Srećan rođendan, Gipper!

Danas je ravno sto godina od rođenja Ronalda Reagana. Umesto mnogo priče, evo njegovog govora iz predizborne kampanje Barry Goldwatera iz 1964 koji je, sa ove distance očigledno predstavljao jedan od važnijih momentara u modernoj istoriji koji je dramatično uticao na razvoj događaja u Americi a time i u svetu.

Ponovo o istoriji

Woodrow Wilson, 1917:

Does not every American feel that assurance has been added to our hope for the future peace of the world by the wonderful and heartening things that have been happening within the last few weeks in Russia? Russia was known by those who knew it best to have been always in fact democratic at heart, in all the vital habits of her thought, in all the intimate relationships of her people that spoke their natural instinct, their habitual attitude towards life.

The autocracy that crowned the summit of her political structure, long as it had stood and terrible as was the reality of its power, was not in fact Russian in origin, character, or purpose; and now it has been shaken off and the great, generous Russian people have been added in all their naive majesty and might to the forces that are fighting for freedom in the world, for justice, and for peace.

Barack Obama, 2011:

Over the past few days, the American people have watched the situation unfolding in Egypt. We’ve seen enormous demonstrations by the Egyptian people. We’ve borne witness to the beginning of a new chapter in the history of a great country, and a long-time partner of the United States.

To the people of Egypt, particularly the young people of Egypt, I want to be clear: We hear your voices. I have an unyielding belief that you will determine your own destiny, and seize the promise of a better future for your children and your grandchildren