I didn't know Reagan was Greek until my nephew (a TKE) gave me the book "Dutch" for Christmas a few years ago, and told me. I'm glad I have that book now.

Yes, sometimes there is a close affiliation between Tau Kappa Epsilon and Lambda Chi Alpha.

He will be missed as much as we are lucky to have known him.

Jono

(sorry about the quote below - that's always there)

President and TKE Member
 

While watching Air Force One Bringing The President back to Washington DC. , what he would be thinking with all of the Pomp and Circumstance.

Yes I do know that He and Nancy laid out His Death Burial Plans, I just wonder if He is laying there and thinking about the cost to the American People.

He was basically a Man Of The People.

May He Rest In Peace!

God Bless, TKE Brother Ronald Reagan, A Fine American, President, and a Greek Member!

from today's Chicago Tribune
 

A critical look at Reagan's legacy

By Mark Weisbrot. Mark Weisbrot is co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington
Published June 8, 2004

Ronald Reagan was a man who fought for what he believed in, and he changed the world more than probably any American in the 20th Century. He changed not only the conservative movement, the GOP, his country and the world--but also his opponents, known as liberals. As a result of his achievements, the typical liberal member of Congress today sits to the right of President Richard Nixon on a number of economic issues, including tax policy.

"The Great Communicator," as he was called, was capable of charming millions of Americans with his soothing, grandfatherly demeanor. In 1984 there were polls indicating that most of those who voted to re-elect him disagreed with him on the issues. In short, the "Reagan revolution" would probably never have happened without his unrivaled leadership skills.

His death has unleashed a torrent of commentary on the significance of this revolution, and so it is important to set the record straight. His economic policies were mostly a failure. Partly, this was because he had promised something arithmetically impossible: to increase military spending, cut taxes and balance the budget. He kept the first two promises, delivering the largest peacetime military buildup in American history and cutting taxes massively, mostly for upper-income households.

But budget deficits soared to record heights. The national debt doubled, as a percentage of the economy, before Reagan's successors were able to bring it under control. This "military Keynesianism" did pull the economy out of the 1982 recession, but the 1980s still chalked up the slowest growth of any decade in the post-World War II era. And income was redistributed to the wealthy as never before: During the 1980s, most of the country's income gains went to the top 1 or 2 percent of households.

Reagan also helped redistribute American income and wealth with a bold assault on American labor. In 1981 he summarily fired 12,000 air-traffic controllers who had gone on strike for better working conditions.

This ushered in a new and dark era of labor relations, with employers now free to "permanently replace" striking workers. The median real wage failed to grow during the decade of the 1980s.

The Reagan revolution caused even more economic damage internationally, for example by changing policy at the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. Thus began the era of "structural adjustment"--a set of economic policies that has become so discredited worldwide that the IMF and World Bank no longer use the term. The 1980s became "the lost decade" for Latin America, the region most affected by Washington's foreign economic policy. Income per person actually shrank for the decade, a rare historical event, and the region has yet to come close to its pre-1980s growth rates.

Reagan is often credited with having caused the collapse of the Soviet Union, but this is doubtful. He did use the Cold War as a pretext for other interventions, including funding and support for horrific violence against the civilian population of Central America. In 1999 the United Nations determined that the massacres of tens of thousands of Guatemalans constituted "genocide." These massacres--often involving grotesque torture--reached their peak under the rule of Reagan's ally, the Guatemalan Gen. Rios Montt.

Tens of thousands of Salvadorans were also murdered during Reagan's presidency by death squads affiliated with the U.S.-funded Salvadoran military.

But it was Reagan's efforts to overthrow the government--democratically elected in 1984--of underdeveloped Nicaragua that almost brought down his presidency. Congress cut off aid to Reagan's proxy army, the contras, as a result of pressure from Americans who were disgusted by the contras' tactics of murdering unarmed teachers and health-care workers.

The Reagan administration continued to run the war from the basement of the White House and paid for part of it with the proceeds of illegal arms sales to Iran. Hence the Iran-contra affair, in which Reagan escaped prosecution because his subordinates claimed that he had no knowledge of their crimes.

The Reagan revolution continues today: The "war on terror" has replaced the Cold War as pretext for intervention abroad, including the disastrous war in Iraq. Tax cuts for the rich and huge increases in military spending have revived the era of giant budget deficits. As The Great Communicator used to say, "There they go again."

Copyright © 2004, Chicago Tribune

Funerals are not for the deceased. They are for the living as a way to get closure. Yes he was a man of the people but the people now want to remember him with a dignifies ceremony. I believe they want to send him off with the grace & dignity that he so rightly deserved.

I def. agree CASigKap!

