Ronald Reagan was one of the greatest presidents of the 20th century, rivaling even FDR. His accomplishments are numerous. He helped America feel good about itself after the disasters of Vietnam, Watergate and Jimmy Carter.

His policies helped strengthen the economy and military to levels unseen at the time, but his greatest accomplishment was helping to bring down communism.

By banding together with then English Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and the late Pope John Paul II, Reagan confronted the “Evil Empire” with vigor and relentlessness, boldly demanding Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down this wall” at the Berlin Wall in 1987.

Two years later, the wall was torn down, not by the communists, but by thousands of dissatisfied Berliners wanting a taste of the freedom Reagan talked so warmly about. The Young America’s Foundation calls the event a symbol of freedom’s triumph over collectivism. The event singled the beginning of the end for communism in Europe.

Tomorrow marks the 16th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. In 1989, I was more concerned with Ninja Turtles than the newly gained freedom of millions of people. But after learning about the event, I’m convinced the fall of communism is the second most important event my generation will experience, 9/11 being the first.

Unfortunately, many in my generation don’t recognize the importance of the fall of communism, some going so far as embracing the immoral ideology.

In his book “Deliver Us from Evil,” Sean Hannity blames this on the liberal establishment in America, including many university professors. He wrote, “[America’s liberal establishment] minimized, concealed, denied and discredited factual reports of the atrocities and oppression and demonized those who tried to bring them to the public’s attention.” He went on to say many so-called elites equated the murderous USSR with the USA. They said it was morally equivalent to America.

I have always had trouble understanding why many left-leaning people continue to embrace an ideology of oppression, corruption and hatred, especially in the light of how murderous communist regimes are.

According to Brian Crozier’s book, “The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Empire,” the former USSR put 20 million people to death by execution, forced labor or forced starvation all in the name of “helping the people.” In China it was 65 million people, two million in Cambodia, one million in Vietnam – 94 million by all communist countries combined. See why it was so important for America to stand up to this type of evil?

Come Nov. 9, I ask all Americans to think for one moment about what it would be like to live in a communist country. Think of the death, the oppression, the lack of basic needs – but at least you’d have a job, right?

If liberals had it their way, millions of people around the world would still be aching under the suffocating chains of Karl Marx.

Tomorrow, remember Eastern Europe is free thanks to Ronald Reagan’s policy of confrontation and the dedication of the Pope and Margaret Thatcher.

Americans need to applaud the triumphs of these courageous individuals. Think of Nov. 9 not as another normal day of school; think of it as the day Eastern Europe was liberated from the destruction of communist thought.

It is a day which proves democracy works and communism fails. America is still here, but the USSR was left on the ash heap of history where it belongs.

Columns reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the Northern Star staff.