More Reagan Memorial Observations
Category: News Commentary...
Posted Friday, June 11, 2004 at 11:50 AM [GMT-6]

  • In one of today's posts, Kevin McCullogh writes about the reaction of some liberals to what they seem to believe is the excessive to-do about Reagan's passing. Kevin includes this quote: "Some are saying we as a nation aren't mourning at all."

    That caused me to consider my own reaction and feelings. I'm not sure how I should feel or act, to be honest. I don't know how to mourn someone I never knew, except as a celebrity or politician on TV or in the newspaper. I don't know how to grieve in this situation, nor am I sure that I should.

    What I am sure of is that I hurt for his wife Nancy, even as I feel a sense of relief that an immense burden has been lifted from her shoulders. I am also sure that Mr. Reagan is now enjoying his newly healed body and mind, and I pray that Nancy is comforted by that realization.

  • President Bush's remarks were wonderful, and closed with the same sense of hope and comfort that I mentioned above.

  • I must be getting soft in my old age, but I simply cannot listen to "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" without losing it. The last verse, especially, gets to me: "In the beauty of the lilies, Christ was born across the sea; with a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me. As He died to make men holy let us die to make men free, while God is marching on."

    In recent years, this lyric has been sanitized, made politically-correct. Even my beloved "The Baptist Hymnal" titles the song "Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory," moves the last verse into the penultimate position and changes a phrase in it to read "...let us live to make men free." This is a minor travesty, in my opinion, as it sugarcoats the message that sometimes -- often -- lives are saved only when they are lost. We learned that from Jesus Christ, even as we continue to learn it on battlefields around the world where the forces for good seek to vanquish those for evil. They sang the original version today; I think Reagan would approve.

  • I can't help wondering what Pat Nixon thinks about all of this.

  • I also can't help wondering what Gorbachev and the others in attendance who are atheists (I'm making an assumption about Gorbie, of course) think about the overtly religious -- and Christian, at that -- tone to the ceremony. Do they see this as simply a quaint and solemn-but-outdated ritual, with words that are derived from ancient and respected tradition but which are lacking in real meaning or impact? I'm sure they do, even as they continue to underestimate the power that we as a people and a nation derive from the beliefs behind those words. Their ignorance and unbelief is only temporary, but the repercussions are eternal.
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Comments

"the reaction of some liberals to what they seem to believe is the excessive to-do about Reagan's passing."

Excessive to-do, huh?

I presume these are the same liberals who waged a twenty year campaign to have Martin Luther King's birthday made into a national holiday, yes?

Presidents Washington and Lincoln are forced to share a holiday even though they contributed far more to America (and to the notion of Civil Rights) than a certain rabble-rousing, plagiarist ever did.

But he gets a holiday alllll to himself, don' he?

President Reagan was a good man, and a great leader. He left the world a stunning legacy of freedom. It is right and fitting that he should be honored.

Posted by: Mr. Freen at June 11, 2004 05:51 PM

Eric, I apologize for taking so long to post this comment.

Related, perhaps, to your observation about the "sanitizing" of lyrics in some hymns, are the efforts by some to sanitize the selection of hymns, to present a more loving, less militant church.

That's why those of us who use the hymnal approved by Presbyterian Church USA can no longer find "Onward, Christian Soldiers." And that's a shame, really. A good song, steeped in history, and a reminder that with salvation comes 'marching orders' of sorts.

As for the observation of the apparently endless ceremony that preceded President Reagan's burial, it DID seem to take a while longer ... in fact, it DID take a while longer.

One reason, I think, are the days added to the process by holding additional memorial services and viewings at the presidential library - a relatively new factor in the U.S. presidential process. That, and the travel back and forth between the two locations, of course.

Reagan's funeral was one of the first to have services at both locations ... with the exception, I think, of LBJ. Over the past forty years, services for presidents have been held for the most part either at the presdiential library (Nixon) or in Washington with burial 'back home' (Eisenhower).

I suspect that the ceremonies we've observed over the past week-and-a-half (and 30 years ago with LBJ) will be the norm for future presidential funerals.

Posted by: Jeff at June 14, 2004 09:29 PM

Jeff, your comments are always welcome, regardless of timing!

Good point about "Onward Christian Soldiers." Were you aware that the Pecos High School band always closed its halftime shows with that tune? I'm not sure when they stopped doing it, but it was their signature in the 60s.

I drew a complete blank regarding Nixon's funeral. That was really the source of my comment about Pat Nixon. The comparison of Reagan's memorials and Nixon's must surely re-open a few wounds for the family. (Not that isn't good reason for the disparity, but, still...)

Posted by: Eric at June 14, 2004 10:50 PM
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