Mourning decorum's death (author laments casual dress at Reagan's repose)

LA Times ^ | 6.9.04

[ambrose]

June 9, 2004

THE REAGAN LEGACY Mourning decorum's death

To say that California casual was the dress code among those paying last respects to Ronald Reagan is to put it charitably.

By Booth Moore, Times Staff Writer

A president was lying in repose, but the occasion could just as well have been a Saturday afternoon at Universal CityWalk, judging from the polo shirts, shorts, Harley-Davidson T-shirts, tank tops, flip-flops and dirty white sneakers with pulled-up tube socks.

For some people these days, there is nothing they will dress up for ? not a concert at Disney Hall, a graduation, not even to pay their respects to a former head of state.

When Americans went to see John F. Kennedy's flag-draped coffin at the U.S. Capitol in 1963, women wore dresses and high heels and men donned suits.

But during Monday's procession through the Reagan library in Simi Valley, many men did not even remove their baseball caps as they paid tribute to a man who was never in the Oval Office without a coat and tie.

[PleaseNoMore]

I guess some would be surprised to open his casket and find him in jeans himself. It is possible you know.

[nanetteclaret]

Communism/socialism/liberalism requires that everyone be "equal." It discourages those who would be "better," even if it is just wearing nicer, more appropriate clothes. Fifty years ago, people tried to look as nice as they could, even if they were poor. My parents' generation (who grew up in the depression) would never think of going anywhere without a hat and gloves, or hat, coat and tie, and probably had only one of each! When the liberals subtly encouraged everyone to be casual and informal, it was an effective way to level the playing field - because now no one tried to be "better" in any way (think the last administration). On a subconscious level, people are uncomfortable about being different and now being different is looking nice and appearing as if you're trying to better yourself. This goes hand-in-hand with the liberal philosophy that there is no moral relativism and that there is no such thing as right and wrong. The socialist influence has been very subtle, and very effective. (and it makes me sad and angry!)

[Bluntpoint]

What would be funnier is finding a bumper sticker pasted to the inside lid reading:

DON'T BLAME ME, I VOTED FOR THE OTHER GUY!

[Dante3]

Rightly or wrongly, for many funeral in a broad sense refers to several parts, not just to its narrow usage.

[madison10]

It wasn't a funeral, but that said, a person could dress very casual while waiting in line & slip on a tie (guys) or a wrap-around skirt (ladies) when getting close to the door.

It was HOT, I'd not judge how a person dressed. Common sense should prevail & Mr. Reagan would probably have had it so.

Be happy people are even going.

[ambrose]

don't forget eating with elbows on the table.

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

Ronald Reagan would not go into the Oval Office without a jacket and tie. I seriously doubt that he would be wearing a cowboy shirt.

[jackbill]

I had no problem with the "dress" of those who waited in line for hours and hours. However, had I walked in there with a hat on my head, my mother would have destroyed me.

I knew better. Unfortunately, many don't.

[kcvl]

Maybe the LA TIMES should pay more attention to their lies about people like Mr. Michel Thomas instead of what people are wearing.


They called this man a liar. They questioned whether he deserved some of his medals. O'Reilly had a story about it tonight. A private investigator even checked out his story and it was all true. They refuse to apologize to him.


******

U.S. Sens. Robert Dole, John Warner Present Silver Star to WWII Veteran, Holocaust Survivor and Dachau Liberator; First Military Decorations at WWII Memorial

5/25/2004 5:14:00 PM

---

To: National Desk

Contact: Lisa-Joy Zgorski, 202-285-7396

WASHINGTON, May 25 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Former Sen. Robert Dole and Sen. John Warner are presenting World War II veteran Michel Thomas with the U.S. Army's Silver Star for valor at a private ceremony at the WWII Memorial today. Both Senators are also veterans of WWII.

Before Sen. Dole read the official citation to Thomas and a crowd of on-lookers, he offered the following: "We're here to present the Silver Star to this young man. It's taken sixty years to get here. I'm so honored to be in his presence."

Addressing Sen. Dole, Thomas said "I can think of no greater honor than to have my contribution to our common struggle recognized here today, by you, Senator Warner and French Ambassador Levitte. I am deeply moved and humbled by this gesture and immensely honored to receive this recognition from the United States of America--the nation to which I sought refuge, the country I proudly call home."

Journalists are invited to join Thomas, family and friends at a reception in his honor on May 25 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Army- Navy Club in Washington, DC (please note club dress code). .

Thomas was first nominated for this honor in 1944 for his service in the U.S. Army's 45th Infantry Division in France. The U.S. Army has just granted the award, 60 years later. Senator John McCain and U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney submitted referral letters to the U.S. Army on Thomas' behalf in September of 2003, along with the original 1944 recommendation for the award, and contemporary statements from still-living Army comrades who fought with Thomas in Europe during WWII, attesting to his bravery. Two of these WWII comrades, Dr. Theodore Kraus and Bedford Groves join Thomas today and are available for comment.

Thomas was born in Poland, and his Jewish family was murdered by the Nazis at Auschwitz during WWII. He survived two years of slave labor and deportation camps in Vichy France, then fought for two years with the French Resistance. In 1944, Thomas was attached to the U.S. Army's 45th Infantry Division, and for the following two years, he served as an Agent in the U.S. Army's Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC). He emigrated to the U.S. in 1947 and became a U.S. citizen. He now resides in New York City. Additional details of Thomas' life follow, along with his remarks from today's historic ceremony.

