Yeah, Pawlenty's video gave me a freaking headache.
But aside from that...
There was an obvious foreign policy/Cold War backdrop to Reagan's speech that talked about an enemy whose policies were informed by collectivism.
Pawlenty's video also talked about a struggle but more of a domestic, existential struggle against a self-imposed enemy that was informed by statism/collectivism.
I wonder if people who heard Reagan speak for the first time thought he had beamed down from outer space. Remember, this speech was not even a decade after Lionel Trilling declared liberalism not just the dominant political philosophy but the only politcal philosopy among respectable people and nations.
Reagan had something to say. He took a solid position that was guaranteed to make some people substantively angry. He believed in what he had to say. The underlying philosophy was clearly stated and unequivocal.
Pawlenty has a pretty video. In it, he says we need to work hard and we're Americans. Yay! Americans!
Yeah, Pawlenty's video gave me a freaking headache.
ReplyDeleteBut aside from that...
There was an obvious foreign policy/Cold War backdrop to Reagan's speech that talked about an enemy whose policies were informed by collectivism.
Pawlenty's video also talked about a struggle but more of a domestic, existential struggle against a self-imposed enemy that was informed by statism/collectivism.
I wonder if people who heard Reagan speak for the first time thought he had beamed down from outer space. Remember, this speech was not even a decade after Lionel Trilling declared liberalism not just the dominant political philosophy but the only politcal philosopy among respectable people and nations.
Awaiting my grade, Prof. KT.
Reagan had something to say. He took a solid position that was guaranteed to make some people substantively angry. He believed in what he had to say. The underlying philosophy was clearly stated and unequivocal.
ReplyDeletePawlenty has a pretty video. In it, he says we need to work hard and we're Americans. Yay! Americans!