Just taking a quick minute out from the frenzy here at Forum to note the death of the Pope. Obviously -- and quite rightly -- the media has focusing on this story almost exclusively for the past 72 hours. As a non-Catholic who is interested in religion but not well versed in church doctrine, I can't really speak to the Pope's legacy in that area. Those debates are for another day. (And on top of that, I think they are often cheapened because many people who think they know what they are talking about but don't really have a clue get involved in them.)
What I do know if that this Pope was an extremely important political figure; doubtless one of the most important of the 20th century. John Paul recognized early on the horror of Communism. He knew it well, having seen the devastation the Soviets brought to Poland.
Along with Ronald Reagan, the American labour movement (yes, they were pro-freedom at that time) and the CIA (whose then-director, William Casey, the Pope regularly met with in secret) John Paul II helped bring revolution to his native land, which kickstarted the collapse of the Iron Curtain across Eastern Europe. John Paul spoke out against violators of freedom the world over through the entire course of his papacy. Because of that he will not only go down as one of the key religious leaders of modern times but also as one of the most important political ones. He was a liberator, a visionary, and a statesman.
Let us never forget his immense contribution in bringing human rights, freedom, and democracy to the world's oppressed peoples.
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 10:46 AM
