Politics
Twenty Years Ago Today
by Clay Staggs
Though this seems impossible, it was twenty years ago today that the Berlin Wall fell. By the time I studied in Germany in 1993, what had been THE symbol of the iron curtain had been reduced to a small patch in the concrete in front of the Brandenburg Gate. As the wall fell, I remember the utter shock that this was actually happening, since of course before 1989 the conventional wisdom was that such was impossible. It was, in many ways, a whole new world. The “Evil Empire” was about to vanish.
Twenty years later, I’m not sure very many people remember this or even care. President Obama couldn’t be bothered to attend, sending Hillary in his stead. I suppose that Germany was OK for a campaign rally, but not so attractive when the celebration turns to the defeat of communism.
So to commemorate, I post again what was one of the best speeches ever delivered by my political hero, Ronald Reagan.
Try to imagine this sort of clarity of purpose coming from any contemporary politician. If you can, your imagination is more vivid than mine.
Posted by Clay Staggs at November 9, 2009 03:30 PM
Thanks for this post. If Prs. Reagan’s speech here wasn’t recorded, it would most certainly be hard to imagine in today’s political climate. However, the reality of today’s political world is one I hoped never have to have to imagine.