I lived in California for 15 years from 1979 to 1994. Most of that time I was surrounded with people who thought Reagan was a propped up actor-governor/president. They were openly contemptuous of him and were horrified to discover that I adored the man. It really miffed me.
Then one day one of them scoffed that I was "so normal". I didn't smoke pot or use the F word. I didn't enjoy their excessive gossip. I choked up when the American team entered the Olympic stadium. I was a history buff. I had a regular job with a big company and I visited my family often.
I could've taken it as an insult, as it was intended. Rather, I knew it was we "normal" people who responded to Reagan's optimism about the American people.
The "blue" state people are Sophisticates...too snooty to place their hands over their hearts when the national anthem is played. They think we "red" state people are corny. Reagan was corny. He loved the flag, revered the military, and respected the office he occupied. He dwelt on the greatness of America at a time when the Sophisticates preferred to mire themselves in her faults. (They still do.) He single-handedly elevated the reverence of D-Day. He reminded us that peace comes from strength. He believed in us. When he spoke of "morning in America" or that "city on a hill", it stirred our heart strings. Yes, we're corny. And Reagan was one of us.
I imagine Heaven is an even happier place than it was a few days ago.
Very nicely stated, thank you.
Great remembrance - thank you for sharing it here.
I've mentioned elsewhere on this forum that my father, who suffered a fast-acting, early onset variant of Alzheimers and died at age 69 in 1993, still was not so far gone, mentally, all the time in 1992-1993 that he didn't realize what a slime Bill Clinton was. Even then, he would say of x42, "He's not my president." Several years before, he and my mother had been invited to the White House for his work with the American Cancer Society, and they met Mrs. Reagan. How wonderful for him now to meet Mr. Reagan, too.
The Blue Snooties (Mostly men) I worked with were a strange group. They didn't have any political discussion with me, lowly sec'y, but they had no trouble telling me how horrible southern men were to women. You can imagine the look I shoot back at hearing that.
This group of 15 was the rudest, nasties, most condescending clutch of know nothings I've ever had the displeasure to work with.
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But Mae has it right, GWB carries younger vote in a bigtime! This will be their revolution against their liberal parents. :-)
You're not corny. He wasn't corny. I'm not corny. We BELIEVE in the American spirit. We BELIEVE this is the greatest country on earth (and it is). We BELIEVE in being proud of Old Glory and we BELIEVE human life is valuable and is meant for purpose. Lastly, we BELIEVE good will eventually triumph over evil and we BELIEVE we have to be part of that fight. You are welcome in my foxhole anytime, sweets (and bring your pie recipes!).
That was just beautiful and you have me in tears.