On November 16, 2006, the Atlas Economic Research Foundation held its annual Freedom Dinner to celebrate World Freedom Day and also Atlas’s 25th Anniversary.
With threats to freedom mounting abroad, and lackluster leadership from politicians at home, how are we to continue the advance of freedom? The answer is in the power of ideas. The victory over communism that we celebrate at Atlas’s Freedom Dinner was inspired by individuals who believed in pursuing truth – and not worrying about whether their ideas conformed to what was considered “politically feasible” (or “politically correct”). Atlas nurtures an international network of intellectual entrepreneurs who believe the fearless promotion of free-market ideas will lead to greater freedom.
The dinner program started with Toasts to Friedman and to Freedom by Ed Feulner (The Heritage Foundation), Ed Crane (Cato Institute), and Michael Walker (The Fraser Institute). Each used this opportunity to share poignant tributes to Milton Friedman, recalling his great life and work.
Following the Toasts to Friedman and to Freedom, Atlas Vice President of Institute Relations Jo Kwong presented the 2006 Freda Utley Prize for Advancing Liberty to Paata Sheshelidze, president of the New Economic School (NES) of the Republic of Georgia.
The evening concluded with Charles Murray, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, giving a riveting speech about the battle for freedom in the next 25 years. Read his speech here. (PDF)
Prior to the dinner, Atlas presented the 2006 Templeton Freedom Prize for Initiative in Public Relations to the Hellenic Leadership Institute (Greece). The second place winner for this prize was Imani: Centre for Humane Education (Ghana).
Thank you for joining us for our last major event of the Atlas Economic Research Foundation’s 25th anniversary year. Our Freedom Dinner celebrates the victories of the free society over the forces of totalitarianism. Since we began encouraging our friends worldwide to increase the number of celebrations commemorating the destruction of the Berlin Wall (November 9, 1989), institutes around the globe have conducted major events on that day. Several of us were in Guatemala this November 9, as one of the major champions of this cause, President José María Aznar of Spain, delivered a major speech before the Mont Pèlerin Society.
To continue this celebration, we have invited a few North American champions of freedom who have been 
extraordinary helpful to Atlas to join us to give “Toasts to Freedom.” Ed Crane, Ed Feulner, and Michael Walker have devoted almost all of their professional lives to promoting our common vision of a society of free and responsible individuals, with private property and limited government under the rule of law. I estimate that, together, these individuals have attracted and inspired the investment of almost a billion dollars for the cause of freedom. Through their generous collaborations with institutes all around the globe, they also have encouraged their benefactors to support a growing number of efforts to promote liberty overseas. To them, I offer my sincere thanks.
Our keynote speaker, Charles Murray, is another great example of how we need to fight totalitarian forces and ideologies. During an important event in 1987, Lord Harris of High Cross (1924-2006) repeated his recommendation: “To academics, we say keep up the liberating ideas — and to Hell with what is politically possible.” Who better exemplifies this spirit than Charles? He never has stopped questioning. He never has stopped surprising. He never has shied away from sharing his research, even when deemed politically incorrect or unfeasible. Since his early days at the Manhattan Institute, Charles has worked to promote his vision of a strong community based on personal freedom and responsibility. No weapon can quiet good ideas forever. We thank our speakers, and all of you, for helping promote freedom for today and generations to come.
Read Deroy Murdock, Master of Ceremonies’ Welcoming Remarks (PDF).
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