The view from the Gulag

Reagan was the right man with the right words at the right time. A brilliant testimony to the true greatness of Reagan!

 

The liberal/left is still whining over Ronald Reagan's statement that the Soviet Union was an Evil Empire before the entire world. I say thank God for Ronald and George Bush. Though Bush is no Reagan he is still tough.

 

Joe, thanks for posting this. I am in the middle of reading Sharansky's The Case for Democracy, a wonderful book. Looking forward to reading Fear No Evil.

 

Joe, one thing I'm curious about the Sharansky/neo-con position on is whether it includes a commitment to use armed force to oppose what he calls fear societies. I don't know if that is just a caricature. It's not quite what I gathered from Perle/Frum's An End to Evil (an excellent book, BTW) but it is the characterization given to neo-con policy. If it is correct, it is troublesome. While I do agree with using available tools wisely (covert assistance to democratic movements, paying for presses, Radios Free ___, economic and other sanctions, etc.) we must be very careful and pragmatic about when and where we commit troops. I agree with the war in Iraq and in Afghanistan. I do not agree with a war in Iran, where we should instead be encouraging democratic opposition.

Gene/FTR

 

Greetings FTR,

First of all, I haven't heard from you in a while. I trust that all is well with you and yours. Don't forget to look me up when you get to the Commonwealth again. This time I will delay any trips I may have scheduled.

As for Fear No Evil, UGH! Don't waste your time. That was awful, and predictible. You are far too intelligent to read this book.

The same goes for you, Joseph: after Sharansky, you will be disappointed in Fear No Evil. You would be better served by reading anything by Irving Kristol, if you are interested in all things Neo-Conservative. I seem to recall seeing an anthology of his writings the last time I was in Barnes & Noble.

Regards to both of you,
BiR

 

Wow, thanks for that edifying response.

Regards,
BiR

 

Hi BiR! Am curious what you didn't like about Fear No Evil. Did you read The Case for Democracy? I'm reading and greatly enjoying the latter. Although not especially drawn to the refusenik struggle itself, I do consider them to have played a strong and crucial role within the wider dissident community within the old Soviet Union, and for their role in exposing the weaknesses of, as he calls it, the USSR's fear society. Was it Sharansky's bio-writing style that put you off? Not find the story compelling? I've long been drawn to such stories of resistance to totalitarianism. A very good example was Armando Valladeres's Against All Hope, of life inside Castro's Gulag. Such stories also highlight, to me, the moral clarity of Ronald Reagan in being willing to call evil by its name.

I plan to be back up that way the second weekend of September for my last Navy Reserve drill up there, and hope to get to meet you. I hope all is well with you.

Gene/FTR

 

oops....

 

Back at ya...

OOPS!
Sorry, I was being a sarcastic. I have not read that book. I was making an attempt to be funny, and assumed that Joseph knew what I was doing, given that "big-toothed smile" emoticon he used in his reply. Actually, that really was directed at Joseph more than to you.

Yes, primarily because of Joseph, when he started a discussion about it a while ago (cannot remember how long ago that was). Hence, my poor attempt at satire.

Again, sorry: next time I will start with [satire] and [/satire]. I figured that my "over the top" comments made it obvious I was teasing (especially the "after reading Sharansky" line).

I will check it out. Currently working on The Case For Christ but am slowly finishing that one.

No problem: do let me know when you are in the Commonwealth.

Indeed it is, and back at you!!

Hope you are being showered with God's Blessings,
BiR

 

Duplicate post

 

BiR,

No problem with the satire. It only speaks to how quickly things just go right over my head.

What did you think of The Case for Democracy?