Have you been watching the papers, looking at the news magazine covers at the checkstands, reading cnn.com? If so, there is no possible way you can not have heard about the passing of Ronald Reagan. It's everywhere right now, pictures, stories, photo galleries, they're even suspending US Mail delivery today for it.
Which leads me to mention my surprise at all the hoopla. Which also leads me to mention the fact that I'm sure that any even slightly critical remark about the whole thing is bound to lead to a virtual whack-the-liberal piñata lineup outside my door, which is not really what I'm going for here.
But I'll still say it: Reagan deserves attention for being a powerful and gifted communicator. I think he should be respected for the fact that he was a President who could speak in complete sentences (unlike our current President.) I like the fact that he didn't cheat on his wife or tell bald-faced lies on camera (like the President before.) It is, for the most part, true that he was a good leader for the nation (which is something, although not something extraordinary, in my book.)
But I'm wondering if we're getting a little excessive with all this talk of Reagan dimes and Reagan twenty dollar bills, Reagan TV specials, parading him around the country, holding back the mail. He was quite good. I agree. More important than a Founding Father? I'm not so sure. In fact, I'm a little surprised by the whole situation.
What is true is that he was an actor who knew how to work the camera. And he had a great, crinkly, smiley face. He helped to dig us out of the political pain of the 70s and refreshed us with his optimism. But he also took the country down into huge deficits, sponsored the whole Iran-Contra thing, came up with that whole loopy "Star Wars" plan, ran experiments in Grenada in pre-emptive warfare and called it "fighting communism" when, in fact, communism was on its last leg anyway.
So why are hundreds of thousands of people lining up to see the box that they're keeping him in? This is what surprises me: For the last ten years, no one has seemed to be too concerned about him as he suffered with debilitating disease. Now, if the news shows are any indication, they can't get enough. Where is it all coming from now? Are we in such desperate need of heroes, of someone to remind us of some vaguely better past? Are we really that lost? Or, thinking more cynically, is this all just a big media event, perfect for rounding up the Republican faithful?
I really hope not.
Also, I really hope that this would help the powers-that-be to realize that what we need around here are heroes to be proud of, in the present tense, people that don't embarrass us when we're talking to, say, Egyptians, or South Africans, or Malaysians, as I've had the opportunity to do in the last year. Some present day, real life heroes would be nice.
And, also, I'd like to say this: let's let the old man pass on in peace now. Let's nod our heads and let him go. He's had a rough couple of years and he deserves his rest.
Two more days until the Big Test. This may not be flying to the moon or building the Pyramids or giving birth to a baby, but I'm still pretty sure it qualifies as Superhuman.
