Conservatives dream of Reagan on Mount Rushmore. Former ambassador Fred J. Eckert, a staunchly conservative former Republican congressman from New York, has worked to create an image of what Rushmore would look like with Reagan carved into it. The result can be viewed at ReaganRushmore.com. Eckert claims that, "in time," his fantasy will become reality.
But let's talk about
REAGAN'S REAL LEGACY VERSUS HIS PUBLIC PERSONA AND MYTH.
He tripled the national debt ~ but he had such CHARISMA !
He supported apartheid ~ but he was always PERSONABLE !
He backed Saddam ~ but he made us feel GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES !
He crushed workers rights ~ but he was someone you could sit down and have a beer with .
Stars wars turned out to be an expensive fantasy ~ but he had that INFECTIOUS OPTIMISM !
He backed death squads throughout Central America ~ but he always looked for the best in everyone.
He looked the other way when Salvadoran allies raped American nuns ~ but he had that SELF-DEPRECATING HUMOR !
He confused old movies with foreign policy ~ but he was always QUICK WITH A JOKE !
He traded arms for hostages and diverted money to drug- running death squads ~ but he never lost his SUNNY DISPOSITION !
Eckert's fantasy has met the REALITY of the REAL Ronald Reagan legacy.
Let's leave Rushmore alone with its four legitimate giants of our Republic's history .
Allen L Roland
Freelance Online columnist Allen L Roland is available for comments , interviews and speaking engagements ( allen@allenroland.com )
Allen L Roland is a practicing psychotherapist, author and lecturer who also shares a daily political and social commentary on his weblog and website allenroland.com He also guest hosts a monthly national radio show TRUTHTALK on www.conscioustalk.net
