Reagan Library reopens to large crowds (photos)

Yahoo News Photos ^ | 6/14/04

[Wolfstar]

Inspectorette, I've only now read the entire thread and just wanted to take a moment to respond to your #25. I know what you mean. I also have been grieving as though for the loss of someone very dear to me. But that's the answer to your question. RWR was, and frankly remains, very dear to millions upon millions of people. It doesn't matter that we never knew him personally. The way he touched our lives is profoundly personal.

Think of the hundreds of millions of people in the former Soviet Union who are free today because of him. Their children and grandchildren will never experience the horrors of communism because of him. Many people have remarked that had RWR not selected his former political rival, GHWB, as his vice president there would have been no GWB presidency. So the people of Iraq and Afghanistan now have the opportunity to build free, democratic societies because of RWR's legacy.

[OldFriend]

How convenient that our local paper left out the part about how many had passed thru.......LOLO. Oh why am I shocked!!

[Wolfstar]

Responding to your #31, Dog Gone, I don't know the answer for certain. But I believe the slab over the crypt is permanent and was not moved. Unless I am mistaken, the entrance to the crypt is somewhere under the walkway surrounding the gravesite. It may not be precisely this way, but visualize it as an underground room with stairs or a ramp leading up to wherever the access point is. The room is under the huge slab, but the access point is not. It's easy enough to remove part of the concrete walkway for the actual burial, then to replace it and lay fresh sod if any grass was disturbed. If this not the answer, then the only other one is that the round slab is capable of being slid aside either hydraulically or in some other way.

[OldFriend]

Unfortunately, many in the eastern block were unprepared for the responsibilities of freedom. They didn't like the idea of having to fend for themselves. They liked the idea of a paycheck for no work.

Freedom is hard work, not everyone is suited for the pursuit of liberty and prosperity.

And think, in Russia there was no one alive who had ever lived under a democracy......not that they do now.....but you understand my point, I hope.

[Wolfstar]

Grin...keeping up with media mistakes, falsehoods and agenda-driven nonsense is beyond the scope of any one person's life. I just wish more of the general public understood just how flawed and untrustworthy the media is.

[Wolfstar]

Re your #84, I do understand your point, and agree with it.

[OldFriend]

Fortunately, a large portion of the general public doesn't read or hear the media bull-oney because they don't pay a bit of attention. The ignorance out there is startling.

In a way it's good news because it means many are going about their lives without concern for what is happening out here.

[Wolfstar]

Thanks for the reminder about the Logan Act. Back in the day way travel was much more difficult and expensive, we didn't have to worry too much about private citizens attempting to conduct foreign policy. These days, however, it seems like every two-bit politician and former politician thinks nothing of hopping on a plane to discuss all sorts of matters that would legitimately qualify as foreign policy. Most of 'em do it to try to swing trade deals for their state or locality. Jesse Jackson has done it for his owe aggrandizement. Carter, on the other hand, maliciously tried to undermine his own government numerous times.

[Wolfstar]

Sorry -- that should have been "Back in the day when..." Trying to rush before going out to lunch.

[Inspectorette]

Many people have remarked that had RWR not selected his former political rival, GHWB, as his vice president there would have been no GWB presidency

Wow - I never thought of that. Just one more thing for which we have to be thankful to him.

[A CA Guy]

Let's say we are the communist SAG group for this example.
We find we have original George Washington letters that within years could fetch numerous millions.

Do we:
A# Be gracious and donate them all to the Presidential library at no financial gain for the benefit of the nation?

OR

B# Pull a Mrs. Martin Luther King and attempt to gain personal wealth for the family or organization, and to then suck funds from for personal gain, even though you come off looking like a low class creep?

SAG is IMO much closer to answer B.

[Wolfstar]

I agree, SAG is likely to do #B, or possibly #C, hoard it to themselves so no one can ever make positive use of it to enhance public knowledge of President Reagan's life. #C appears to be what they've done for the 15 years since President Reagan left office. Either that, or we'd have to believe they've just discovered what their own article refers to as a "treasure trove" of material in their archives.

Although I have no way of knowing, it itsn't entirely impossible that their bylaws require them to maintain ownership over their own archives. By that still wouldn't prevent them from working out a long-term loan of the material to the RWR library.

Let's face it, both you and I agree that SAG is most likely to do something malicious.

[mombonn]

Having been to CA a few times, I've never felt I needed to visit again.

I may have to reconsider.

[Wolfstar]

Depends on what you enjoy doing and seeing, but California is a big state with a wide range of scenery to enjoy and activities to undertake. The Reagan library is sure to be a highlight for many people.