It's very telling that you chose to post this during the man's funeral. Like most liberals, you are bitter and vindictive, for there is no other reason you would post it at this time; just as Bill Clinton was a disgrace to the Presidency, you are a disgrace to Delta Gamma.

Wow, generalize much?

Oh my word.

Anyway, being the CSpan junkie that I am, I've been watching the coverage from DC today. Did anyone else think it was tacky that people kept screaming "GOD BLESS YOU NANCY" and all the clapping? I really admire Mrs. Reagan for handling this tactfully, I don't know that I could be so composed in the public eye.

Whoa. Stand down!

GP, I suspect one of the reasons Nancy is so composed is because she said goodbye to him, the man she married and loved as an equal, so long ago. I can't imagine going through what she went through for 10 years--my grandmother was alive with Alzheimer's only a portion of that time and it was hell on the entire family. There's almost a sense of relief. She has probably been prepared for this for a long time. :(

Yikes. While I did think it was in poor taste, I certainly wouldn't go that far and make such accusations.

I thought it was inappropriate for the cheering as well, though everyone I've asked doesn't agree with me! She seems to be a very strong, amazing woman. I am sure that he has been "gone" to her for a very long time, yet now it is final. It just breaks my heart every time she goes to the casket.

I feel a bit sorry for Michael Reagan. He seems to not be a part of the family. I know he is not Nancy's child, but it just seems sad to me. I don't know anything about their family dynamics, though. Just observing...

I have found the pageanty and formality of it all quite amazing to watch. The rituals and history taking place are, to me, captivating.

As you can tell, there is no one at home right now for me to discuss this with! Sorry for the long post. There's just so much going on and I want to talk about it!

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by JonoBN41
It's very telling that you chose to post this during the man's funeral. Like most liberals, you are bitter and vindictive, for there is no other reason you would post it at this time; just as Bill Clinton was a disgrace to the Presidency, you are a disgrace to Delta Gamma.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wow, bitter much?

While we all may not agree with Reagan's politics, I think we are all mourning his loss. He was our leader, and whether or not we agreed with him, his loss is felt by all. Let's stop the political arguments and save them for the politics forum. :)

Agreed...
 

I agree with the A-Chi-O girl...

That blew goat balls that it came from a Delta Gamma...

I'm a Delta Gamma little bro - and I love the DG's on our campus...

So that post kinda PISSED ME OFF! :mad:

Show some friggin respect... He had flaws (a lot probably had to do with advisors and past national troubles) just like every president, but no one can deny his great leadership, character, and genuinely optimistic attitude...

Ending the cold war and earning respect from the Soviets... Not to mention, boosting national pride...

But yeah, have some respect and save it...
ARGGGH...

And what about Maureen Reagan's children - his only grandchildren, to my knowledge?

The protocol is amazing, though!

Just Stand Down One And All!:(

The Post was in poor taste at this point in time. Was He the Great Emancipater, no, Did He do certain things, yes.

Was He One of The Greatest Presidents, maybe No, Maybe Yes.

Have any of you stood in His Shoes and had to make the decissions that He had to make?

Your little pitence of being a Member of a Greek Organization or a High Roller Business Individual aint S**T!

Until you run a Country and at least get The Cold War slowed down, then tell me how damn great each of you are. How would you handle Atomic Missiles pointed at Your House or Country.

Did I think He was the Greatest, no, But, He was damn Good and had one thing in mind, YOU THE PEOPLE!

Never Forget This.

Re: from today's Chicago Tribune
 

While I am not a huge fan of President Regans politics, I do have a problem with the article above being posted in a thread that has been started not to discuss Regan's politics, but to mourn his death and to send out our prayers and good wishes to Nancy and his family at this most trying time. As I stated before I am not a fan of Regan's, but I too, like many Americans do mourn him his death.

He was the President that he was, but he also was someone's husband, father, brother, friend and a GREAT TKE. I wish President Regan well on his journey to that big Greek party in the sky.

I also send my prayers out to Nancy, she has been his rock for so many years and now the pain of Alzheimers has been taken away. May God Keep her and her family in the palm of his hand :(

And the response wasn't?

For the love of God...please, just shut up.

No, Tom, let me explain something.

I heard about the assassination attempt on the radio at work, and ran to the other room at the garden center to tell my sister (then 44). "Hey, the President has been shot!"

Without looking up she said, "Good".

I never forgot that.

When someone dies, one doesn't talk badly about them unless immaturity, hate, or ideology, prevents one from doing so.

Ronald Reagan was a lifeguard, an actor, SAG president, a TKE, had Alzheimer's for 10 years, and lived to be 93. Everyone should respect that regardless, at least until he's buried.

That was a bit uncalled for, don't you think?

I for one, am PROUD that DGMarie is my sister.

No, I think you've proved my point.

Someday, you'll grow up to be an adult and learn what's appropriate and what is not at any particular time.

