Question

Read the passage. excerpt from "Remarks on East-West Relations at Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin" by Ronald Regan But in the West today, we see a free world that has achieved a level of prosperity and well-being unprecedented in all human history. In the Communist world, we see failure, technological backwardness, declining standards of health, even want of the most basic kind—too little food. Even today, the Soviet Union still cannot feed itself. After these four decades, then, there stands before the entire world one great and inescapable conclusion: Freedom leads to prosperity. Freedom replaces the ancient hatreds among the nations with comity and peace. Freedom is the victor.

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this speech.

Which statement best describes the validity and sufficiency of Reagan’s evidence?

A: It is irrelevant and insufficient so it weakens his argument overall.

B: It is relevant and sufficient evidence

Answer 1

Reagan's assertions about the free world vs. the Communist world are relevant to his argument about freedom and prosperity. The evidence, reflecting Cold War-era observations, is valid within the context of contrasting Western capitalist success to Soviet struggles. The role of Reagan's administration in the fall of Communism and the Berlin Wall is complex, acknowledging both international policy and local factors.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement by Ronald Reagan regarding the comparison between the free world and the Communist world presents a clear perspective based on the information available during the time. When assessing the validity and sufficiency of Reagan’s evidence, it can be argued that his assertions are relevant to the argument he is making about freedom leading to prosperity. While the evidence presented may not be exhaustive, it is based on observable contrasts in economic performance and living standards between the free world and the Communist states, particularly the Soviet Union. Reagan points out the technological backwardness, declining health standards, and food scarcity in the Soviet Union, contrasting it with the prosperity of the Western free nations. This comparison was a common theme during the Cold War era, emphasizing the perceived success of the capitalist system over the communist system.

Although Reagan’s speech might have been seen as provocative, especially his challenge to Gorbachev to “tear down this wall,” it mirrored the strong sentiments and political ideologies of that period. His administration's policies reflected the goal of reducing Soviet influence worldwide and supporting reforms that could lead to the end of the Cold War partition. Reagan’s contribution to the fall of the Berlin Wall and communism in Eastern Europe is a matter of historical debate, with his supporters crediting him for the transformation in Europe, while others highlight the actions of the people and local leaders as being more influential. The Reagan administration's strategies contributed to the broader geopolitical shifts that facilitated the eventual fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Answer 2

It is revelant but is insufficient to prove his claims as it relies on his own beliefs.