing blessing.

Scot Brands: For your dedication, honesty, character, and most of all your friendship.

Doc and Mrs. Colfax: For your constant encouragement. Im where I am because you believed in me and, on a single word, enrolled me in an LSAT course. The rest is now history.

Cara C.: For your unconditional friendship and love, even when I didnt deserve it.

Trudi Rossi: Thank you, maestro, for your coaching, confidence, and patience; and for inspiring me further in my passion for singing opera.

Donna P.: For always believing in me and seeing the best in me.

Steven Sinopoli: For your support and guidance over the years.

Kathryn J.: For your patience and unselfish support during the long and arduous months of the early writings of this book.

Doug Miller: All my thoughts and prayers are with you. Once day at a time, my friend.

Kevin S.: For your guidance and wisdom in the world of publishing and speaking. And Keri, who makes all the trains run on time.

Brent C. and Kevin S.: For your amazing dedication and creativityyou guys are the best of the best!

St. Anselm College: For providing me with an outstanding education and a foundation based in faith. And to the St. As basketball program (particularly Coach Ted Paulauskas and Coach Ducky Mead for your guidance and principled leadership).

To the thousands of staff members and the tens of thousands of students that I have had the privilege of working with over the years at LeadAmerica, the National Student Leadership Conference, and the BarBri-NILE Law School Prep Program: Thank you for your enthusiasm and for always being an inspiration for me to keep working to make a difference in the world. You are all truly significant!

To our heavenly Father and Creator: All honor and glory are yours!

Consider your origin: you were not born to live like brutes, but to follow virtue and knowledge, wrote the eminent Italian poet Dante Alighieri. It was counsel given during a time, the late Middle Ages, when ones origin was not an uncommon consideration. Much of Europe, including Dantes Italy, was in political and spiritual crisis following the Crusades and had yet to find its footing during the Renaissance, for which his hometown of Florence would become best known. Dantes counsel from his famous Divine Comedy was certainly timely, even prophetic, given the state of his country at that time. His homeland needed toand would, shortly after his death in 1321return to its spiritual, classical roots.

Dantes words were also timeless. They point to a transcendent truth: that all collective progress is merely an outcrop of individual progress. For any group of peopleespecially one as large as a countryto recover from any crisis, its citizens need to return to the foundational virtues and knowledge that establish all enduring human institutions.

It is now no coincidence that the national heritage of the man known as the father of the Italian language and the Supreme Poet includes preeminence in two global institutions: family and the arts. While Italians are known for many interests, foremost among them are a deep love and respect of family and a deep appreciation of the arts. As the great-grandson of Italian immigrants, I am a beneficiary of both. And, as an American citizen, I am also blessed to be the beneficiary of another heritageone that was established less than three hundred years ago yet has bettered more lives and improved more economies than any national heritage in history.