[Cheryl H]

Hi All -

As a result of Rob's explanation of the lyric, "How stands the city on this 
winter's night, the city on the hill," I found this quote from Reagan's 
farewell speech and thought it was interesting to see it in his context:

"And that's about all I have to say tonight, except for one thing. The past 
few days when I've been at that window upstairs, I've thought a bit of the 
`shining city upon a hill.' The phrase comes from John Winthrop, who wrote 
it to describe the America he imagined. What he imagined was important 
because he was an early Pilgrim, an early freedom man. He journeyed here on 
what today we'd call a little wooden boat; and like the other Pilgrims, he 
was looking for a home that would be free. I've spoken of the shining city 
all my political life, but I don't know if I ever quite communicated what I 
saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks 
stronger than oceans, windswept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all 
kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with 
commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had 
doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get 
here. That's how I saw it, and see it still.

"And how stands the city on this winter night? More prosperous, more secure, 
and happier than it was 8 years ago. But more than that: After 200 years, 
two centuries, she still stands strong and true on the granite ridge, and 
her glow has held steady no matter what storm. And she's still a beacon, 
still a magnet for all who must have freedom, for all the pilgrims from all 
the lost places who are hurtling through the darkness, toward home."

for those interested in reading the entire speech, go to 
http://victorian.fortunecity.com/manet/404/rg/fs.htm

as an interesting side note, this is what I found about John Winthrop -

British-Amer. political leader, first governor of the Massachusetts Bay 
Colony. In 1629 he joined the Massachusetts Bay Co., and he was elected 
governor of the colony that was to be established by the company in New 
England. An ardent Puritan, he envisioned a colony based on his religious 
beliefs. He guided the colonists on his arrival in N. America in 1630, and 
was elected governor 12 times during 1631-48. Though widely respected, he 
was criticized for opposing the formation of a representative assembly 
(1634), and R. Williams and A. Hutchinson decried the colony's limitations 
on religious expression. His son, John Winthrop (1606-1676), was an 
influential governor of Connecticut (1659-76).

Cheryl

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