Ronald Reagan was one of the greatest presidents and one of the greatest men of all time. Only the likes of Lincoln, Washington, and Franklin D. Roosevelt can match his record. Some say he is more than human. But, after some thought, I came to realize that Reagan encapsulated what it meant to be human.
Like it or not, the human spirit resides in all of us, so wonderful and yet so appalling. Peaceful and yet violent, tolerant but hateful, and always seeking, striving, glorious, despicable, cowardly, courageous, unblushing, unashamed, bold, uncompromising, and utterly indomitable. We sometimes embrace it, sometims shun it, but we cannot rid ourselves of it, and why should we? It has propelled us through the Stone Age, through ancient times, through plagues, depressions, wars, and all manner of other crises. In Ronald Reagan and in the nation he led, we can all learn something about ourselves. Reagan--and America--are everything that is good and everything that is bad about the human race. Nations like France have tried to stifle the violent, intrepid, and uncouth side of human nature and nations like Saddam-era Iraq have tried to suppress the other side, the compassionate, peaceful, and "civilized' side. America accepts and embraces both aspects of our existence.
Some people love the way we are, some people hate it, but no one can dispute that we have accomplished great things with it. Reagan is reflected in all of us, and especially strongly in President Bush, who faces similar crises and deals with them similarly. Maybe even, after his presidency is over and after he has left his mark on our country, we will remember him with the same respect we have for Reagan.
Goodbye, Reagan. You will be missed.
