Posted on 06/05/2004 3:05:55 PM PDT by Jeff Head
These are my feelings at the passing of a truly great American...one that history will show whose life and service to this nation we were all tremendously priveleged to have personally witnessed.
Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) was simply the greatest President in my lifetime, and I believe the greatest President of the 1900's. Probably among the greatest three Presidents this nation has ever had.
He epitomized the traditional American spirit of positive, can-do attitude, reliance on fundamental moral principle eminating from faith in God, dedication to the principles of individual liberty and a commitment to the soveriegnty and independence of this great, free Republic we call the United States of America.
His foreign policy "brought down the wall" and curtailed one of the greatest menaces to freedom the world has ever known. Contrary to revisionist and liberals/marxists/socialists who would want to bestow some of that glory and honor on the likes of Gorby...the world knows...God knows...that it was Ronald Reagan and his drive and vision that ended that particular incarnation of the Evil Empire. History shall record it so.
His economic policy turned the misery index into a boom for American industry and into personal opportunities for growth for the individual American citizen. I lived through Carter's misery index, having gotten married as a young 22 year old during that disasterous administration...and having grown up seeing the Rockafeller Republican mechanisms before Reagan...I personally saw and lived through the unbelievable difference Ronald Reagan made.
We were proud of our nation, proud of ourselves, proud of the flag and proud to be called American citizens under Ronald Reagan. His enthusiasm was contaiguos...his optimism was inspriring and his ability to communicate and get even many who did not initially agree with him to come around to the "American" way of thinking was legend.
In some ways I feel as though a sterling light, a great shining beacon on a hill has gone out...even though his administration ended years ago.
Despite that, his influence has remained...and it is now up to us to ensure it continues.
We have several challenges in our time...the great challenge of terrorism based on Islamofascism and the even worse evil (IMHO) of one of its chief abettors and manipulators for its use against America...another evil empire in our time, the Red Chinese and those globalists who are enabling them. We also have the even more insidious challenge of the continued encroachment on personal liberty, on our national soveriegnty and independence that many enemies and sappers amongst us, within our own perimeter, us continue to foist on our Republic. They do it under many names, in the name of the UN, NGO's, globalism, choice for death, so called third ways that are nothing more or less that the way of tyrants past and present, Environmentalism, sustainable habitats that are in reality controlled habitats...and the list goes on and on. I pray we can follow in Reagan's footsteps and resolutely meet these challenge head-on as the Gipper did.
God bless and rest you Ronald Reagan...and God comfort and keep you Nancy.
You are spot on with that one my friend, he shall never be forgotten.
You are welcome.
Nicely done, Jeff.
My flag flies on a 6-8 foor pole at an angle from the front of the house and is not adjustable so I had to do a quick reqorking of it since it wasn't set up to fly at half staff. But it is now.
This loss is personal, not the least of which reason is the near despair I felt for my country after the Carter years and the constant diminishment of us, the citizenry, by the person who was supposed to lead. This President did indeed lift us up. Jeff, he gave us back the country we all loved and were losing. What greater gift?
Let's Win One for the Gipper
Notre Dame Football Coach ROCKNE:
Well, boys ... I'm going to tell you something I've kept to myself for years -- None of you ever knew George Gipp. It was long before your time.
But you know what a tradition he is at Notre Dame... And the last thing he said to me -- "Rock," he said -
"sometime, when the team is up against it -- and the breaks are beating the boys -- tell them to go out there with all they got and win just one for the Gipper. I don't know where I'll be then, Rock", he said -"but I'll know about it - and I'll be happy."
There is a hushed stillness as Rockne and the crowd of boys look at each other.
PLAYER # 12: Well, what are we waiting for?
With a single roar, the players rushed through the doorway.
I was ten when he dabated Mondale. I watched it on TV (I started following politics early in life) and I still remember the following one liners:
"There you go again."
"Some people are going to try to make age an issue in this campaign. But I will not hold my oppoonent's youth and inexperience against him."
Viva President Ronald Reagan!
The good that men do lives after them. A wonderful tribute, Jeff. Thank you.
Well done.
perfect stranger: Precious!!
Thank you Jeff for that wonderful tribute! I think the photo that you selected truly represents the spirit of the man.
God bless and rest you Ronald Reagan...and God comfort and keep you Nancy.
Amen.
Drive-by mega ping for a very worthy thread.
What a blessing he was to this country, indeed, to this world. He set the bar high and I am grateful that I was alive during his presidency.
We know that it is a blessing that he has been called Home. May he rest in peace and may God comfort his family, his friends and this country as we morn his passing.
Brings a tear to my eye.
What a man he was...a true American hero.
Okay..I am tearing up here.
Thanks Jeff.
Thanks for the ping. Already on it. Sniff!
Thank you...my few words are glaringly inadequate...at a time like this almost any words, regardless of eloqunce, are inadequate...but they are what is in my heart and the best I can utter at this time.
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