LIVE THREAD--Reagan National Funeral Ceremony: National Cathedral (6/11/04)

C-SPAN | 6.11.04

[ambrose]

LIVE THREAD--Reagan State Funeral Ceremony: Lying in State at the Rotunda (6/11/04)

[PigRigger]

"Nah. They've already formulated a response: You can see it in today's Slimes' front page "news" article...."

You are right; it is so disheartening to see such nonsense taken as truth.

Today is a very low day for me; I feel as if I have lost someone in my family. After his burial, the wolves will be unleashed; the attack from within and outside our borders will begin once again.

Over the past week I've had to deal with many of them in my office. They are so naive and ignorant to the truth; their gospel is the NY Times.

At times, the sense of hopelessness overwhelms me when I discuss politics with them; they dismiss truth with statements of anger and fury with no regard to the validity of their point. Just pure opinion, assumptions based on falsehoods fed to them from the media. It almost makes one "lose their religion" when faced with such ugly and mean spirited passion.

Asking them to research their beliefs for their own sake is met with accusations of "You are an extremist", "You are a war monger", "You are a Bible thumper". The funny thing is that I keep my religious beliefs to myself; it just bothers them that I admit to being a practicing Christian. They appear to lack any real core convictions or values they believe are worth fighting for.

It appears you are in/from NYC; I work in Manhattan. Maybe you understand what I am saying, maybe you don't. NYC is a liberal Jungle that must be experienced to be believed.

Today we bury a man I truly admired. He never lost hope for our future. He did not stumble or retreat when they went for him; he held tight to the values he so dearly believed in. He believed that citizens of this great country could do anything when given the chance. I hope that is still true; the hundreds of thousands I've seen in Washington and California, especially the young, give me hope that his spirit will still live on as we go forward during these trying times.

[BlessedBeGod]

Thanks. I wanted the best possible, and that sounds excellent.

[wolficatZ]

This is all going to be over in a few hours; glad I got to see this, even from afar. Wouldn't have missed it for the world.

[Arrowhead1952]

Tear jerker ping.

[Mo1]

Using Howlin's Live Ping list

[condi2008]

That is beautiful; what is its source? It reminds me of parts of this letter by Sullivan Ballou, a Major in the 2nd Rhode Island Volunteers (he was killed a week later at 1st Manassas):

July 14,1861
Camp Clark, Washington DC

Dear Sarah:

The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days - perhaps tomorrow. And lest I should not be able to write you again I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I am no more.

I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how American Civilization now leans upon the triumph of the government and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the Revolution. And I am willing - perfectly willing - to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this government, and to pay that debt.

Sarah, my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but omnipotence can break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly with all those chains to the battlefield. The memory of all the blissful moments I have enjoyed with you come crowding over me, and I feel most deeply grateful to God and you, that I have enjoyed them for so long. And how hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes and future years, when, God willing, we might still have lived and loved together, and see our boys grown up to honorable manhood around us.

If I do not return, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I loved you, nor that when my last breath escapes me on the battle field, it will whisper your name...

Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless, how foolish I have sometimes been!...

But, 0 Sarah, if the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they love, I shall always be with you, in the brightest day and in the darkest night... always, always. And when the soft breeze fans your cheek, it shall be my breath, or the cool air your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.

Sarah do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for me, for we shall meet again...

[StarCMC]

I saw this last night. I can't even put into words how it felt watching this young hero....

[mware]

Perhaps if they had been given the video tape of the tortured death of Bill Buckley they would have attempted to get the hostages freed too.

[TomGuy]

Those dem-wits are kind of amazing. They come on, spouting the talkingpoints, spewing the lies, and they have no real idea what they are talking about; they just parot the memo. If that lady had been challenged to back up any of her statements with facts, she'd have fallen on her face.

[ambrose]

Seminar caller on C-SPAN blaming terrorism on Reagan. Says Reagan turned Bin-Laden into a "hero"..

[wolficatZ]

 

The public viewing has officially ended..

[TomGuy]

It appears that the viewer lines have ceased.

[nicmarlo]

I thought the public viewing was to have ended at 9:00 a.m. EST???

[StarCMC]

Thanks for the ping Arrowhead...

[jacquej]

Some of us who came of age in the 60s saw through Kennedy's charm, but alas, not enough of us.

[ambrose]

I thought it was going to 9 pst??

[mystery-ak]

The c-span callers have been spewing this all morning...the talking points are out......btw...the young Marine is on c-span NOW!

[StarCMC]

CSPAN has CPL James Wright -- the MArine with the missing limbs -- on the phone...right now!

[TomGuy]

Flag superimposed over the casket scene.

[ambrose]

We're still cleaning up the mess left behind by that selfish 60s generation.