We won one for The Gipper: Doug Powers says nation was a powder keg of appreciation

There's not much that can be said after the events last week celebrating the life of Ronald Reagan, other than "wow."

The processions, the dignitaries, the bands, the military, and the memories all fit together perfectly. There were a few protesters, as could be expected. At first it struck me as repugnant, the very idea of protesting during a funeral, but then the optimism and wit that filled Reagan spilled over and softened my opinion. It occurred to me that, if Ronald Reagan was told that there were a few protesters near his funeral, he'd have said something along the line of, "Well, I was hoping that everybody would protest my passing."

The events were all finely tuned and respectful, but sometimes, it's the quiet moments that really bring it home. Last Thursday night, I was transfixed for well over an hour by what, in theory, should have been incredibly boring television. It was everything but.

C-Span was airing coverage of people silently filing past President Reagan's flag draped casket. That's it. No bands, no marching, no dignitaries, no commentary, no sound-- and yet it was the fullest, most interesting and memorable programming I've ever witnessed.

The scene was eerily silent, but the respect displayed by the military guards and those slowly walking by was deafening. There was not a peep to be heard. I was awe-struck by the utter stealth of the continuous stream of thousands and thousands. A pin drop would have sounded like a firecracker. Somehow, even children knew to be quiet, which is a magical atmosphere indeed, and one I'd thought impossible until that evening.

But that was Reagan-- The successful combination of a reach for the seemingly unattainable, with the pursuit of goals that may have been deemed as unrealistic, was his recipe for whipping up a fresh batch of America.

During all the events, the media, of course, were there, and usually very gracious. For many in the media, the respect on display was genuine, but it obviously pained some to the core to have to carry through with the "when in Rome..." approach to Reagan and his mourners. Chances are that, this week, there are a lot of anchors, producers, and writers who are having exorcisms performed, showering with a Brillo pad, and burning their clothes. Reagan would have gotten a kick out of it.

Why do we love Reagan so much? I first voted for him in 1984 (a small part of the reason is that I didn't want to be known for the rest of my life as, "The guy who voted for Mondale"). Reagan got my vote because he came across, at least to me as an 18 year old, as the father figure to a nation that had spent the better part of a decade as orphans, abandoned and left for dead by Vietnam, Watergate, malaise, stagflation and disco.

Sure, his presidential years had some setbacks. Reagan was shot for nothing more than some unbalanced bubble-wrap brained, uber-nerd's attempt to impress Jodie Foster. Reagan lived, Hinckley was sent off to "Our Lady of Swatting at Imaginary Flies" hospital for a few decades, and Foster never called him. Another evil plan thwarted by Reagan.

There were many setbacks, but even more successes-- Culminating with what Reagan will be remembered for best in the history books.

The Great Communicator headed up "Extreme Makeover: Eastern Bloc Edition", and presided over the collapse of the Berlin Wall-- a demolition which rippled right on through to Moscow, ending in the implosion of the Soviet Union. What Reagan left behind for us pales in comparison to what he didn't leave behind.

Those who knew President Reagan said that he was impossible to dislike. His presence was disarming. When he was in a room, there was very little mean spiritedness or nasty bickering, and plenty of chuckles, stories, and a heartfelt expression of Reagan's opinion.

Reagan had been ill for ten years, and all through that time, the nation was a simmering powderkeg of appreciation and adulation, just waiting to blow--last week, it went off.

The throngs who lined the streets at the processions, a hundred thousand visitors to the library and Capitol Rotunda, those who waved flags and wiped tears, those who crowded churches across the nation in remembrance, and those who sat at home talking to their children about a great president, all made it a celebration to remember. Somewhere, Reagan was looking down, grinning, and tipping his cowboy hat to us one more time.

Last week, we won one for The Gipper-- and that's all he ever asked. What a perfect farewell.

May I offer for further reading:

Click on this picture:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1148235/posts?page=116#116

Ronald Reagan Passes- some links...
various FR links | 06-05-04 | The Heavy Equipment Guy

"The scene was eerily silent, but the respect displayed by the military guards and those slowly walking by was deafening. There was not a peep to be heard."

Wonderful article... touched on what I have been feeling and unable to communicate to anyone unless they had watched at least one hour of C-SPAN. I was very moved by the utter tenderness and respect of the military's every move. The bow of the head when laying the casket to rest on a bier. The pace of the honor guard as they approached and departed the rotunda. The riderless horse. The voices singing in prayer. The Battle Hymn of the Republic sung so slowly as to really hears the words, "... and we will die to make men free...". Did you hear that world! Americans die to make all men free... that means you. Don't complain about our "boys" over there; they are men and women who volunteered, with pride, to join an organization whose members will die to make men free.

God bless America... the America most of us hope is still really there.

I was never prouder of my fellow Californians (we take a lot of abuse) than I was Friday as hundreds of vehicles stopped on busy - on a Friday evening yet! Hwy. 101 Southbound as the funeral procession passed in the Northbound lane, got out of their vehicles and saluted this great man.

The awesome silence in the Rotunda for hours upon hours was incredibly poignant.

For a nation wrenched by constant negative programming over the last months/years, this week indeed was a peaceful respite full of symbolic meaning.

I think it took many by surprise.

The events were all finely tuned and respectful, but sometimes, it's the quiet moments that really bring "Last Thursday night, I was transfixed for well over an hour by what, in theory, should have been incredibly boring television. It was everything but."

"C-Span was airing coverage of people silently filing past President Reagan's flag draped casket. That's it. No bands, no marching, no dignitaries, no commentary, no sound-- and yet it was the fullest, most interesting and memorable programming I've ever witnessed."

I watched hours of this happening.I've never seen anything like it. I think that they would still be doing it if they could.I feel that the Gipper's visiting admirers would have numbered in the millions if time had allowed.Incredible and touching to say the least.

It occurred to me that, if Ronald Reagan was told that there were a few protesters near his funeral, he'd have said something along the line of, "Well, I was hoping that everybody would protest my passing."

Coolest quote of the week. Makes me feel better about the whole motley bunch of protesters.

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