A lapse in judgement does not make her a disgrace to my organization or any other.

Looks like you can use some growing up too...

And someday you'll realize that Lambda Chi Alpha has people who post inappopriate things all the time. Worry about them, let the DGs "worry" about this when it doesn't need to be.

And when, exactly, do you think this will happen to you?

As said earlier, it wasn't a particularly appropriate place to criticize Reagan, but I think that your reply was also inappropriate. If you are that upset, you need to step away from the computer and take a few minutes to calm down. Yes, it is sad that he passed away, but people aren't going to stop criticizing just because the man is dead. People still criticize Lyndon B. Johnson, don't they? Maybe the criticisms shouldn't take place in a "mourning" thread, but I think we can all move on now.

Well its still okay to criticise his polices and stuff if you want.

Dying can make you revered but necessarily right.

You know, you girls are just very immature. One of your sisters posts a scathing article on the day of Reagan's funeral and you attack me for thinking it's inappropriate?

Well, if she and you have a right to express your opinions, then so do I. What she sent was a direct attack on one of the best fraternal experts on GC, and was very mean, and not a "lapse in judgement".

Totally uncalled for. All of you need to apologize.

Calling her out on impropriety is one thing. Calling her a disgrace to her organization is an entirely different issue. No apologies here.

You can think it's inappropriate, and you can call her out on that in a mature manner. BUT YOU DID NOT. You called her a disgrace to her organization, which I think is pretty damned improper.

Seriously, are you and Earp and Conard in a circle jerk? You boys all fall over each other to criticize people, and then act like you're innocent.

Save it. No one's apologizing to your sorry ass.

She's not my sister. She's an intelligent well-read woman who I regard as an asset to the GreekChat. You're directly attacking us, and that's okay why? Because you're a man? Because you're a Republican? Because you're a Lambda Chi.

I'm sorry a human being died, and I'm sorry he had to deal with a terrible disease, but I'm not sorry for thinking he was a poor president. My veteran father thinks he's a poor president too (and that's my veteran father who served in the Cold War in missle defense) so maybe you should take it up with him, since you're the same age and that way you can't use age as an attack on our arguments.

Co-sign.

It's fine to disagree with someone. It's fine not to like what they say. It's NOT fine to call them a disgrace to their organization.

No apologies from here either.

All of you who agree with her posting of that article are simply defending her. Why?

It got us off-topic. She should not have done that at this time. What she did was inappropriate, and you know it.

Jono

We all agreed that this was not the appropriate thread to post such an article. We also agreed that it was totally inappropriate to call her a disgrace to her sorority because of a lapse of judgement. I'm glad we're all on the same page now. And for the record, you're the one who took the thread off topic.

Hey, are you my parents? No? Then, to quote my father, "spare me the lecture."

You know who got us off topic? No? Try your bathroom mirror.

Isn't it past your bedtime? The orderlies will be there any minute to strap you down for the night...

All of y'all need to get off eachother's backs.

She said that what she did was in poor taste. Jono, time to forgive.

Ladies attacking Jono -- his comeback was probably not the most tactful thing ever and it wasn't Delta Gamma that was responsible, it was an individual. On that point you are right. As for your tact or lack thereof, I dunno.. take a look at what you've been typing.

Anyhow.. I was going to post something nice in this thread, but since it's gone to hell I don't really see the point.

I am not your parent, but if I were I'd paddle your ass and send you to your room.

There are alot of brats on GC who think they know everything and attack anyone who disagrees. Most of them seem to be female brats who don't know when to shut up and be reverent - for a moment.

A President of the United States has died, and he didn't have Monica crouching under the desk in the Oval Office.

RIP Pres. Reagan.

As a child, this guy was the President from before my 2nd birthday. I didn't know anyone else could be the President.

In retrospect, I regret being wrong on that one. I wonder what today would be like if we had a leader like him at the helm of the country.

I felt so sorry for Nancy Reagan today. I think that the applause was in questionable taste. All in all, I think that the ceremony in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol was dignified and worthy of a President.

Wow! Lambda Chi Alpha is sure breeding some great men. Luckily my mother is far too classy to consort with a moron like you.

Now back to Reagan: I'm glad to see other people thought the applause was a little over the top. It just doesn't seem appropriate for funeral services to me.

Frankly, in this heat, I was worried that she would be able to hold up as well as she did.

Does anyone know if she & her children are staying at Blair House, or with someone? Or is that being kept a secret? Just curious.

I know that she is staying in the Blair House. I have not heard if her children or other family members will be. I would think that she would at least have one of her children with her.

I believe the two grandchildren are Michael's children. I wasn't sure, so I tried to find some info online - here's what I found http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/resourc.../Rwrfamil.htm.

I thought Ron had children, as well, but I guess not!