What's super interesting about Ronnie's discussion on the legacy of evil is it almost becomes a character in and of itself. He says that when evil doesn't succeed, it takes a time out and comes up with a new game plan to attack in a different way. Practice makes perfect, after all.
Let's be clear: our ancestors weren't always the good guys, but we learned from our mistakes and Ronnie believed America and her traditions were the future. It becomes our job to help other people learn from the past to create lasting peace. And Reagan says in "The Evil Empire" that the best way to do that was to pray for change, and then act on it.
Questions About Legacy of Evil
- What events/happenings in U.S. history does Reagan highlight to emphasize the "legacy of evil" in the country? Why do you think he chose those things?
- In line 11, Reagan quotes Abraham Lincoln. What is the significance of that quote to Ronnie's discussion of the legacy of evil in the United States?
- Does the president's discussion of prayer in the beginning of the speech help him make his point later by the end? Why or why not?
- Why do you think Reagan discusses mostly social issues in describing America's legacy of evil?
Chew on This
By using this speech to label it as an "evil empire," President Reagan contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union and changed the world.
Reagan suggests that change always comes from within, which is ignoring large swathes of history in which change came from without.