Sean Kinsell blogs from Japan about a Reagan legacy Americans forget. And a friend who grew up in the Philippines writes:
Like many other youngsters I sneered when he was elected to the Presidency,
but gradually changed my mind, and turned around definitively after the Wall
speech.
But one more testament should be added that isn't often mentioned.
He helped preside over a peaceful transition to democracy in the
Philippines. His administration may have supported Marcos as a lesser evil
at first. But during the crisis his government helped push out Marcos and
helped to convince Marcos not to fire on the protesters. We only need to
look at how horribly Tiananmen turned out to realize how fortunate it was
for the Philippines that the US was there to negotiate with the Marcoses.
But as with many third world nations -- like Vietnam or Nicaragua -- the
chattering classes don't care about their welfare once the US is gone. Or
once ideological points have been scored. But that area of the world is
safer, more peaceful and more secure for the peaceful downfall of Ferdinand
Marcos.
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