“Cannot swords be turned to plowshares? Can we and all nations not live in peace? In our obsession with antagonisms of the moment, we often forget how much unites all the members of humanity,” Reagan said.
“Perhaps we need some outside, universal threat to make us recognize this common bond,” Reagan proposed.
“I occasionally think how quickly our differences worldwide would vanish if we were facing an alien threat from outside this world. And yet, I ask you, is not an alien force already among us? What could be more alien to the universal aspirations of our peoples than war and the threat of war?”
Given the news just this week about Reagan it's a little funny to cite him as a prophet of unity and our better nature. He did say some good stuff, but he also wasn't above exploiting a catastrophe for political gain. It's the person he used the catastrophe against, Jimmy Carter, who actually sacrificed in the name of unity and our better nature. Reagan pitched Carter out of office.
“Perhaps we need some outside, universal threat to make us recognize this common bond,” Reagan proposed.
“I occasionally think how quickly our differences worldwide would vanish if we were facing an alien threat from outside this world. And yet, I ask you, is not an alien force already among us? What could be more alien to the universal aspirations of our peoples than war and the threat of war?”