Ronald Reagan was a Human Being

[Mattforclark]

You are a human being. I am a human being. Saddam Hussein is a human being. Hitler was a human being. Stalin was a human being. Mother Teresa was a human being. "Doctors without Borders" workers are human beings. It's statistically likely that a six year old girl was killed in a car crash today - also a human being. We are all human beings. Let that be enough to prevent you from rashly saying, "I am glad that X is dead."

But be glad that Ronald Reagan's suffering has ended, for he and his family suffered. My grandfather died of Alzheimers a few years ago. Do you know anyone who has died of Alzheimers? Does Nancy Reagan deserve it? Do Reagan's children deserve it? Does Ronald Reagan himself deserve it? I say emphatically no. No one deserves it. Who takes gladness in suffering?

By all means, you justifiably can be overjoyed that Ronald Reagan cannot inflict his policies upon the earth, or cause suffering in others. I am certainly overjoyed at that. But Reagan could not harm anyone yesterday, when he was alive. He could harm no one five years ago, nor ten. Would it not be better that he had not suffered from Alzheimers, and yet would not have been able to inflict suffering on others?

I was one of those who celebrated the capture of Saddam Hussein. However, if he is executed, or when he dies, I will not celebrate his death. Even if you think that Reagan was as bad as Saddam Hussein, Hitler, or even worse, you should not be pleased that Reagan is dead. Do not confuse please in death with pleasure in knowing that Reagan could not hurt others anymore, for the time when Reagan could not harm others has long since come.

I am not old enough to remember the presidency of Ronald Reagan. But I can sure remember the presidency of our current president, Bush. Yet though I vehemently disagree with next to everything that he has done, I will not rejoice the day he dies. Because he is a human being.

So revel not in Ronald Reagan's death. Revel only in the release from agony that his death is, as is the death of anyone who has suffered from Alzheimers or a host of other similar diseases. And pity his survivors for their grief.

And that's all I've got to say about that.

[kiahzero]

1. Elegantly said.

Kudos.

[King Coal]

71. Piss on him.

[kiahzero]

74. Somewhat LESS elegantly said.

:eyes:

[Zinfandel]

2. A human being, was he? Or an imperialistic corporate insect?

[DarkPhenyx]

4. Human being.

You on the other hand............

[Zinfandel]

10. WRONG...just look at the facts...His policies killed. Destroyed and ruined

peoples lives...Sentimentally aside. Easy for one to forget.

Facts can't be manipulated because of a death...People want and need to hear the facts...His death is immaterial to what needs to be reminded...He died a long time ago...

Where are you going to hear it, certainly not from the corporate media your watching.

The man was a wicked, cold-hearted, lying old fool.

Can you dispute this?

[DarkPhenyx]

12. All of that...

...dosen't make him not human.

[Zinfandel]

14. How do you know this?

[DarkPhenyx]

18. That he was human?

Well, lets see. Upright bi-ped. Forward looking bi-nocular color vision. Distinct absence of body hair. Vocolizations that are normally defined as human speech. Several other traits that I'll not list for the sake of brevity.

All of the above would place him solidly in the classification Human.

[Demonaut]

17. So in short you are saying he was "Evil"?

that,I dont really believe. Ignorant and shortsighted, terribly misguided yes, that I believe.

[Zinfandel]

20. To allow ones self to be "Ignorant and shortsighted, terribly misguided"

well, perhaps I crossed a very fine line.

Don't believe so.

[Mattforclark]

22. Even if he was "evil"

he was still a human being.

[RapidCreek]

34. So what?

I owe him something because he was human? Why?

RC

[Skittles]

53. I disagree

he was evil to the core. You don't think he supported the crap is handlers pulled?

[Demonaut]

54. less so than the current resident, he did not have the history

nor attitude of *

[Skittles]

56. Reagan was an ACTOR

not a good one, but still an ACTOR.

[Walt Starr]

70. Hitler's policies killed millions, but Hitler never pulled the trigger

Does that make Hitler ignorant, shortsighted, and terribly misguided instead of evil?

[Shopaholic]

72. If you aren't old enough to remember his presidency. . .

then you need to shut the F up because you don't know what he was like and you can't possibly imagine how bad those years were.

[DjTj]

3. Very well said...

...Today is not the day for everyone to go spouting off about Reagan. We have had some 15 years to do that already, and we can do it for all eternity.

Today, a man died from a terrible disease, and nobody deserves such ill will at the news of his pasing.

[KG]

5. mmmmmm.........nah

i think i'll continue to slam the fascist pig, just the way i did when he was alive.

[Mattforclark]

8. By all means "slam the fascist pig"

Do that all you want. Do that forever. Just don't rejoice in the death of a fellow human being. Do you see the difference between those two things?

