Best wishes, Papa

[Toro]

You know I always questioned what the Pope did these days that made him so important or special. I mean, in the past when the lines between religion and politics were more blurred, there were Popes guilty of atrocities against mankind, Popes that started wars. And in more recent times, I get the whole peace and love thing, but I never understood the millions of adoring fans, the pandemonium when he visits someplace.

But today I saw a political dude speaking about him on TV and he referred to the late 80s... and how the Pope was probably the most influential person in ending the Cold War and toppling the Berlin Wall. His religious stature gave him the freedom to travel around the world and he was letting the 'resistance' know that they weren't alone - that within their own country, there were millions of people who felt downtrodden like them, and were also afraid to speak publicly about it - so he would be their mouthpiece. He educated them about freedom. And the leaders could do nothing to silence him.

Reagan gets credit for it, but it looks like he really was just the 'heavy'. So to that I say 'Get Well, Papa!' I get it now.

Just thought I'd pass it on to anyone else wondering why he gets to wear the big pointy hat and ride in the Popemobile and the rest of us don't.

(I don't think he reads this board, by the way)

[scipio]

But today I saw a political dude speaking about him on TV and he referred to the late 80s... and how the Pope was probably the most influential person in ending the Cold War and toppling the Berlin Wall.
Normally I don't get into this sort of thing but the pope was not even close to being the most influential person in ending the cold war. There were many other people who had FAR more to do with it.
You mention Regan, and while I hate the military industrial complex as much as the next man Regan simply outspent and over-reached the Soviet Union. There is a rather grandiose term for it - "Imperial Overstretch", but essentially he outspent them.
The idea the the Pope's speaking out in foreign countries (those with free press) somehow lent support to those in the Eastern block is patently illogical since with no free press to speak of in the Eastern block, none but a privilieged few ever got to hear of it.
The ONLY place this way have occured was in Poland, and you can thank Lech Walensa far more than the pope for that.
Furthermore, you're right about the Pope not reading this board - because as an arch-conservative reactionary, he would rather see our kind enduring the tortures of the damned in Hades.
Even as Popes go he has been reactionary, unleashing a new wave of intolerance in the Catholic Church after early Popes had sought to liberalize (and what do they have to show for it - more priests buggering altarboys, just like the last 1,000 years).
Really, not such a nice guy after all.
Sorry mate if you are a fervent Catholic (but you should know better).

[Toro]

But today I saw a political dude speaking about him on TV and he referred to the late 80s... and how the Pope was probably the most influential person in ending the Cold War and toppling the Berlin Wall.
Normally I don't get into this sort of thing but the pope was not even close to being the most influential person in ending the cold war. There were many other people who had FAR more to do with it.
You mention Regan, and while I hate the military industrial complex as much as the next man Regan simply outspent and over-reached the Soviet Union. There is a rather grandiose term for it - "Imperial Overstretch", but essentially he outspent them.
The idea the the Pope's speaking out in foreign countries (those with free press) somehow lent support to those in the Eastern block is patently illogical since with no free press to speak of in the Eastern block, none but a privilieged few ever got to hear of it.
The ONLY place this way have occured was in Poland, and you can thank Lech Walensa far more than the pope for that.
Furthermore, you're right about the Pope not reading this board - because as an arch-conservative reactionary, he would rather see our kind enduring the tortures of the damned in Hades.
Even as Popes go he has been reactionary, unleashing a new wave of intolerance in the Catholic Church after early Popes had sought to liberalize (and what do they have to show for it - more priests buggering altarboys, just like the last 1,000 years).
Really, not such a nice guy after all.
Sorry mate if you are a fervent Catholic (but you should know better).

Hey - your beef is with former National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski and Wolf Blitzer.

I agree with you - he's done more harm than good when it comes to the gay community and I forget about that sometimes. Remember - prior to seeing the show I was wondering what made him so special to so many.

But I was enlightened to something good about him this morning.

[GroobySteven]

But I was enlightened to something good about him this morning.

The only reason he has done ANYTHING is to continue to purport a myth which keeps people under the control of a few and continues to increase the wealth of the church.
It's amazing when famous people come close to death the media just decides to report the "good" they have done.
Maybe a few of the media are trying to atone for their sins? :twisted:

What makes him so special for many, is that they use the pope/religion as their excuse for their lives and as a crutch to their inadequacies and disappointments .
seanchai