People just invent these self serving myths out of whole cloth and then throw them around like truth until people are convinced. It's called the big lie theory, invented by that great inspiration to republicans, Adolph Hitler. Reagan had nothing to do with the fall of the Berlin Wall, that was a far more complex issue than Reagan making some speech saying "Mr. Gorbachov, tear down this wall." It was a great line, but nothing more.
2007-02-02 03:27:05 · 7 answers · asked by niko 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
I'm not a Reagan fan, but I don't think you can honestly say he had nothing to do with the Wall coming down. His military programs combined with a personal friendship with Soviet Prime Minister Gorbachev (yes, I butchered the spelling) cannot be disregarded. Do you honestly think that if Reagan had either (1) been perceived by the USSR as week, or (2) had spurned efforts by the Soviets to reform, that the outcome would have been the same? I'm not saying I agreed with all his politices, foreign or domestic, but be fair....if Jimmy Carter had won a second term, do doubt that the hardline elements of the Soviet government would have been emboldened to suppress internal dissent?
2007-02-02 05:28:44 · answer #1 · answered by esquirewinters 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Reagan did have an effect on the tearing down of the Berlin wall, but not as big an effect as people tend to believe. I agree with your statement that it was a myth. Yet I don't totally agree. Reagan introduced his Star War Defense initiative to scare the Soviets into an attack from space. It worked in part. The real demise, however, of the Soviet Union, was not really Reagan, however, it was because communism is more of a social ideal and a weak economic ideal.
2007-02-02 11:43:13 · answer #2 · answered by mac 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Media + Gullibility = Perception by design
The speech is what people remember and so they credit Reagan with the end result.
In reality, he should be probably be remembered (And not in a good way) for sitting on his a$$ and doing nothing when the AIDS epidemic broke out.
2007-02-02 11:40:59 · answer #3 · answered by mufflerbearings1967 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Reagan had everything to do with tearing down the wall. He squeezed the Soviet Union economically until their whole system was ready to collapse. Seeing the handwriting on the "wall", it was torn down and the economical restrictions and penalties were lifted by the US.
Also, the Soviets were trying to match our military weapons build-up but that was further pushing them to complete bankruptcy. The only way out was to agree with Reagan's demands and end the cold war.
Brilliant move by Reagan, a brilliant man
2007-02-02 11:38:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Niko you're obviously too young to remember the 80s, so please check your facts. While President Reagan was in office we saw a number of things change. Unfortunately, the Berlin Wall didn't come down until AFTER he was president, but his leadership brought about change in the way we dealt with the Soviets as well as other foreign aggressors, and it introduced the Eastern world to an entirely new (to them) form of government. Yes, Reagan was HIGHLY instrumental in bringing down THE WALL.
2007-02-02 11:38:42 · answer #5 · answered by vamedic4 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
He did make a very nice speech in l987, and later E. Honecker resigned. Then in l989 the wall was opened . S0 who says he did not have anything to do with it.
2007-02-02 11:44:46 · answer #6 · answered by swamp elf 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
He was firm and didn't put up with junk - he had something to do with the events of the day. He wasn't a woosie.
Sorry you don't like Regan. I think he was one of our greatest presidents.
2007-02-02 11:35:58 · answer #7 · answered by Dizney 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