[Walt Starr]

16. No, I don;t see the difference

Mind if I piss on the evil fuck's grave a bit more?

Actually, I'll do it anyway whether you mind or not.

[Mattforclark]

25. Then the difference is

the difference between saying, "you are a terrible person" or "you have done some terrible things" and "I hope you die."

There are important contextual differences between the two.

[Walt Starr]

28. It's kind of meaningless to say you hope Reagan dies, now isn't it

I mean, the evil fuck is dead, so hoping he dies is nothing more than a bit of redundancy.

[Forkboy]

32. How about

I hope he's resurrected and dies again!

:evilgrin:

[Walt Starr]

55. That would only be a good thing

if he had to endure at least 100 years of agonizing pain before dying again.

[RapidCreek]

36. No I don't

So what if he was a human being? What the fuck does that have to do with anything?

RC

[imax2268]

6. kicking

:kick:

[Raskolnik]

7. I agree with you.

When my hero Paul Wellstone died a few years ago, the progressive liberal movement lost someone who they viewed as a champion and an icon. Some conservatives took the opportunity of his passing to mock his ideals and score cheap political points at his expense. They were terrible people for doing so.

Some conservatives, however, simply stated that although they disagreed with many of his political decisions, Wellstone was a man of his principles and at the moment it was simply a time to mourn a human being's passing and give condolences to his family. In particular, Rush Limbaugh showed restraint and behaved appropriately (surprisingly enough).

My question to those here at DU is this: if we can't be at least as good as that piece of garbage Limbaugh, what good are we? I LIKE being able to categorize liberals as the more humane and generous political group. I don't want to give people reason to doubt that.

I am NOT asking people to forget Reagan's many ill deeds. History will remember him appropriately, I believe. However, there is a time and place for attacking a man and his politics. The day of his death is not that day. We do ourselves and our cause a disservice when we descend into this kind of childish, ghoulish gloating at a man's death.

[ZCFlint05]

9. Amen.

Anyone who wishes death upon anyone is just as bad as a murderer. Ronald Reagan had horrible policies, and wasn't an amazing President. It doesn't mean he deserves this end. No one does. To wish this end upon ANYONE shows me just how poorly the human race is coming around.

[BeFree]

27. Maybe if he had showed the kind of compassion..

..that a decent human has, he wouldn't be getting slammed like he has been?

The man is dead, but his policies live on still doing damage to the country, indeed, the whole world.

Really, the man is just one of thousands to have died today. Just happens this one is one who could have done a lot of good for the world, but he didn't. Maybe future leaders, seeing the way RR's failures are being discussed today will take notice and decide to work so that when he/she dies, DU will truly feel a loss?

Isn't it a shame RR has barely gotten a mention of sadness from some of his former subjects? Tells ya something about the man, don't it?

[Forkboy]

11. Yeah,an evil fucking human being

[Skittles]

21. exactly

I'm being tired of being told I should be compassionate towards that piece of human garbage.

[Forkboy]

29. people are falling over themselves today

to be the highest of the high horse riders :crazy:

[Skittles]

52. Lordy Forkboy - I have yet to hear IRAN CONTRA

they are whitewashing that bastard no end.

[Lou_C]

33. Thank You

Garbage is too good of a name for him.

He is in hell tonight!

[Union Thug]

13. blah.. yuck... Reagan was a bastard...

and the world is better off without him. Good riddance, gipper.

[Mattforclark]

19. The world is not better off without him, it is better off with him

not being President any more. That happened, what, 16 years ago?

But how is the world better off today, now that a helpless and harmless old man is gone, as compared to yesterday? What possible improvement is there from today to yesterday (not from 1981 to today)?

[Union Thug]

24. Because...

You're right.. if he were alive today he still would be suffering, and I'd rather see the bastard suffer than get off easy with the grim reaper gig.

Geezus..

[Forkboy]

30. "What possible improvement is there"?

He's DEAD!!!!!!!

[playahata1]

47. Reagan was responsible for the current gang of criminals

occupying the White House. He was responsible for the anti-woman, anti-choice fundigelicals who want to force their religion on everyone else. He is responsible for unions not being as powerful as they once were. This nation is still feeling the effects of his words and deeds, his policies and actions.

[Walt Starr]

15. Coulda fooled me

I figured him for one of the pod people.

:shrug:

[Angelus]

23. Yeah, he was a human being...

but he didn't treat others like human beings. Why should we treat him any differently?

[playahata1]

31. THANK YOU!

I have been trying to get this across this evening, and now this morning. What will it take for some people to see this?

39. Why should we treat Reagan better than he treated others? Easy.

Because we are better than he was. If we are not, if our politics all come down to the same level as the Repukes, then why do the Democrats deserve to guide this country?

