In 1987 President Reagan stood by the Berlin wall, the symbol of communist oppression, and challenged the Soviets to “welcome change and openness” because the advancement of human liberty strengthens the cause of world peace. Then Reagan made the boldest statement of the cold war. He said, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”
The crowd cheered. But they didn’t cheer the American president they cheered the leader of the free world. (A phrase invented during the cold war. The U.S. president was the leader of the world’s democracies until the Soviet collapse in 1989. After that the term “free world” was replaced by “world community.”)
Recently President Obama made an official trip to Kenya. Weeks before his arrival local leaders (Aware of Obama’s support of gay marriage) threatened to demonstrate across the country if Obama commented on same-sex marriage. In Kenya gay marriage is unconstitutional.