Debbie Schlussel: 20 Years Ago: "Mr. Gorbachev, Tear Down That Wall" (Today: Bush Tears Down Our Borders)
Hard to believe that it was twenty years ago today, on June 12, 1987 that President Ronald Reagan uttered his most memorable demand:
Mr. Gorbachev, Tear Down That Wall.
The speech was delivered at the Brandenburg Gate. While it was delivered on the West side of the Berlin Wall, it was also audible on the East side (under Communist hegemony), as well. The speech inspired millions yearning for freedom around the world.
While the wall eventually was torn down, it wasn't done by Gorbachev, but by Ronald Wilson Reagan. Only Reagan had the courage to not only utter those words, but back them up with a steady arms build-up and refusal to accommodate Communist tyranny and repression of human rights.
Contrast that with today. Today, President Bush can't say, Mr. Bin Laden or King Abdullah or President Ahmadinejad, tear down that burqa, or . . . tear up that Koran, or . . . tear down that Mecca. Our enemy today is a cult-like, fanatical belief in an extremist religion. And there is no physical wall we can tear down to defeat religious extremism. (Though, if we had the guts to drop a few bombs in some select strategic locations, that would do the trick.)
And even if there were, the current President would not have the courage or guts to say or do so. Instead, he reaches for his ankles and says, "Mr. Ahmadinejad and King Abdullah, may I have another?"
Oh, and he does talk about tearing down a wall:
Mr. American, tear down that border. Mr. American, tear down that security.
Uh, not exactly Reaganesque.
Posted by Debbie on June 12, 2007 11:30 PM to Debbie Schlussel