What makes us any better than Reagan?

He's dead. god rest his soul, and may he find a better world than the one he helped create.

[Bluzmann57]

64. Something my mother taught me a long time ago...

Two wrongs don't make a right. Just because one person is an asshole doesn't mean I have to be. RIP Reagan and may God have mercy on your soul. He will need it because in the Christian concept, he's going to be in hell for eternity. Thats still no reason to treat him like a piece of shit. How about a moratorium on all Reagan talk?

[Oddman]

26. Reagan wasn't evil

He was a misguided, uninvolved, sock puppet of a president. He was certainly one of the worst presidents we have ever had (though not as bad as bush). He was pretty ineffectual and wrecked havoc on our economy. He did not accomplish much and hurt our country far more than helped it. It is because he was affable that he is remembered by some as a good president.

Revisionism is very popular with Republicans nowadays.

[Virginian]

35. I have something nice to say about Ronald Reagan.

He had great taste in jelly beans.

My mother tried to teach me:
"If you can't say something nice about someone, don't say anything at all."
"Don't speak disrespecfully of the dead."

I haven't always been able to follow her words and example, but it is a good goal to strive for.

[Philostopher]

37. HIs suits always fit him nicely.

I think I get what you're saying, Virginian.

And other than to say my deepest sympathies to his son (Ron, Jr. I mean) -- who is, let's not forget, one of us, or at least not one of 'them' and because I know what it feels like to lose your father -- this is the first and last post I'll make about any of this because there isn't much else kind, or nice, or sympathetic I can say. In honor of my father -- who despised Reagan with every fiber of his body, and who is also gone -- I won't say anything about Ron Junior's dad I wouldn't want said about mine.

[Virginian]

50. Yes, he wore his clothes well.

I no longer have parents. I was very sensitive for the first year or so after each of their deaths. Cried a lot. I wouldn't want to cause anyone more suffering than losing a dear one already causes.

[Jose Diablo]

59. Well I'm here to tell ya

He gave Jellybeans a bad name.

[WindRavenX]

38. Well said

I, too, was born in his second administration. I know from my history and simply from reading about his policies that he was a horrible, horrible man that had terrible policies.
That still doesn't mean I am happy he suffered. Perhaps it is ironic, perhaps he deserved it, but I don't care. I do not want to take joy in his death because when you do, you yourself become less of a human being.

[Cat Atomic]

40. Well, I DO remember Reagan's presidency.

And I think all this self-righteous sympathy for Reagan is extremely misplaced.

[mitchum]

41. A vile human being

He was a stupid and destructive man

[DEMVET-USMC]

42. Reagan re:Kent State:"If there is to be a bloodbath let it be now"

Kent State is the famous incident where 4 unarmed anti-war protesters were shot to death by National Guardsmen. This info provided by"genius" and confirmed by other Californians as that statement became a bit of a campaign issue to no avail as he won the Election.My feeling about Reagan after learning that is I DON`T CARE AND GOOD RIDDANCE . ...Oscar

[yelladawg]

43. No tears for him

I've felt for years that on the day of his funeral I'd celebrate with a toast of some really good Tequila and I have. Do I celebrate death, no. I'll cry for the gooks I killed in Nam before I cry for Reagan.

[Rabrrrrrr]

44. Oh, he was human, I don't deny that. But he was a shitty one.

And I have no problem saying that.

[Kimber Scott]

45. I agree with you. The hateful posts on this board are really turning me

off. I wish there was a "Moderate's Underground." The more I hang around here, the more moderate I become. Radical ideology and hate suck no matter what direction they come from - the right, or the left. (I, too, really, really dislike Bush, but would never wish him dead. It really does seem some people here would rather kill Bush and sanctify Saddam. BTW, I don't wish Saddam dead either. I don't believe in the death penalty and I don't believe in rejoicing in anyone's death under any circumstances.)

I used to learn a lot from this forum. The quality of the posts seems to have plummeted dramatically since I've started reading them. (Which really hasn't been that long - six, eight, months, or so.) Maybe, it's me? I'm not quite ready to sing my swan's song. When I am, I won't sing it. I'll just go. I'm afraid DU has little to offer me anymore. Maybe, I've just outgrown it. We shall see... Today, has really left me with a bad taste in my mouth.

[leftyandproud]

46. boy, the FReepers are really coming out tonight!

Raygun deserves no sympathy...none

[Forkboy]

48. I thought the great "unmasking" was going to be on election day

but the poor souls are so sad they can't seem to wait :)

[LandOLincoln]

51. Yeah, and they're all pretending to be lefties,

the better to drag the DU down to Free Republic level as to number of posts by testosterone-addled pimple-popping adolescent morons.

