Amazing perspective, Hostage!
If you have personal knowledge of the work of Pope John Paul II in taking down the Soviet Union, I’m sure many FReepers would love hearing more!
The communists in Warsaw wanted the media image and profile of the polish Pope to be minimized and kept out of sight as much as possible.
His historic return to Poland after becoming Pope was allowed because the communists thought they could not deny his visit or else the public would become even more restless. So they granted him a visit and allowed him to speak far outside the city in the famous Blonie Fields. The communists thought only a few hundred people, perhaps a thousand would show up to see the Pope.
Seven million people showed up.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4423905.stm
“In June 1979, shortly after becoming Pope, John Paul addressed the largest crowd in Polish history - up to three million people - here at the Blonie field.”
No, it was not three million, it was seven million. It was beyond extraordinary.
The communists had ordered a news blackout on the Pope. When those millions of Poles returned to their homes and turned on their televisions, they expected to see the miracle they had just witnessed, the most extraordinary gathering in Polish history. But there was nothing.
That started the entire march away from communism and spilled over in all of Eastern Europe leading to Glasnost and the movement towards restructuring.
Indeed Ronald Reagan was important and was viewed as a champion against the Evil Empire of the USSR. But it was JPII that instilled the spirit of truth and dignity to the people. Without those attributes, the movement would have faded out.
Ironically, it was Noonan herself that ascribed credit to JPII for the turning point:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2526637/posts
She should know as well as anyone the strong parallels of Donald Trump and Ronald Reagan. But I expect she is sipping from the same Potomac water as George Will.