By Jolie Stuart-Davis, Young America's Foundation
Nearly 23 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Europeans still remember the impact of President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II. Poland recently honored the two leaders by erecting a bronze statue in Gdansk. President Reagan and Pope John Paul II confronted and defeated the evil empire. Although many thought Reagan would cause World War III, he knew that a policy of Détente would never save the millions of people starving and suffering under communism. President Reagan fought the Cold War with a simple strategy: “We win; they lose.” And, it paid off. He freed 300 million people from the Iron Curtain.It was Ronald Reagan who had the courage to call for the freedom of all those imprisoned by their government. “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” These words are representative of Reagan’s bravery and boldness. This week, the Poles took the time to remember the hard work Ronald Reagan dedicated to freeing Eastern Europe. It is important that Poland recognizes the value of liberty and the role President Reagan played in helping them achieve that God-given right. It is clear that they still appreciate the two leaders who championed freedom for them and millions of others. We should too. Jolie Stuart-Davis is a Sarah T. Hermann Intern Scholar at Young America's Foundation.