lorrie, a snippet from the Reagan piece:More broadly, Reagan was also a great force in American culture . He recalled to Americans, after the turmoil of the Sixties and the cynicism of the Seventies, after
Watergate, the hostage crisis, and the selling of declinism, their best ideals and aspirations, and energized them to step forward once again, confident that America could renew itself and meet the challenges of the times. He made people feel the noble sweep of our nation's history, and to feel, as he did, the call of destiny. It has been said that character is destiny, and he expressed the American character, which had led us to victory in the Second World
War, and to the noblest peace mankind had ever seen. He told us of an America that had fought at Normandy, and rebuilt Europe, and kept the tyranny of Communism at bay; an
America constantly struggling to live up to its ideals, but also one that has ideals of political freedom and human dignity to live up to. And we were encouraged, because he was there to rally us, to resist decline and renew the promise of America. There is no great mystery here, only a great man. |
