We strive for peace and security, heartened by the changes all around us. Since the turn of the century, the number of democracies in the world has grown fourfold. Human freedom is on the march, and nowhere more so than our own hemisphere. Freedom is one of the deepest and noblest aspirations of the human spirit. People, worldwide, hunger for the right of self-determination, for those inalienable rights that make for human dignity and progress. 35
America must remain freedom's staunchest friend, for freedom is our best ally. 36
And it is the world's only hope, to conquer poverty and preserve peace. Every blow we inflict against poverty will be a blow against its dark allies of oppression and war. Every victory for human freedom will be a victory for world peace."
From :Ronald Reagan's second inaugural address.
Peggy Noonan knows she is getting old; she is no spring chicken. She probably made these comments just to get noticed again. The speech was excellent. An old (has been) speech writer is not going to tell me the speech was bad. We can think for ourselves about the speech and her comments!
Noonan is entitled to her opinion but she may be hanging around too many liberals. She should read "Talking to a liberal but you must not."
"Freedom" around the world is indeed a good thing (I put it in quotes because it is a word which can mean many different things). But in itself "freedom" will never conquer poverty nor secure worldwide peace. For proof, look at what the Bible says; look at the heart of man.
I would like to see our President pursue "freedom" for United States citizens with as much passion as he has for doing so around the globe. By that, I mean attacking with fervor the socialist governmental systems which have for far too long eroded Americans' freedoms and in many ways impoverished our nation to the point that someday soon enough we will become the next Europe.