Ronald Reagan has died

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by Radagast
And what I think jerseydevil finds hard to swallow is that the Valiant U.S.A.'s Great Noble Stand Against The 'Evil Empire' is a hollow victory. And that is genuinely what I find sad about jersey, and this is not a flame, just a comment, that he does not concede anything. You hold on to your beliefs like a drowning man clutches a raft, something to guide you through the roaring waves and surf all around you. But, essentally, the raft is just a conveniently placed set of values. Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel...

That's funny coming from you. Being that you still clutch onto the vanished British Empire - no matter that it has been dead for over 50 years. But I will not - as I have stated - discuss this here.

[Radagast]

EDIT: Maybe not. Goodnight boys and girls.

[Sister Golden Hair]

I am dealing with it, madam, and this is why I am raising the issue here, in the aptly titled thread. What better time to have a true evaluation of his life, but after his death?

Well, it does seem that you are itching for a political fight, (withdrawl symptoms due to the suspension perhaps.) Just a reminder: this thread will be closed if it goes beyond memorializing Reagan, whether you find it abominable, intolerable, or whatever.

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by Radagast
EDIT: Maybe not. Goodnight boys and girls.

[Edited due to radagast changing his post]

By your condescending tone and attitude - you obviously have no respect for Americans - unlike what you and many other Europeans blindly expect from us. I only give respect to people who deserve it - and you don't deserve my respect. You simply refuse to respect this thread or Americans.

[Ragnarok]

Originally posted by Radagast
Let's not rush to carve Reagan's face on Mount Rushmore, agrees Godfrey Hodgson in The Independant. For Starters, the idea he won the Cold War single-handedly, is exaggerated. Though he stood firm, the wheels were already coming off the Soviet Union. His legacy, meanwhile, has in many respects been a negative one. After a decade and a half of gloom, Reagan's sunny confidence was a timely balm for the US. But the mood of euphoria that he created is responsible for the "lone superpower" arrogance in his spiritual heirs in George Bush II's administration.

What many cannot forgive is his insistence that any enemy of communism was a friend of his. This led him to embrace such murderous regimes as the exiled Khmer Rouge government, the Nicarguan "contra" rebels and the Afghan mujahideen. The Reagan years may have been when the Cold War was brought to a draw, but they were also when the dragons teeth of our present conflicts were sown.

He and Margaret Thatcher led the western world out of its deep slump. A good man and a great President.

So did you like President Reagan or disliked him?

[Ragnarok]

Originally posted by Radagast
Sadly, Rian, due to the abominable and frankly intolerable gagging order on political threads I cannot start a new thread.

Let us not be drawn into a state of looking at the past through rose-tinted glasses. Was my post kind? No, nor was it unkind. I did not know the man.

As for Jerseydevil's flippant triumphalism in the downfall of the Soviet Union, of course it was brought to a draw. No one can claim victory, save a hollow one, over rank upon rank of a consistently brutalised people to whose lot it has fallen of the centuries to be ruled by despots, in that over-large and foolish nation. Are the people happier? Possibly. But let us make one thing clear, Jersey, Reagan was not responsible for the downfall of the Union. Economically it was simply not a viable venture. It was through the tireless work of British and American diplomats, infiltrators for decades- Regean was in the right place to claim credit.

I was under the impression that the U.S.S.R. collapsed because their economy was strongly founded on making weapons and selling them. Countries stopped buying from the U.S.S.R. because other countries were making better weapons, which put them out of business.

[gimli7410]

i was watching his funeraland i have never known much about him btu it seemed that he was a good president along with being a good and funny person, sad to see that two legends died in this week.

[Lady Ravyn]

i know, i heard about ray charled this morning; that's also sad

we've been watching the funeral proceedings for the past two days and i've learned alot about him. i now realize why my parents admired him so much. i think it's so great that a president can go out with this kind of integrity and with all the honor that's going onto these ceremonies.

[Khamûl]

I personally have no recollection of the Reagan administration, but I have found the pomp and circumstance of a state funeral fascinating. It's something we haven't seen in 31 years. I have also enjoyed hearing the remembrances of him. The musical selections at the funeral today were wonderful. I particularly enjoyed "The Mansions of the Lord" as they were taking the casket out of the cathedral. And I managed to keep my composure until I saw Nancy Reagan kiss the casket this morning and tonight when she broke down.

Didn't the tenor that sang "Amazing Grace" and "Ave Maria" at the cathedral (isn't his name something like Ronan Tyner?) sing "God Bless America" at the World Series after September 11? He looked familiar.

[jerseydevil]

It was very sad when she said her final good-bye at the burial. That was very sad. The service was beautiful at the cathedral - as I said - I especially loved what Margaret Thatcher had to say about him.

I was thinking during the burial service - I have never heard "Hail to the Chief" played so many times in a single day.

[olsonm]

I watched a little of the funeral coverage. I felt the amount of coverage was appropriate considering the enormous outpouring of affection shown by the public in the wake of his death. I was a bit too young to become attached to him as a public figure myself but he clearly touched a chord in this country.

[Lizra]

Too much recollections thru rose colored glasses for me! I remember Regan came in just as I was getting married, and it wasn't too long after that my husband lost his job at the national weather service. I was glad to see him and his jelly beans go. I always think it's sad when a past president (or anyone really ) dies, but I don't think Ronnie any more special than the others. Press overkill IMO, as is usual for this day and age. I think putting him on a coin or currency is wrong.

[jerseydevil]

I personally think that the funeral for Reagan was appropriate. He made a lot of good changes for this country, brought self respect back to this country. Something that had been severely lacking since Kennedy. I think he was one of the best presidents in the 20th century and did far more positive things for the US and the world than Kennedy did.

Presidents don't have much control who companies and businesses hire and fire. The only thing he did was stand up to the air traffic countrollers unions and to other unions and I agree with that.

[Insidious Rex]

I thought this thread wasnt for talking about the particular politics of the Reagan administration. Im pretty sure there have been a number of us here biting our tongues for the past week or so and at least one or two people have already been scolded for commenting negatively. doesnt it work both ways?

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by Insidious Rex
I thought this thread wasnt for talking about the particular politics of the Reagan administration. Im pretty sure there have been a number of us here biting our tongues for the past week or so and at least one or two people have already been scolded for commenting negatively. doesnt it work both ways?

Yes it does - I was commenting on Lizra's comments thank you very much - just like I commented with Radagast. Most of MY statement was in regards to the appropriateness of his funeral and I just pointed out that NO president really has control over who gets fired or hired by business.

Oh - and you and the others can continue to bite your tongue in this thread.

[Lizra]

How old were you when Regan was president JD?

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by Lizra
How old were you when Regan was president JD?

What does that have to do with anything?

[Ragnarok]

Has anyone heard that Reagan supporters are tyring to get Reagan on one of the dollar bills. I think it is a stupid idea, he was a decent president but I don't think he deserves his face on our currency.

http://www.showmenews.com/2004/Jun/20040609News030.asp

[Rían]

JD! *stern motherly look* What did you mom teach you about how to speak to ladies older than yourself?!?! Yes, it was not the kindest thing to say on this thread, but you can still be a gentleman.

[Rían]

Originally posted by Khamûl
I particularly enjoyed "The Mansions of the Lord" as they were taking the casket out of the cathedral.

OH, was THAT what that was? I've never heard it - but I commented to my husband that it was GORGEOUS!

I also liked the orchestration (or "band-acation?" because the band played it) of the little bit from Dvorak's New World Symphony, "Going Home", that they played as the family was going back to California.