Ethics

Reagan's Mythical Toughness

By Ed Brayton

If you want more evidence that some Americans strongly prefer myths over reality, witness how many times in the last week you've heard Republicans invoke the name of Ronald Reagan, as in "If only Obama would stand strong like Reagan did and declare that we will never negotiate with terrorists and rogue states like Iran," with both the facts and irony of history an utter mystery to them.

Reagan was, first and foremost, an actor. And it was perhaps his best performance, summoning up his inner John Wayne, when he declared in 1985:

Let me further make it plain to the assassins in Beirut and their accomplices, wherever they may be, that America will never make concessions to terrorists -- to do so would only invite more terrorism -- nor will we ask nor pressure any other government to do so. Once we head down that path there would be no end to it, no end to the suffering of innocent people, no end to the bloody ransom all civilized nations must pay.

Full post as published by Dispatches from the Culture Wars on June 25, 2009 (boomark / email).