How I Made My Peace with Ronald Reagan
by: Moderate Thinking
13. Jan, 2010 
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Personality, for better or worse, impacts politics. We all have some politicians who just rub us the wrong way. We find ourselves disagreeing with everything they say, even if it holds value. I found myself with feeling this way with Rudy Giuliani during his 2008 presidential campaign. For whatever reason, I wasn't a Rudy fan. I was an effort to not dismiss everything he had to say without stepping outside of how I reacted to his personality.
On the other hand, when we like a politician, we like everything about them. We even begin to rationalize their positions to which we might otherwise be opposed. Their positions seem infallible, and “political celebrities” are born. Such figures are generally more visible, and people either love them or hate them.
In super-technological age, it is no wonder we see our politicians in a celebrity-esque light. They are seen only on the television or on the front page. They only speak before huge crowds. They no longer are accessible to the everyday citizen. They have become something more than human in our eyes.
This presents a challenge for those of us who believe in Moderate principles. When the majority views a certain politician as one of two things (i.e. the savior of mankind or as the devil incarnate) with no possibilities in between, there are few who are patient with hearing “well, I agree with some of the things he/she does, and disagree with others.”
A few months ago I was speaking with a friend who told me: “I really don't like Obama.” “Why?” I asked. While we are all entitled to such opinions, I like to dig a little deeper to see what one's true reason might be for such a feeling. After some discussion, I learned that he didn't dislike President Obama himself, per se. In reality, he wasn't a fan of the “Obama worshipers” as he called them. He couldn't help disliking the reactions of those who feel the president walks on water.
I could relate, having dealt with similar prejudices in my own life. For instance, I've always cringed a little when I hear people talking about “The Legend of the Gipper.” While Ronald Reagan is no longer with us, today you often hear ultra-Conservatives talking of the late president in hushed tones, as if referring to a sort of deity who walked the earth.
Perhaps my dislike of Reagan worship pushed No. 40 himself into an unpleasant light in my mind. Sure, was a human, subject to the same frailties that we all are. He had his share of gaffes. He was susceptible to scandal and corruption. He tried things that didn't work out so well.
At the same time, they didn't call him “the Great Communicator” for nothing. He was praised for being able to convey his ideas to the American people. He was trusting of those who worked for him, and didn't overburden himself with micro-managing the government. Some of the things he tried did work out well.
It took some effort to separate Reagan from his followers in my mind. I still disagree with many of the things he did and the positions he held. I don't know if I would vote for him if he were running today. But, I came to grow respect for him as an individual.
There will probably never be any politician with whom we share 100% equal views on every issue. In fact, there may be some with whom we disagree on many issues, yet we can still recognize their abilities and skills.
Sometimes we get just a bit too emotional when it comes to how we judge our political leaders. It doesn't mean that we should tolerate corruption, incompetency, etc. However, perhaps we are dipping our toes into the dangerous river of extremism when we either worship or loathe them with every fiber of our being.
Whether your beef is with President Obama, any of our current congressmen or women, or your local leaders, or whether you still hold a grudge against George W. Bush, Al Gore, Ted Kennedy, or Theodore Roosevelt, it might be worth taking a step back and seeing if they have any good they can bring to the table. Your don't have to love them by any means, but you don't have to hate them either.
On the other hand, when we like a politician, we like everything about them. We even begin to rationalize their positions to which we might otherwise be opposed. Their positions seem infallible, and “political celebrities” are born. Such figures are generally more visible, and people either love them or hate them.
In super-technological age, it is no wonder we see our politicians in a celebrity-esque light. They are seen only on the television or on the front page. They only speak before huge crowds. They no longer are accessible to the everyday citizen. They have become something more than human in our eyes.
This presents a challenge for those of us who believe in Moderate principles. When the majority views a certain politician as one of two things (i.e. the savior of mankind or as the devil incarnate) with no possibilities in between, there are few who are patient with hearing “well, I agree with some of the things he/she does, and disagree with others.”
A few months ago I was speaking with a friend who told me: “I really don't like Obama.” “Why?” I asked. While we are all entitled to such opinions, I like to dig a little deeper to see what one's true reason might be for such a feeling. After some discussion, I learned that he didn't dislike President Obama himself, per se. In reality, he wasn't a fan of the “Obama worshipers” as he called them. He couldn't help disliking the reactions of those who feel the president walks on water.
I could relate, having dealt with similar prejudices in my own life. For instance, I've always cringed a little when I hear people talking about “The Legend of the Gipper.” While Ronald Reagan is no longer with us, today you often hear ultra-Conservatives talking of the late president in hushed tones, as if referring to a sort of deity who walked the earth.
Perhaps my dislike of Reagan worship pushed No. 40 himself into an unpleasant light in my mind. Sure, was a human, subject to the same frailties that we all are. He had his share of gaffes. He was susceptible to scandal and corruption. He tried things that didn't work out so well.
At the same time, they didn't call him “the Great Communicator” for nothing. He was praised for being able to convey his ideas to the American people. He was trusting of those who worked for him, and didn't overburden himself with micro-managing the government. Some of the things he tried did work out well.
It took some effort to separate Reagan from his followers in my mind. I still disagree with many of the things he did and the positions he held. I don't know if I would vote for him if he were running today. But, I came to grow respect for him as an individual.
There will probably never be any politician with whom we share 100% equal views on every issue. In fact, there may be some with whom we disagree on many issues, yet we can still recognize their abilities and skills.
Sometimes we get just a bit too emotional when it comes to how we judge our political leaders. It doesn't mean that we should tolerate corruption, incompetency, etc. However, perhaps we are dipping our toes into the dangerous river of extremism when we either worship or loathe them with every fiber of our being.
Whether your beef is with President Obama, any of our current congressmen or women, or your local leaders, or whether you still hold a grudge against George W. Bush, Al Gore, Ted Kennedy, or Theodore Roosevelt, it might be worth taking a step back and seeing if they have any good they can bring to the table. Your don't have to love them by any means, but you don't have to hate them either.
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