Today, Ronald Reagan would be 98 years old.
I was only 8 years old when Ronald Reagan was elected in 1980, and I was only 16 wen he left office in 1989. I wasn't what you would call an astute political observer in those days. In fact, I can't really say I was too political until the early 2000's. So much of what I know and admire of Ronald Reagan comes not from first-hand experience, but after the fact.
I guess for me what typifies Ronald Reagan is his ability to separate opposition from enemy. In the 1980's, the Soviets were the enemy, the Democrats were the opposition. Regardless of the issues, Reagan seemed to project a calm air about debate. He stood by his principles, he didn't cave to public opinion polls, but he did so without the rancor that pollutes modern public debate.
Thank you, President Reagan!
Posts
6 comments:
What a great president he was!
I think there is much wisdom that we could draw upon today from words he spoke at his first inauguaral address:
"In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. From time to time we've been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, that government by an elite group is superior to government for, by, and of the people. Well, if no one among us is capable of governing himself, then who among us has the capacity to govern someone else? All of us together, in and out of government, must bear the burden. The solutions we seek must be equitable, with no one group singled out to pay a higher price."
~ President Ronald Reagan
January 20, 1981
Wow...what insight to be gained for our current situation.
Thanks for sharing and celebrating our 40th president today!
A very nice man who spent the last couple years of his term in a fog..A great President..What??
Explain..and check this out.
http://www.quickchange.com/reagan/1986.html
Katie,
Thanks for that quote. It reminds me of a favorite Reagan joke:
"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'"
J,
I have explained my view on Reagan. I will be glad to engage in debate on President Reagan's legacy, but you have to provide more than a link and a snarky comment...
That is not what this blog is going to be about...
I think Reagan was a great President. He set the stage for the fall of Soviet Union.
"If you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here, to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall." — President Ronald Wilson Reagan, June 12, 1987
Post a Comment