An American treasure passed from the scene yesterday. Ronald Reagan was more than the 40th President of the United States. He was the embodiment of the American spirit and faith. He believed in the United States of America and its people in a way that made Americans believe in themselves and their nation.
Reagan came to political prominence at a time when this nation was suffering from an inspirational decline. Vietnam, Watergate and the Iran hostage crisis were body blows that had all contributed to a national feeling of self doubt. Ronald Reagan entertained no such self doubt.
He didn’t doubt the American people either. In his acceptance speech at the Republican Convention in 1980, he said, “I ask you not simply to "Trust me," but to trust your values -- our values -- and to hold me responsible for living up to them. I ask you to trust that American spirit which knows no ethnic, religious, social, political, regional or economic boundaries; the spirit that burned with zeal in the hearts of millions of immigrants from every corner of the earth who came here in search of freedom.”
He didn’t believe that the land of opportunity was a just a hokey slogan. He lived it. He had achieved success from humble beginnings through hard work, perseverance and faith. Reagan didn’t consider himself to be special, merely an example of the opportunities that could be had for all in this nation.
Not only did Reagan view this nation as a land of hope for its own people. He saw this land as “the last best hope for mankind”. He knew that a strong free United States was necessary to defeat tyranny and to lead the world to a more free tomorrow.
His critics called him confrontational. The cowering fear mongers were convinced that he was going to lead us into a nuclear war. President Reagan, however, understood something that many do not. Reagan understood that projections of strength do not invite attack but projections of weakness do. As a result he was single minded in his desire to seek a strong United States that was unafraid to confront the enemies of liberty. Despite protests from his own staff, Ronald Reagan uttered one of his most famous lines using the hated Berlin Wall as a back drop.
With a force and power that could not be denied, President Reagan demanded, “ Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall”. The world was shocked. His political opponents were aghast. But the Gipper wasn’t. He knew it was right and he believed it could happen. To the surprise of the rest of the world, in a little more than two years, the Wall fell.
Ronald Reagan was no policy wonk. He didn’t absorb himself with the minutia of details. However, if you read his writings from the 1960s forward, you see the heart and mind of a philosopher poet who knew what he believed and could communicate that belief to the world. You see his faith, his courage and his clarity of vision. He used these tools to change America and to change the world.
This nation is better for having known Ronald Reagan. The world is better for having known Ronald Reagan. Goodbye Mr. President.
7 comments:
Eloquent, Steve. A beautiful tribute to possibly the BEST president ever. I'd love to post those comments to the board. You are gifted in words and deeds. Thank you for this commentary.
Lone, you have truly captured the essence of Reagan: the strength, the morality, the patriotism that were his heart and soul. I was fortunate to have been in Europe when the wall came down; when I first learned of this event, my initial response was disbelief, and then a sense of awe at the realization of such a lofty goal, that Reagan never once doubted. As an American, and as a soldier whose service began under Reagan as CIC, your initial comments are especially touching: "He was the embodiment of the American spirit and faith. He believed in the United States of America and its people in a way that made Americans believe in themselves and their nation." God bless Ronald Reagan.
Great tribute, Lone. I believe it took many years to understand what an impact Reagan's legacy was--not only for our country, but for the world.
Viva la Reagan Revolucion, my friend.
Lone, you wrote a great tribute about a man who was down to earth, had good common horse sense, had humor, loved America and it's people......Ronald Reagan.
Thank,Steve! Wonderful tribute to a very wonderful man. He was a symbol of all that is good and right in America.
He was bold and stood by his convictions! We need more men like him!
President Reagan was the first President I worked for in a campaign, I loved him and how he spoke and thought. He made me prouder to be an American than I already did, and he made me feel safe, because he was strong, he was hopeful and he did what he said he would do..I know hw will go down in the history books as one of the greatest if not THE greatest President ever..He convinced me to be a conservative, and now that he's gone, I would never disappoint him by changing my beliefs.
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