Gorbachev Speaks To WPB Boys And Girls

On Thursday, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev gave a piece of his mind to the next generation of leaders - the children of the Boys And Girls Club.
     Gorbachev was in town for a fundraising speech for the club.
     He still carries the stature of a man of great importance, but as a school boy, he was pranked after giving a speech for student government.
     "Someone pulled a chair from under me," Gorbachev said.
     He used that story to tell this young audience to show them that when something unexpected happens and you fall, don't be afraid -- get right back up on your feet.
When Gorbachev asked the children who wanted to be President someday, there were a lot of hands.
     He liked what he saw.
     It was Gorbachev's actions as leader of the Soviet Union nearly two decades ago that helped bring down the Berlin Wall.
     "We live in a global world, but we have not yet learned to live in a global world and manage the affairs of the global world," Gorbachev said. "We have missed many opportunities." He fears many here have not learned from the past mistakes in his country.
     "The communists believed they had a monopoly on the truth, that they could make the entire world happy," said Gorbachev. "Now, some other people in the U.S. and other countries are saying they can make entire world happy."
     As to global issues like security, poverty, and the environment: "We can only cope with those tremendously difficult problems if we unite our efforts. We have to be partners. We have to cooperate. quote mark
     Gorbachev was asked by a young child what the hardest part about being president was . He told her that decision making was the hardest because a bad decision can have very bad consequences.

Yahoo! News, March 31, 2006