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technology, these technologies are only tools.  In the hands of wicked people, these tools become methods of destruction.  In the hands of fools, these tools become methods for inducing chaos.  In the hands of people of "good conscience," they become the tools of constructive change.

The quality of our character and that of our leadership, therefore, will reflect the quality of our future.  While I am excited about the technological advancements that are forthcoming, I am concerned about the inheritors of these advancements.  Freedom is very fragile, it does not exist within a vacuum.  It is a collaborative effort with principles laying a foundation upon which happiness can be pursued.  Today, I believe that it has been weakened by egocentric and opportunistic leadership.  Leadership that demonstrates,

• To compromise integrity is to be human

• To compromise personal principles is to be honest

• To speak of our faith in God as weak-minded is to be correct

• To desecrate our way of life is to be free

Leadership that reminds me of the story of the sailor who, sitting in a boat, begins drilling a hole in the floor.  When confronted by others concerning his behavior, the sailor responds, "But, I am only drilling a whole under my seat."  "Yes," they reply, "But, when the water rushes in, we will all drown!"  We need to change the character of our leadership and stop them from drilling holes in the fabric of our society.

Since this leadership is a reflection of our decision-making, as we approach the new millennium, we need to refine ourselves if we are to become the role models that the future needs.  W need to refine ourselves so that we can understand how to improve the character of our leadership.  We need to refine ourselves, if we hope to build a better world.  We must strive to be a people of "good conscience" i.e., well-balanced people who hold ourselves and our leaders as trustees of the public good.

Martin Luther King, a shining light of our generation, wisely said, "In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not by guilty of wrongful deeds.  Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.  We must forever conduct our struggle

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