As a CIC Agent, Thomas was with the troops that liberated Dachau on April 29, 1945; he later went to several other concentration camps after their liberation. The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum will recognize Michel Thomas at the Museum's "Tribute to Liberators" on May 27th at noon. Thomas will also visit the Museum on May 26 at 11 AM at the invitation of museum archivists, who recently reviewed photos Thomas took at the Dachau liberation, along with his collection of other original wartime documents, and wish to begin conversations about donating these historic materials for a special Museum collection in his name.

About Michel Thomas

Michel Thomas was born in Lodz, Poland to a Jewish family with a thriving textile business. He grew up in Germany, then fled Hitler's regime for France in 1933. Thomas last saw his family in 1937. He later learned they were all murdered at Auschwitz.

During WWII, he survived two years of concentration and slave labor camps in Vichy France and narrowly escaped deportation to Auschwitz. He joined the Secret Army of the French Resistance, where he was active for two years as a commando leader. In 1943, Thomas was caught by and escaped from Klaus Barbie, the notorious Butcher of Lyon. In 1987, Thomas testified at Barbie's war-crimes trial in Lyon.

In 1944, Thomas joined the U.S. Army 45th Division -- The Thunderbirds -- in their drive through France and Germany. Thomas was nominated for the Silver Star for his bravery in combat in 1944, when he served in Combat Intelligence in the 180th Regiment of the Thunderbirds. Sixty years later, the U.S. Army awarded him the Silver Star.

In 1945, Thomas became an Agent in the US Army's Counter Intelligence Corps, (CIC). On April 29, 1945, Agent Thomas arrived at Dachau concentration camp on the day of liberation, with then- Lieutenant Colonel Wilson Gibson. Both men took extensive photographs, and Thomas interrogated and photographed the crematorium workers. Two days later Thomas captured the "Hangman of Dachau," Emil Mahl, who was subsequently convicted of war crimes. Thomas's friend, Lt. Colonel Gibson, died in 1947, in New Orleans.

In early May 1945, Thomas tracked a convoy of trucks to a paper mill outside Munich, where he rescued from destruction the Nazi Party's worldwide membership card file of over ten million members. The Nazi leadership had shipped the cards, along with tons of other important Third Reich government documents, to be pulped in the final days of the war. These documents became the heart of the collections of the U.S.-run Berlin Document Center, and were crucial in the Nuremberg war crimes trials and in the denazification of Germany. Robert Wolfe, formerly Senior Archivist at the US National Archives, has praised Thomas for his "historic contribution" in rescuing these documents from destruction.

In 1946, Thomas and his fellow CIC Agent Theodore Kraus captured a top-priority war criminal in Germany, Gustav Knittel, who was convicted of war crimes for his role in the Malmedy massacre of American POWs at the Battle of the Bulge. Also working with Kraus, Thomas posed as an SS officer, and headed a sting operation that netted a number of underground SS terrorists, who were convicted for their activities. Kraus now lives in Connecticut.

After WWII, Thomas moved to Los Angeles. He now lives in New York City. He has devoted his life to the development of superior methods of teaching and has applied his findings to create a uniquely effective language teaching system, which is now sold worldwide on tapes and CDs. He has taught many prominent persons from the entertainment world, business, and government at the Michel Thomas Language Centers, which he continues to operate from New York City.

[LoveBushLongTime]

You're right. I noticed it and couldn't believe it. People just aren't raised with the awareness of wearing appropriate clothes for certain events.

[kcvl]

She looks like a slob.

[Sandy]

Reagan would have loved every damn person here

Exactly. A snob he wasn't.

[ambrose]

I know that is considered "rude" to eat with a hat on or sit indoors, etc.

but why? how did that custom come about?

I've never really understood why anyone would want to wear a hat in the first place (excepting cowboy hats, of course)

[PleaseNoMore]

I am serious, lol. Just think, some here would demand that he be exhumed and dressed "properly" if they found out that Nancy chose "ranch wear" to bury her beloved. My son lost a great friend who raced motocross with him. Instead of a suit he was buried in his FOX gear, SHOEI helmet and Alpinestars boots all of which were muddy and stained from taking spills off his bike. It was what he loved more than anything so his family honored him in that way. Nancy may have honored President Reagan in a like manner as he was "at home" on his ranch more so than anywhere.

[CyberAnt]

I'm sorry, but I don't believe Reagan would have cared what people wore. He loved people rich or poor.

Would it be right to forbid someone a chance to pay their respects because they don't own a pair of slacks and a dress jacket with a tie ..??

This is just ridiculous!

[Bluntpoint]

I don't care what one is wearing when they pass by my casket.

I just hope they are asking God to accept me into his Kingdom and praying for enternal peace for my soul.

[kcvl]

Page Six reports today on some fashion week cattiness that even we missed:

At the L.A. Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios, designer Sue Wong barred legendary L.A. Times fashion writer Booth Moore from her show on Monday because Moore panned her clothes last season.

That wasn't the only ugliness that involved Moore. Moore's hatchet job of Lloyd Klein's show devastated that designer, an LA-based colleague of Klein told us. "He's wondering why he bothered bringing the show here," the source told us. Though Moore isn't the most popular fashionista in town--many designers complain of her aloofness--she at least brought an element of NYC-style critique rather than boosterism to show coverage.

[TOUGH STOUGH]

Oh, give me a break. How many people in today's America don't own a pair of dressy slacks, and a shirt and tie?

It has nothing to do with being rich or poor. THAT'S ridiculous!

People had far less money and on average more children, 30, 40 and 50 years ago, and they still managed to dress up.

[Bluntpoint]

I don't care what the mourners were wearing or even what Reagan was wearing.

I just want to know what he will be wearing when he rises days afterwards.

[TOUGH STOUGH]

And walked in the building right by the casket with their hats on.

Reagan was from a different generation. Were he here to see it, he might refrain from saying anything unkind, but he'd be thinking it.