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Nancy Reagan got shown some love today from President Obama after a perceived diss regarding the former first lady and a strange attempted joke about her affinity for séance.
I love sweet old ladies as much as the next polite late-generation-x guy, but it annoys me to no end how in the George W. Bush–and Post-Dubya–era we go out of our way to allow deification of Reagan on both sides of the political spectrum. Ronald Reagan was in every way oblivious to interdependence and an enemy to the poor. I don’t want to see Nancy snubbed, but I have no problem with snubbing her hubby’s legacy morning, noon, and night.
Why do we treat him with such dignity? I mean why do we remember him as
a great leader (obviously, all humans should be treated with dignity)?
I don’t know too much about Nancy’s legacy, but her husband does not
deserve the romanticized accolades he receives, from Obama and others.
I think the right-wing spin machine won another battle, the battle to
wrap an awful Reagan legacy in cotton candy. Sorry Nancy , you may be a
sweet lady, but you were married to a really harmful president, and
there’s no reason to pretend otherwise.
posted June 3, 2009 at 2:03 am
I was under the impression this site was about religion. This pertains to religion how? I believe there are times and places to vent about things that don’t matter, but a religious site (in my humble opinion) is not one of those places. How very Buddhist of you.
posted June 3, 2009 at 8:18 am
Hey Orly,
Well, this blog is about applying a Buddhist worldview to politics, culture, art, current events, and Buddhist practice. We talk politics all the time
In my humble opinion, Buddhism is not a religion, for a multitude of good reasons. But even if it were, why would religious blogs be precluded from talking about how bad a president Ronald Reagan was?
Hope you come back and keep commenting.
posted June 3, 2009 at 10:36 am
This is a great article on how the right wing spin machine did it:
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1832
I don’t think Obama has given Reagan too many props though.
posted June 3, 2009 at 8:28 pm
I think this is just a matter of having a bigger view.
Reagan is all gone now. True he did some damage but what’s done is done. We can’t change the past and all that remains now is a wise widow who can give good insight into the man and to his presidency.
At some point a good leader understands the importance of building a bridge despite the differences. To hold on to ones position too tightly would become bitter and risk a chance for an opportunity to change and improve a difficult situation.
By showing hospitality Obama shows his richness, his confidence and in doing so he shows other’s that he’s faithful to his promise of uniting americans. Then he can go about correcting the damage that Ronald made.
As for the Republican spin factor – it’s there, it’s always there and it will always be there but despite that we still have President Obama. Now that is a King.