Stories and Photos by Pat Krause

The H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation presented its 30th anniversary of Youth Townhall and Desert Town Hall on February 1st. The President of the Board, Keith Goff, said the series was glad to be back after losing the 2021 series to the Covid epidemic. Executive Director Becky Kurtz introduced this year's first speakers, MIKE HUCKABEE, and his daughter SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS. The event was held at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa.

These two very famous speakers took to the stage, asking what the program would be. People asked questions, or they would just talk. It turned out they would talk about their lives. Mr. Huckabee told about why he entered politics and his time in office. He compared 1960 politics to today. Then it was people trying to destroy our democracy. Today it is at a crossroads, and it's we, the people, who must stand up to stop and save our country. America is an excellent place to live, and we must decide how to keep it that way. They both said it was essential to teach our children to love our country and know that America is good.

Mike was Governor of Arkansas and ran for President in 2016 and 2020. He spoke about the political climate now. He also told stories about his daughter, her childhood, and her time in the political scene. She was instrumental in President Trump being elected in 2016 and became the White House Press Secretary to President Trump for 2 1/2 years. He told a story about Sarah as a child with 2 big brothers and how she wanted to play baseball. She was bored with softball and tried out for a baseball team. They resented it until they saw how good she was. She credited her brothers for making her strength to stand up against all opposition.

Sarah Huckabee spoke about her relationship with President Trump. She was on Airforce one with him almost every time. She told of one Christmas she had to give up going with him secretly overseas to visit servicemen in Iraq. He arrived, and the place erupted with the USA! The USA! One soldier asked President Trump why he came to see them, and President Trump told him because they were there with a tough job, we are all in this together. He is an authentic tribute to the men and women in the service and his dedication to them.

Sarah told how she was able to overcome some people's criticism by believing in herself and her faith. Something she learned from her father. Mr. Huckabee said that he was accosted by a woman pointing her finger at him, telling him how bad he was as a governor, father, and politician. He looked at her and said, my wife, says the same thing. The woman just left wondering. His way of dealing with that kind of person.

Their main message at the end was for everyone to Stand UP and Speak Out. Do not be afraid of your beliefs in your religion and your political ideals. They said their own belief in God and how it has impacted everything they do in life. Both Sarah and Mike took turns telling the guests about their personal lives and what they believed. Mike said his greatest joy was babysitting his grandkids. The next Townhall speaker is John Meacham, Pulitzer Prize author and presidential historian, on February 24th.

YOUTH TOWN HALL

Youth town hall brings teenagers from every school in the Desert to meet the speakers and ask them questions. The first speaker was NFL player James Dockery, now Xavier Prep Head Football Coach. He spoke to them about his life growing up and how they can all succeed in life. Your dream doesn't just happen. You must believe and work for it. It needs hard work, dedication, and accountability for your actions. Life is about choices. He asked all the teenagers to repeat I CAN, I CAN, I CAN get three times, louder each time.

The teenagers were also allowed to ask Mike and Sarah Huckabee questions. One of the questions was toward Mr. Huckabee. He said that social media was one of the worst things in today's world. People can say anything, true or false, and it is not checked. There are no longer journalists who try to stop the lies from reaching so many people. Misinformation is all over social media by told by anyone.