[sleipnir]

49. An incarnation of Satan is not human.

It's karma that he got the end that he deserved. Oblivious to those who care about him, because he was oblivious to the world and humanity. His end is the start of a new beginning.

[buycitgo]

57. so was Caligula

[ElsewheresDaughter]

58. Did vanity force Reagan to dye his hair? ......

Can you be that old and not have any gray?

[devinsgram]

60. I have been reading these threads all day

and I have one thing to comment about.
NEWSFLASH: The man was 93 years old. The average male lifespan is 63.9 years, he had 30 more years than the average male. If most of us here (male and female)live for 93 years, I would consider us quite fortunate. Of course, if * makes it for another 4 years, we can probably kiss our a__'s goodbye very soon.

[Kickin_Donkey]

61. Reagan wasn't a human being ...

Oh sure he had two legs, two arms and a head, but that head was devoid of intellect, empathy and decency for human beings – the traits of a real human being..

I'm not happy that he's dead, I'm completely indifferent to his passing. He was "gone" a long time ago, anyway. Good riddance.

But I am getting sick and tired of the thought police made up of sanctimonius, holier-than-thou, milquetoast DUers telling the rest of us how we should think and act with regards to the death of scum like Reagan. You self-righteous types are always telling the Democrats to unilaterally disarm, turn the other cheek, be better than them, which is why we keep getting run over like Poles in 1939.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

62. n/t

Unnecessary.

[robbedvoter]

63. The problem I have with this is that you presume to tell me how to feel

And that's self-righteous and full of shit in itself.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

65. Nice thoughts, but haven't we turned enough cheeks to the GOP?...

How many times do we bend over and make nicey-nice to the same people that are trying to run us into the ground??

When you stated the following, "I am not old enough to remember the presidency of Ronald Reagan. But I can sure remember the presidency of our current president, Bush. Yet though I vehemently disagree with next to everything that he has done, I will not rejoice the day he dies. Because he is a human being", you lost me totally.

You do whatever you want to do, but don't tell ME what to do or how to think! I've had enough of that bullshit from the Rightwing Republicans, and I sure as Hell am not going to take it from a fellow Democrat!!

If I want a frickin' SERMON, I'll go to a frickin' church!!

[usregimechange]

66. Amen

"You are a human being. I am a human being. Saddam Hussein is a human being. Hitler was a human being. Stalin was a human being. Mother Teresa was a human being. "Doctors without Borders" workers are human beings. It's statistically likely that a six year old girl was killed in a car crash today - also a human being. We are all human beings. Let that be enough to prevent you from rashly saying, "I am glad that X is dead."

[cmf]

67. Well, I know what it's like to lose a family member to that disease

And unlike Ronald Reagan, my grandmother died in the crappy nursing home that my parents could afford. I think of her. His death also reminds me of the thousands who have died in agony from AIDS. I think of their families and loved ones.

Him having been a human is the only thing keeping me from dancing on his grave. I won't do that to anyone. However, I don't have pity for him or his family. I just don't. Sorry. If that makes me cruel and heartless, then so be it.

[TheWizardOfMudd]

68. Ronald Reagan was a Human Bean

[RetroLounge]

69. "Ronald Reagan was a Human Being" ???

Sorry, you got a link for that?

RL

[oddtext]

73. A TRIBUTE

A MOMENT TO REMEMBER A HERO'S PASSING

Ronald Reagan, or Mr. President as we all called him, would not
have found himself entirely comfortable with the deserved praise
with which we render his beloved memory now.

The Gipper always found time to admire the power in others--he
had little time to give in to the pomposities of power.

And he still teaches us a thing or two about dignity. Did he
complain about the difficulties he faced in his advancing years?
Not according to those who knew him best. He still managed to
carry pride where it was needed, even in the worst of times.

He stood proud even once a day, when he would stare into the
setting sun, lean forward, and defecate into Nancy's patiently
awaiting hands. Jokingly he would always try to press his nose
into his steaming wastes, but Nancy, ever his watchful guardian,
would gently elbow him into the closet while she cleansed
herself.

Would he recognize the world he had made? A world free of
communism, a world in which the middle east was made secure and
stable, a world in which no terrorist would ever threaten US
soil? Would he recognize a country in which all worked for good
wages and jobs stayed here instead of fleeing to warmer climes?

Doubtful. No, this heroic everyman would instead by now have
laughed and continued putting his penis on the doorbell.

You and I may regret his passing, but Ronnie, on the other hand
knew how to turn a sharp comment away with well-chosen humor.
When one of his many visitors would ask him how he was, how he
was feeling, he would respond, with a smile, "Roka, muh muh feh,
tatataa, owowowoooo."

I think we all know what he meant. Godspeed, O Captain, My
Captain.