The Laughing Wolf

Ronald Wilson Reagan, An Epilogue

A giant has left us, and while he left us several years ago it is still hard to have it made final. Until now we could simply think him off on a visit, and that he would return. We knew it was not true, but it was a comforting lie none-the-less. For he was a giant, and we grew used to having him shepherd us through difficult times.

Ronald Wilson Reagan was my President, on many levels. Growing up, I have memories of the aftermath of Kennedy’s murder and very vivid memories of the Johnson years. Watergate was a watershed and things went rapidly downhill from there. Jimmy Carter promised to be my president, and I even did a bit of work for the campaign, but he lied and he failed me, just as I feel he failed the country. To say that I was cynical is an understatement, and unlike many I was well aware that there were sharks and worse in the water around us. One day I may tell some of the tales, but suffice it to say that I was one crying warning in the wilderness.

When Reagan began his run, I did not give him much credence, or chance of success. Then, I began to hear things and more importantly see them. There was change in the air, and this man was serious, even when he joked. He knew what he felt was right and what he felt was wrong, and he acted upon it. He worked, and worked hard, and gave credit where it was due or where he felt it was needed.

His detractors were legion, and he did not care. His enemies were numerous and large, but he saw the size for the hollowness it was. He held his beliefs strongly and completely, and never wavered on the core. He was determined, he was as ruthless as he needed to be, and he was far more subtle than many may realize for decades. He was compassionate and caring of people, of individuals, and a strong believer in individual liberty.

For his beliefs, he and they were considered simplisme, unsophisticated, and lacking in nuance. He was the cowboy, the 800 pound gorilla, the man who would destroy us all with his ignorance. Ifni, what a laugh.

What they and many failed to realize was that he was subtle, knew his weaknesses and took care to buttress against them, and determined to do right by the country and the world. Something they missed was that he was far more interested in being a statesman rather than a politician, for statesmen look to the long-range good of the country, not short-term self-interest.

The wall was torn down, by the people he inspired and freed. The Evil Empire imploded as well, as planned. Would that more had listened to him on what needed to be done afterwards, for that failure has cost us dearly. Russia, Ukraine, Poland, and a host of other countries have the opportunities so long denied them and the start of real freedom before them because of Ronald Reagan. Nor is that the entire list of his achievements, and I say unto you that the effective military we have today we owe to this man. His achievements were numerous and diverse, and defy easy listing.

And for that he is despised by many, for he showed the bankruptcy – literal and figurative – of Socialism and the Soviet Empire. He exposed the corrupt underpinnings, philosophical and operational, for all to see, but did not stop there. No, his worst sin was that he pointed towards better things, the light of liberty and opportunity, and in so doing raised up the heads of people everywhere. No longer was the darkness quite as scary, for there were great goals to be pursued and obstacles were things to be overcome, rather than accepted.

That is his legacy, and why he is my President. From malaise to health, from limits to opportunities, from equivalence to ideals. That set him apart, that made him great, and with that he made it so that we can all be great if we follow his example. And he set one hell of an example. His detractors will continue to nibble away as much and as often as they can in the dark, but his light continues to terrify them to this day. Pick up a brand and light a torch from the light that is his memory. Shine it around you, expose the darkness and those within it for what they and it are. Hold it high as a beacon for others, and in that way honor him by striving for new heights and new goals.

That is his legacy: he held high the beacon and challenged us to go even higher. Accept that challenge, and follow his example by forging ahead despite the naysayers and all who worship the dark. For as you stand tall and raise your own beacon in challenge, you raise his higher still. Together, we can and will do this, for this is the task, the challenge, and the opportunity that he leaves us. Pick up that welcome burden, and dare to do truly great things once again.

Thank you, My President. Thank you for doing what was right, for freeing a large chunk of the world and saving us in the process. Thank you for the great things you have inspired, and simply for being you. Thank you for giving me hope that the system could work and was not beyond repair. You were not perfect, and were the first to admit it, but you did good and did the best circumstances allowed. For that I thank you, and for that I honor you. May others do the same.

-30-

Go see Steve H. who nails it yet again.
Misha has some nice words too
The Commissar has some nice words and great links too
The Dissident Frogman also has good words.
Rand Simburg pays his respects.
Adrian Warnock share words from his side of the pond as well