Ronald Reagan has died. Everyone will have his own memories of the man, and reaction to his passing. I am deeply saddened, but feel a powerful urge to celebrate the man and his magnificent achievements.

Like many other people, Ronald Reagan took office with me a Democrat, but had me a Republican by the time he left office. He set out, forty years before the fact was accomplished, to bring down Communism. You can argue about who defeated the Nazis. Maybe it was Churchill, maybe FDR, maybe Stalin. But Ronald Reagan ended the evil empire.

I think it very likely that his reputation will continue to rise. In fact, it is quite possible that his death will alter the political climate in the United States just a bit for the better. Reflection on the man and his accomplishments may well steel the resolve of the American people to press on in the War on Terror, just as we did in the Cold War.

The civilized tradition that we follow in the West is to speak well of the dead, at their passing. I wonder if the frenzied Bush—haters will follow the tradition? After all, it was Reagan who unleashed the conservative tide which has swept America, and driven many Democrats from office, making 'liberal' a term which is shunned even by liberals. In so many instances, they have not been able to help themselves from spewing crude and hateful rhetoric. Perhaps they will even further disgrace themselves, on the occasion of the passing of one of the greatest Presidents of all time.

Posted by Thomas  06 05 04