Mark Steyn - Media met its match

Washington Times ^ | 6/11/04 | Mark Steyn

[kattracks]

All weekend long across the networks, media grandees who had voted for Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale, just like all their friends did, tried to explain the appeal of Ronald Reagan. He was "The Great Communicator." He had a wonderful sense of humor, he had a charming smile. Self-deprecating. The tilt of his head. Twinkle in his eye.

[ModelBreaker]

Edmund Morris is a fey boob, btw.

I don't know. I think the laugh may be on all of us as well as on those who think a Frost quotation was the appropriate response to the Berlin Wall.

Read that passage again. Doesn't it sound like a parody of what the elite would have said about Reagan's 'tear down this wall?'--a missed opportunity to quote Edna Millay? Don't you suspect Morris was pulling all of our legs, over and over in his biography?

[irv]

Thanks for the ping. Another fine article from the master!

[foreshadowed at waco]

I remember growing up and seeing stories about people who tried to scale the wall and escape to the West...they were usually gunned down and left lying there as a warning. The Eastern side of the wall was mined, had guard towers, barbed wire, and dogs on chains who discouraged any East Germans from getting too close. Some tried anyway.

When I was 21 I went to Europe after college. I was in Hungary and Yugoslavia--2 countries still behind the Iron Curtain. There were soldiers armed with machine guns on every street corner. Everyone wore drab colors and moved cautiously. The fear of ordinary people to speak openly about politics, even behind closed doors, taught me what I needed to know about Communism.

God bless Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, the Pope and Lech Walensa for standing firm.

[foreshadowed at waco]

I remember growing up and seeing stories about people who tried to scale the wall and escape to the West...they were usually gunned down and left lying there as a warning. The Eastern side of the wall was mined, had guard towers, barbed wire, and dogs on chains who discouraged any East Germans from getting too close. Some tried anyway.

When I was 21 I went to Europe after college. I was in Hungary and Yugoslavia--2 countries still behind the Iron Curtain. There were soldiers armed with machine guns on every street corner. Everyone wore drab colors and moved cautiously. The fear of ordinary people to speak openly about politics, even behind closed doors, taught me what I needed to know about Communism.

God bless Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, the Pope and Lech Walensa for standing firm.

[ladyinred]

Great article!

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

"Yes," said the old man, "that is my job."

It says much about him that even when other things faded that one thing remained. He knew what he was doing, it was not chance or happenstance. That was what he was determined to make happen. And he did. RIP Mr President.

stupid monitor got all blurry...

[lainde]

Ronaldus Magnanimous bump!

[MeekOneGOP]

God Bless Ronald Reagan.

Ronald Reagan with his
older brother Neil Reagan.
circa 1912.

[Pilsner]

It is still a shock to remember just how fast the Commies collapsed. I was in law school in Lubbock at the time, and lived in the same private dorm with two West German girls. They were typical Euro-weenies, Green (Gruene), Socialist and far more fond of Gorbachov than Reagan, who had just left office. The year began with them patiently explaining that Communism was forever and we (Reagan supporters) were ignorant and naive for trying to oppose it. By January they were a bit confused and saying that German reunification might take place in ten years, but only if Bush (who was President by then) backed off and gave the Commies breathing room. By May, when the school year was over and they flew home, East Germany was gone. They never did get around to admitting they were wrong about Reagan, but they did at least shut off the rote condemnation of him.

[Lurking in Kansas]

Thanks ping...

BTT; Styen on Reagan --what could be better?

[Brian Allen]

<< Thanks ping...

BTT; Steyn on Reagan --what could be better? >>

Mr Reagan on Steyn, perhaps?

Vale President Reagan.

Blessings -- Brian

[Cultural Jihad]

The liberated throngs of Eastern Europe do not remember and honor the memory of any detente liberal, but they do well-remember and honor the memory of Ronald Reagan, who had the courage to speak the truth about their suffering.

[The South Texan]

I think Lady Thatcher slapped the media and liberal establishment even more with that taped eulogy during the funeral.

I almost stood up and applauded.

[dread78645]

Don't you suspect Morris was pulling all of our legs, over and over in his biography?

Yep. In too many places in the book I'd have to stop and ask WTF did he mean by that? Then read on with two trains of thought: either pro or con --most times it turns out as pro-Reagan.

Once you get used to this fictional "Forest Gump"-style narrative, Morris seems more favorable to RR than I expected.

[bt_dooftlook]

Which reminds me of the stark difference between 40 and 41 (remember the "Chicken Kiev" speech?)...

[Cultural Jihad]

Bush Sr. clarifies 'Chicken Kiev' speech
Source

[Paul Ross]

One man who understood was Yakob Ravin, a Ukrainian emigre who in the summer of 1997 was strolling with his grandson in Armand Hammer Park near Reagan's California home. They happened to see the former president, out taking a walk. Mr. Ravin went over and asked if he could take a picture of the boy and the president. When they got back home to Ohio, it appeared in the local newspaper, the Toledo Blade. Ronald Reagan was three years into the decadelong sunset of his life, unable to recognize most of his colleagues from the Washington days. But Mr. Ravin wanted to express his appreciation. "Mr. President," he said, "thank you for everything you did for the Jewish people, for Soviet people, to destroy the communist empire." And somewhere deep within there was a flicker of recognition. "Yes," said the old man, "that is my job." Yes, that was his job.

[jmstein7]

BUMP!