Politics for Pros- moderated Message Board

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated

Public Reply Prvt Reply Mark as Last Read File

Previous 10 Next 10 Previous Next

To: LindyBill who wrote (107247)	4/2/2005 1:23:22 PM
From: carranza2	of 793916

George Will had a tremendous piece on the Pope today. I can't seem to find it online. We forget that in 1978, during the darkest days of the Carter presidency, it was the Pope who lit the fuse under the Soviet Union through his unswerving support of Solidarity and Lech Walensa. At one point, the Soviets had amassed enough troops at the Polish border to crush Poland. They backed down, no doubt as a result of the Pope's huge popularity. History may well judge that Reagan and Thatcher finished what the Pope began. The College of Cardinals' selection of a gutsy Polish Pope was an inspired choice. I'd like to think that there was strategic thinking behind his election but I doubt it. Because of John Paul I's death within two months of his election, JP II was probably selected as much for his physical vigor as for anything else. The Reagan/Thatcher/JPII troika was an incredible combination at the absolute right time. Most enormous social changes, such as the downfall of the Soviets and the dismantling of the Iron Curtain generally take blood, lots of blood. That none was spilled still amazes me. But it would be a huge mistake to think that the Pope is some sort of political conservative. He stands for liberty, freedom and social justice. I think that if he had another 20 years to live, his goal would be to somehow soften the edges of globalization and capitalism. This would have put him on a collision course with many Western democracies. Brezinski, for all his faults, got right to the point last night in a long special on PBS about the Pope. Our future after the Pope will be what he termed our "post-human" future, one in which spirituality will play an increasing role in human interactions. Couldn't agree more.

Report TOU Violation

Share This Post

Public Reply Prvt Reply Mark as Last Read File

Previous 10 Next 10 Previous Next