Following Ronald Reagan's death, I read all these stories about how he singlehandedly toppled the communist dictatorships in eastern Europe. Now following the Pope's death, we're reading similiar stories about John Paul II. I was wondering how they could both have singlehandedly defeat communism.
But an acquaintance of mine clarified things:
No doubt the Bishop of Rome had a role in bringing down communism but his role cannot be made equal to Reagan's. Without Reagan, the communists would still control eastern europe by force. Reagan alone destroyed the evil empire [emphasis mine], the Bishop along with many others played minor roles.
[Note: He’s a very anti-Catholic Protestant and regularly uses the word ‘papist’ as a pejorative]
It's one thing to praise your political hero. But to say that ordinary Eastern Europeans played 'minor roles' in bringing down communism is not only ideology-induced blindness, but breathtaking arrogance of the highest level.
Reagan did not defeat communism, either alone nor was he even the primary force. Nor did the Pope.
But while the moral support of Reagan and John Paul II may have been inspiration, the primary force behind the fall of communism was the guts and courage of the peoples of Eastern Europe to rise up against their oppressors.
For my acquaintance to deny this is an offensive affront to the people who actually risked their well being, and in some cases gave their lives, to demand their human rights.
A guy 6000 miles away in his fancy mansion with huge security detail may have given them moral support. But to place him on the same level as the real heroes who made the real sacrifices for their freedom is inexcusable.
'Reagan alone' toppled communism?
He should be ashamed of himself. And he should apologize to the people in Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and elsewhere who REALLY destroyed the evil empire.
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