I’ve waited a few days before posting anything about the passing of Ronald Reagan. When his death was announced just last weekend, I originally sat down and began putting something together for xenogere / strange behavior / but quickly set that aside as I was emotionally unprepared to deal with his passing at that time. I’ve given it a few days to allow for my own grief to subside so that I didn’t come across as a blathering idiot.
For every president we are left with good and bad memories. This is often due to the very nature of the office — politically turbulent, globally targeted, and domestically volatile. Ronald Reagan’s time in office is no different, from the Iran-Contra scandal to his Cold War speeches regarding the "evil empire," Reagan’s presidency is replete with good and bad and indifferent.
Regardless of what some of the heartless, inhuman members of our planetary society may deem appropriate at such a time, however, I will refrain from analyzing Reagan’s presidency and pointing out the finer details of his eight years in office. It’s unnecessary and inappropriate to negatively evaluate this man’s presidency, even with the infallible gift of hindsight, so soon after his death.
I may not agree with everything he did as our president, but I know wholeheartedly that the good far outweighs the bad. I also know, unlike so many others I see posting on the web about his passing, that this is not the time to voice our political disagreements with him or his policies. For those who feel otherwise, I can only hope that those who eulogize you will refrain from such analysis and will instead treat your passing as a solemn time to remember the good from your life rather than verbally bashing you while your family struggles to get through what is already a very painful time.
I weep for our country’s loss for, despite political leanings or impressions of Reagan, we have lost a great man. At a time when we needed it most, Ronald Reagan brought to the American people the strength we needed to feel confident again, the courage to be proud of our country, the humor not to take ourselves too seriously, and the vision to make America great again.
He held our hands and wiped our tears after the shuttle Challenger exploded during launch.
He made being an American more important than being a Republican or a Democrat.
He helped us see that the Cold War could be won without the nuclear holocaust we all feared.
He taught us that politics could be civil without giving up the debate.
He reminded us that it is our responsibility to lead the free world and to take democracy to the four corners of the planet.
He showed us that a man of his age could still lead with charisma and charm and that we could indeed be proud of our president.
Most importantly, he helped us remember that America is a great country and that we have the right to be proud of our heritage, proud of our country, and proud of ourselves. He taught us that we could be patriotic again.
I offer my sincerest and heartfelt condolences to Nancy Reagan and the rest of the Reagan family. I also offer my sympathies to "we the people" for the great loss we have suffered.
The Great Communicator has fallen silent and it is our loss.