Lech Speaks

The heroes who made the 1980s were John Paul II, Reagan, Thatcher, Solzhenitsyn (my pick), and Lech Walesa. I would bet that poor old John Paul is doing the most for the late President through his silent prayer. Lady Thatcher, too ill to speak, we will hear from tomorrow by recording. Solzhenitsyn has returned to Russia and silence, now that it is Russia again. But Lech the electrician, who embodied the common man's rebellion against mindless totalitarian opression, today writes a short tribute to the Head of State of the world's most powerful nation whom he met. This is one VIP speaking of another saying:

"I distinguish between two kinds of politicians. There are those who view politics as a tactical game, a game in which they do not reveal any individuality, in which they lose their own face. There are, however, leaders for whom politics is a means of defending and furthering values. For them, it is a moral pursuit. They do so because the values they cherish are endangered. They're convinced that there are values worth living for, and even values worth dying for. Otherwise they would consider their life and work pointless. Only such politicians are great politicians and Ronald Reagan was one of them. "

Somewhere now perhaps is a Lech Walesa of China, of North Korea, and of Cuba. But seeing one man defeat a cruel machine with pure courage and integrity is the gift of our lifetimes. Read it.