>>Valley Patriot>>

*Editorial*

The Free World and Pope John Paul II

Catholics and non-Catholics alike mourned the passing of Pope John Paul II last week. He was truly a man of great vision, not only as the Holy Father of Roman Catholicism, but also as a world leader determined to bring freedom to those oppressed by communist regimes.
 
In the latter half of the twentieth century, and in the incredibly short time span of 27 months, three extraordinary people came to power: Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher and Pope John Paul II. They were the right people in the right place at the right time to cast communism into Reagan’s “dustbin of history” and topple the Soviet Empire. In the process, they freed more people that at any time since World War II.  

The confluence of these leaders and their policies to free millions of people under dictatorship rule is something we may never experience again. It was truly an amazing period to watch and savor as years of coordinated efforts finally brought down the Berlin Wall and all the evil it represented. And all this was accomplished without bloodshed. That, in itself, is remarkable to any student of history.  

Young people today that didn’t live through this time period don’t have an appreciation for what risks were taken and how the public often demonstrated against these leader’s policies. Yet, they stood firm and we all reap the benefits today for what they did. No longer do we have the threat of nuclear war and Armageddon with the Soviet Union. No longer do we worry about Eastern Europe invading Western Europe and World War III. No longer do we devote a huge part of our budget preparing for Mutual Assured Destruction.  

We are fortunate, indeed. If you don’t think so, just ponder where we might be today if the 1981 assassination attempts of Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II had succeeded.   In your  “Moment of Silence” during this mourning period, consider a special “Thank You” to this extraordinary leader of our time.

*Send your questions comments to ValleyPatriot@aol.com
The Valley Patriot is a Monthly Publication.
All Contents (C) 2005, Valley Patriot, Inc.
We publish 6,000 newspapers and distribute in
Andover, North Andover, Methuen, Haverhill and Lawrence.
To download this month's edition click here (April Edition)
 

Prior Editorials