Tribute to Reagan

[Connie]

I'm really surprised with all the political opinions that have been expressed in various threads that no one has mentioned the death of one of the greatest Presidents in history. "Ronald Reagan".

I have expressed my opinion. Feel free to express yours.

[Spathiphyllum]

Thought about posting last weekend... didn't. Burnout, clssam, pure and simple. Liked Reagan, voted for him, supported his policies, and historically a great man. The tribute, though, is getting a bit trying. Not to be too critical but some of the pageantry is too much for me. He was not deity. I wonder if a new precedent has been set on how we honor our leaders? Getting political - I wonder what B. Clinton is going to want for his tribute? [keep it clean folks]

[Connie]

Originally posted by Spathiphyllum
Thought about posting last weekend... didn't. Burnout, clssam, pure and simple. Liked Reagan, voted for him, supported his policies, and historically a great man. The tribute, though, is getting a bit trying. Not to be too critical but some of the pageantry is too much for me. He was not deity. I wonder if a new precedent has been set on how we honor our leaders? Getting political - I wonder what B. Clinton is going to want for his tribute? [keep it clean folks]

Seph,

Keep in mind all the tributes you refer to were not the wish of Reagan. They are the result of the News Meda.

I agree he was not diety. He was a simple man and I think that it is the way he wanted to be remembered.

[lokki]

I made it a point to not watch any of it until tonight. I thought the final service was very well done, and had an impact on me (my step-father was buried with honors at Arlington).

Mrs. Reagan must be completely spent after this week - I wish her some peace and quiet to mourn in private.

Mike Reagan seems to have really turned a corner in recent years. My friend produced his radio show for a short while, and I got a chance to meet/debate with Michael a few times off-air. Interesting, if hard-headed, man.

[lokki]

oh, and here's my obligatory inflammatory remark...

I couldn't help but wonder, if Kerry were in office when Reagan died, would he bother to be respectful? At least Clinton would have some decorum and decency, and I think genuine respect. From what I've seen of Kerry, I'd half expect him to do nothing more than appear bored while saying "It's a great loss. Have some cake on the way out"

Ok, very harsh, but I just don't see the acrimonious Kerry being very magnanimous in any situation...

(dons asbestos fruit-of-the-looms)

[Spathiphyllum]

Originally posted by clssam
They are the result of the News Meda... I think that it is the way he wanted to be remembered.

I wish that were true. The media, as it is today, has news coverage wall-to-wall, 'tis true, so they bear some responsibility to what we see both day and night. But the pageantry, whether TV/Cable covers it at all, was all created by President and Mrs. Reagan - they sat down and wrote this manifesto for his burial. Now I don't know if it started out small (burial plot with eulogies) when the President had his faculties, but it almost assuredly grew with time.

Mrs. Reagan, as dedicated a wife as she was, loved pageantry. I think she and/or the Presidential library are blowing things a bit out of proportion. Back in the day when the news wasn't so ubiquitous, a public spectacle around the country might be appropriate, but IMO, this is too much considering the technology to present a commemorating ceremony. Multiple viewings, multiple 21-gun salutes, multiple eulogies, multiple parades, shutting down the government, shutting down the stock market... it's just too much.

I guess I would prefer a bit more understatement for a single individual and spread the credit around to a few others. Reagan, while great, did not work alone and in a vacuum. History will remind us that he was a great man... we don't need multiple funeral processions to do that.

Tempered rant off.

[Spathiphyllum]

Originally posted by lokki - quotes in bold

I made it a point to not watch any of it until tonight. I thought the final service was very well done, and had an impact on me (my step-father was buried with honors at Arlington).
Wish I had done the same. I skipped the climax because I just got overwhelmed with the coverage... too redundant. Overall, though, I did like the fact that it seemed more like a celebration than a funeral. I know Reagan would have approved of that. Thanks for your family's sacrifice.

Mrs. Reagan must be completely spent after this week - I wish her some peace and quiet to mourn in private.
I'm sure she is and I do too. But, I think she wanted this spectacle and it is almost assuredly lifted her spirits. How many get the opportunity to celebrate the passing of a loved one in such grand fashion? It's not my style but, like big weddings, some people have to have it. I don't know if she planned this for her own satisfaction or as a "contribution" to the country's psyche; nevertheless, she did it in grand style.

