Pleasant Surprise

I had a rough week last week.  I spent the week on business near Toronto.  Friday night my flight got cancelled, leaving me stranded in Milwaukee.   Saturday, after getting home, I went to dinner with my wife.  I must have eaten something that did not agree, because last night I woke in the middle of the night with stomach problems.  At 1:00 am I turned on my new TV to one of  the PAX channels, and I was amazed.  A documentary on the life of Ronald Reagan was on called ‘In the Face of Evil’.  (Check out their web site here).

What stood out was the country’s strategy of ‘Détente’ with the Soviet Union.   ‘Let’s try to compromise, make deals, not offend, understand, stay balanced, etc.’  However, each time we gave in to something, the Soviets rewarded us with more aggression.  Reagan had a much different vision; to end communism and remove the Berlin wall.  He wanted to win the cold war outright.    I could not stay awake to the end.  But if I remember correctly, he does, and the world is a much better place because of this great leader.

I could not help noticing the similarities with today’s response to terrorism from Muslim extremists.    Many are embracing the failed policy of Detente.  However, I think we need to think more like Reagan.  We will never be able to move on until we defeat this.  

Anyway, I still hope to see the end of this remarkable presentation.  I do have a birthday coming up.  Perhaps my sweet wife will read this and get the hint.  I can only hope.