Cause Célèbre

[nfotxn]

Ronald Reagan is dead. But let's not get all revisionist about history. He allowed a lot of Americans with AIDS to die because of his views. His first lady caused a lot of harm to people dealing with addictions because of her views.

A mediocre politician died today. This is not a cause célèbre.

Comments

[callingzero.livejournal.com]

There were already rumours online this morning that this was expected to happen "soon" as in over the next few days or weeks, but maybe it had already.

It already seems that the media eulogies are designed almost as ads for the Republican Party. How convenient.

Cause Of Death

[digibob.livejournal.com]

He was only 93 -- I guess the booze, drugs, and unprotected wild sex finally did him in. *sigh*

[bigmacbear]

I'm tempted to (mis)quote Bette Davis' remarks on the demise of Joan Crawford:
"The bitch is dead!"
"Surely, Miss Davis, you can say something good of the dead?"
"The bitch is dead. Good."

[cub4bear.livejournal.com]

The only bad thing about Reagan's death is that he won't be alive to suffer any more.

The man was a disgusting pig. Good riddance.

[teljanin.livejournal.com]

I second that good riddance

[darke.livejournal.com]

And we find something to agree on 100%.

[rockwater.livejournal.com]

I need to watch the news more.

[profundis.livejournal.com]

This is for Brodie, so I might not read or respond to comments from others. I'm interested to see what you have to say about this, Brodie.

If you would, please explain to me some of the harm Nancy Reagan caused to addicts. At length if possible, or just direct me to some hard facts.

Also, please elaborate on how Reagan allowed Americans with AIDS to die because of his views. Be as specific as possible, or again, direct me to some hard facts.

Thanks!

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

In his own autobiolgraphy "Dutch" author, Edmund Morris, writes that Reagan once said of AIDS, "Maybe the Lord brought down this plague," because "illicit sex is against the Ten Commandments." He had contempt for the people who first suffered. It was not until heterosexuals and the population at large started to suffer that the funding came. I don't think there is much question here that the Reagan Administration acted poorly on behalf of Gays and Lesbian Americans in a time. He didn't start on the problem until 1988 when antidiscrimination laws started to come up in the house. Even then he was reluctant to endorse them.

Nancy Reagans war on drugs was absurdist, unrealistic and harmful because it took away infrastructure from addicts, stigmatized drug use and only drove more hardened criminals into the distribution of illicit substances. Studies time and time again show that harm prevention and reduction is what makes difference in peoples lives.

The Reagans both took religious rather than pragmatic approaches to the problems in the USA. Even though it's not often Reagan went on record as saying such, that would have been career suicide. But the delays and denial of the problems of non-heterosexuals or christians at the time are. This is why secularism is important.

I'm not sure what you're asking me here. Do you want revisionist history? He fumbled the initial AIDS crisis and exacerbated drug abuse in the USA by waging "war" on a social problem. But sure, let's remember him fondly for all those wonderful things he's done. Cue the tumbleweed.

[profundis.livejournal.com]

Nope I don't want a revisionist history. I wanted to hear what was in your memory regarding Reagan. I am neither cheering nor booing Reagan here (he was a mixed bag all along), I just wanted to see what you had to go with your initial statements. Thanks for elaborating.

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

Ok, I've worked on your terms here and you're still holding out on me. What are you thinking?

[profundis.livejournal.com]

Alright, fair is fair. I've seen some pretty hateful stuff written about Reagan today (and some worshipful stuff) and I wonder when I read it, if the author had anything to back up their opinion or if they are just repeating rhetoric or speaking from emotion only.

I really don't have him firmly in one corner or another. His good and bad things kind of muddle together in my mind. As always, people decide to vilify or honor politicians based on what is most important to themselves.

I picked you to ask to go deeper, because I expected you to actually *have* something more to say than "Reagan sucked!" or "Reagan rocked!"

I felt like challenging your rather flippant post, to see what you'd come up with. I'm glad I did. I'm not disagreeing with your exposition, that wasn't the goal. Thanks for playing along.

[shawnsyms.livejournal.com]

Reagan played a key role in how the history of the AIDS crisis unfolded in the U.S., his religiously-motivated decisions lead to increased deaths. Thanks for reminding us of this. Your post went beyond "Boo Reagan" to say why.

I don't celebrate anyone's death. But I'm dismayed that his death might bring about undeserved veneration. I consider him a killer. That might sound shrill; but as far as I'm concerned, it's simply blunt.

Thank you for your thoughts

[darkphuque.livejournal.com]

What you said is so very true. Yet...did he do nothing positive?

I am not a very political person. I vote and that's about it. So, I guess I am not a very good citizen. I hope that things change in this country, but I don't believe it will. I think that...what I think is really unimportant....yet, every night I pray that things will change, is that stupid?

[shawnsyms.livejournal.com]

M&B: No need to respond to this comment, as I understand that this thread is meant as a private discussion between the two of you. But I'm attaching the following link because I think that it would be of interest to you both, and it relates to your discussion.

It's an open letter from a staffer at the National Lesbian and Gay Task Force about the effect of the Reagan years on gay men in the U.S., and, given the history, I think it's as reasoned and respectful as possible.

http://www.thetaskforce.org/news/release.cfm?releaseID=690

[http://users.livejournal.com/speedy_/]

I know somebody else who's views have been very harmful to a lot of people, not only americans.