Almost 32 years ago, President Reagan gave the speech, “Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” I wonder how many Americans really know much about the speech. How 50,000 had gathered in Berlin to protest Reagan being there. How the western media had largely ignored covering it. How his own administration had argued against Reagan using those words (“too extreme”, “unpresidential”). My how things have changed… and not changed. The speech was seen as setting the terms to end the cold war.
Today, for some reason I looked out at the north beach fence and remembered that speech. “Tear down this fence” … and officially end the cold winter of Michigan. It will come any day now.
Over at the state park, the fence is already down. Soon the beach will be groomed, the park will be open for regular business May 1st.