Reagan, Race and Remembrance on
the Great Divide
by Tim Wise
This is the twisted psychosis of growing up privileged, as a member of the dominant group: a group
that must view their nation as fair and just, as a place struck off by the literal hand of God, as a place where ”average” guys
like Ronald Reagan can become ”great leaders.” As a place where an ”aw shucks” smile, and a profound lack of knowledge about
the details of public policy — or even the names of foreign leaders — is not only not cause for embarrassment, but yet another good
reason to vote for someone; where refusing to read up on important policy details prior to a key international meeting so one can watch
The Sound of Music on TV, is seen as endearing rather than cause for a recall.
This is why we get people like George W. Bush, for
those who haven’t figured it out yet. Oh sure, vote fraud and a pliant Supreme Court help, but were it not for the love affair white
Americans have with mediocrity posing as leadership, things never could have gotten this far.
It’s why a bona fide moron like
Tom Delay can brag about not having a passport (because, after all,
why would anyone want to travel abroad and leave ”Amur’ca,” even for a day) and not be seen as the epitome of a blithering
idiot, and why he could probably be elected again and again in thousands of white dominated congressional districts in this country,
and not merely in Texas.
Village Voice: Nation: Press Clips: Das Rongold by Richard Goldstein
Reagan’s funeral as a Wagnerian opera.
And every other
piece of news was pulled into the funeral’s magnetic orb. Ray Charles’s death was dealt with by working his rendition of ”God Bless
America” into the soundtrack. That was a deeply ironic flourish in an almost lily-white — and for that matter, masculine —
occasion. Women may have a place on the battlefield, but they can’t be trusted to carry the Great One’s coffin or handle the flag that
drapes it. Manly shoulders must bear him to his rest. (Mohammed Atta, who stipulated in his will that no women attend his funeral, would
have understood.)
of Former President Reagan