As far as Kerry's response, I think even he would be respectful. The public, based on what I've seen, would have tarred and feathered him if he wasn't. And I think he recognizes the contribution's of Reagan to the success of this country whether he professes it publicly or not. Now, let the rewriting of history begin. The "cake" comment is pretty funny though.

[Ron]

Ronald Reagan was a Leader with a Vision.

Many many many many many many things (mostly nice) have been said about him this week, but the thing that really has been missing from any of the coverage I've seen, is the above. He LED our country in his direction.

I won't bother repeating the other stuff.

Comment: Many people never had a nice thing to say about President Reagan or anything that he was doing. They used his determination as a weapon to instill fear in our populace. They instilled the fear, then reported on all the fear as a product of the President's actions. There was NEVER any chance that a civilized nation such as the Evil Empire was going to launch a suicide attack on the world.

To see these people that villified President Reagan eulogize him now makes me SICK.

[Spathiphyllum]

Originally posted by Ron
Many people never had a nice thing to say about President Reagan or anything that he was doing... To see these people that villified President Reagan eulogize him now makes me SICK.

Too true. Perfect example of the "rewriting history" quip. I appreciate memorializing the death of a good man, but to hear them contradict with their comments of today the actions of their yesterday is galling. Some, I believe, are truly sincere. Others, I cynically believe, are not - they use the public discourse to trivialize the significant accomplishments of his tenure.

[Chappy]

I enjoyed the tribute this week, not only because I appreciated the man, but because decency, civility and ritual is so lacking in our culture. I want my son to see how people from diverse backgraounds can treat others with kindness, while acknowledging honestly their differences. I also want him to appreciate the historicity of the moment, and the reason for the extent of the coverage. As one who works full-time with the terminally ill (which is, really, all of us, in a manner of thinking), I feel that we do all we can to avoid the reality of death and dying - we want to hurry past it much too quickly.

For me, the coverage gave rise to reflection on the things that I will be remembered for, and the things I would like to be remembered for. I guess that I hope that I too will be missed for more than a day...

"Death is a friend of ours; and he that is not ready to entertain him is not at home."

Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)

[lokki]

(snip quote from Sir Francis Bacon)
__________________
Hmm...It tastes like chicken...

anyone remember this?

Shakespear eats Bacon

Sorry - back on topic...

My wife's family doesn't believe in funerals because they just want to forget. More specifically, her mom just wants to forget. So, there is no grieving period, no mourning, no tribute in any way. She has told us she wants no funeral for herself, just burial by the cemetary staff without ceremony.

This strikes me as terribly sad, because these rites are for those left behind, not those gone. Without them, it's difficult, if not impossible, to heal.

I've tried to make it clear to my wife that this isn't exactly healthy, and that I want us to have our own traditions. For myself, I want a wake. I'd like to think my friends and family will have lots of good things to remember.

The speeches from Reagan's kids had a note of humour and happiness to celebrate what he gave, not what he took with him. That's how I'd like to remember my loved ones, and I hope how they will remember me.

[Chappy]

Hear, Hear

[Ron]

I've always wanted a nawlins jazz band playing the dirge as I'm lowered into the ground, then firing up The Saints and starting the party as everyone goes back to their cars.

Then go back to my place and have a blast, on me.

[Splatt]

He was not deity. I wonder if a new precedent has been set on how we honor our leaders?

Actually every President has the option of this kind of memorial service.

I thought it was very tasteful and made me proud of our heritage, this is something that most of the population in the US has not seen.

It was touching, to me anyway, to see the vast number of youth (under 30) there! I'm glad they "get it", they understand what this was all about.

IMHO.

[Spathiphyllum]

Originally posted by Splatt
Actually every President has the option of this kind of memorial service.

I had heard about that option but I wasn't aware of the limitations, if any, imposed by protocol. I'm not aware of how all the funerals have been handled in the past but I had (mistakenly?) assumed that these grand versions were reserved for those that had been killed tragically.

Lincoln and Kennedy had huge State funerals because of the crises and tragedy of the occasion - they were currently Presidential stewards at the unexpected time of their deaths. I'm not aware of other Presidential funerals with such grandeur. Garfield and McKinley were the other two that were assasinated but I don't believe the show was quite as large. Any historians in the gallery?