[June 12, 2018] There has much been said and written about the scourge of Communism and socialism and how these political systems hold people back, trap them with little opportunity, and destroys the community of people. U.S President Ronald Reagan was known for his desire to help free people from them and once said in a speech to the USSR SSecretary-General tear down this wall:
“There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace. Secretary General Gorbachev, if you seek peace–if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe–if you seek liberalization: come here, to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”
We all can learn valuable lessons from good leadership and in this case, the clarity and direct message to tear down the wall of Communism was heard around the world. Despite the attractiveness to societal elites about the “benefits” of such political systems, Communism and socialism have been a curse on humans since its beginning more than 100 years ago.
When Reagan gave his Cold War speech, it was his desire to reduce tensions between the Soviet Union and the West. It was also an attempt to kick-start talks about nuclear arms reduction. The speech, along with Reagan’s personality to poke the USSR, was instrumental in the beginning of the view that Communism is a failed system wherever it is tried.
It worked. The wall came down two years later; East and West Germans were deliriously happy when they literally tore down the wall.1 The wall was not to keep the capitalist enemy out – as it was touted by the Soviets – but as a way to keep their people in and from fleeing to freedom.
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If there was only more of this where young boys and girls could learn how it is to be a leader. Your concept of growing new leaders is great. Thank you.
I never heard of “green thumb” leadership. I assume its a quick reference to the idea that growing leaders is fundamental to great leadership. Well done, Brig Gen Satterfield.
Gen. Satterfield, you’ve hit upon a topic that I use frequently in the development of my students and athletes. They must understand – and I show them how – that being a good person means standing up to evil. We also discuss that evil is anything that enslaves us and makes us less human. This is where the college “snowflakes” screw up. They fail to take the logic to its conclusion and believe that anything that hurts them is automatically bad and evil. Not so.
You got it !!
As long as people don’t get tired of dominating others and enslaving them, communism will never go away. It’s the perfect tool for dictators and progressives.
Perfect synopsis of the purpose of Communism and Socialism.
Progressives (whatever that really means) is no different. They currently just don’t have the power like dictators do.
Another good article. Thanks, Gen Satterfield.
Although I personally didn’t see the speech (it was in Germany), I did travel to the wall and did my part to tear it down. Most tearing it down was symbolic because the E. German govt stood aside and let us do it. We were so naive that the destructive force of communism would go away. It didn’t because so many are dedicated to the ideology of enslaving others.
Albert. Who would’ve known that someone here was at the final destruction of one of the last remnants of communism? It is a discredited ideology but others love it for what it can do to control others through governemnt power.
Albert. Well done!
Good article today, Gen Satterfield and thanks for the reminder that we should always remember such times.
You can hear the words spoken on this short video from CNN:
http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/reagan-tear-down.htm
I’m no fan of Fake-News CNN but this was likely before they went over the deep end.
I agree Dennis. CNN has certainly gone downhill and they have lost credibility. Their leadership is wanting.
Thanks Greg for the research and link to one of the greatest speeches of all time.
Yep! Good one.
Thanks.
One of the great speeches of all time: http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/reagan-tear-down.htm
Wonderful speech and by one of the greatest Presidents of all time. He put others to shame in the USSR and some of our politicians looked (and acted) like immature children.
Good article today to remind us of what is important … freedom.
I’d forgotten that the speech was so poetic (to the point and with lines one can remember). US Pres Ronald Reagan was vilified for the speech but today we regard it as one of his best.
Pres Reagan’s speech is a classic. From the perspective of leadership, it hits all the right pieces. Thanks for reminding us about it.
I remember the speech well. It was carried on television at the time and I read about it in the newspapers. Not much good commentary was made by the press at the time.
:-))
Joey, good to see you online today. Someone posted a link to the actual speech. Go there and watch. It’s amazing to see how well Pres Reagan delivered the speech.
I too saw it on the TV. Great speech.
Good point Max and I also saw it on tv but didn’t think much of it at the time. Perhaps it was all the negative press it was getting.
Yes.
Thanks to all for your support.
Yes, so do I. Thanks Max for reminding me of its importance.