It started with OJ and continues with Reagan...

jasmine, Reagan has his supporters and detractors. What is interesting about our presidents is that with time, most people forget and/or forget their bad decisions and policies. Reagan was the "great communicator," and most people remember his easy style and excellent delivery of his speeches. "Gorbachov, take down this wall!" is what most people remember, and little else.

cicerone, thanks for your reply. Interesting point of debate - do we therefore honour the media image of the Presidency in death out of some sort of cultural respect and letting the past "be"? Or, do we respect their passing and remain objectively observant? As a news hound, I feel the need to keep up with current events. As someone who is painfully aware that the current theme of most news media (which seems to be CNN, worldwide) is "homogeneity to the masses", I feel torn.

I am one of those people who disagreed wholeheartedly with Reagan's policies..BUT, I respect the office and all of its trappings.......oh, and btw.......don't ask me what I'll feel when Bill Clinton's memorial hits the news....

My question is.......do you feel that the news media relys too heavily on "the sky is falling" tactics?

They use both extremes, so it's up to us to filter what is pc and the truth. Difficult to do depending on one's political leanings. We all show our bias one way or another. It's not necessary to respect any individual just because they occupied the white house; respect is earned like anybody else. When John Kennedy was assassinated, and our country paid our last respects, I truly felt a great loss. My feelings toward Reagan was not the same; for all his easy manner, he was a right wing republican that favored business over people. Not my type of human.

couldn't agree with you more, cice re: Reagan's policies - more social services cutbacks were diabolically initiated by his adminstration than any other in the history of American politics - absolutely true.

Question: Does he therefore deserve any less public attention/ceremony because of his policies? - is the ritual of public observance after death, based on media/public consensus?

In a democracy, we must remember that he won the election to become president. On that basis, he deserves the rituals befitting the position as the president of the most powerful nation on the planet. In actuality, there really isn't that much that separates the right and the left when we look at spending and deficits. Liberals usually prefer social programs while conservatives prefer a strong defense structure. Looking at the past handful of presidents, it's difficult to see whether they were actually advancing liberal or conservatives programs. Clinton moved closer to the center with his cuts in welfare programs, and Bush with his drug benefit. Confused? We all are. Bush is cutting taxes and spending like a drunken sailor.

I think it started with the success of Ted Koppels Nightline show when Iran took American hostages.

It wasn't even a show to begin with but became a running soap opera which began every night with something like this: "Day 27: America held hostage".

After the hostages were finally released the show continued by popular demand covering other big stories and copycat news shows started to emerge.

It will continue with Clinton's book tour.

jasmine_mirage
The sky is falling tactic sells. The news media is only satisying what could be described as the voyeurism of the public.

I think you're right jasmine. The OJ Simpson trial opened up the floodgates and gave the general media the opportunity to discard the last little bit of decency and reserve it had left, giving way to pure sensationalism and unrestrained greed. Anything for ratings.

Jasmine_mirage, I've become convinced that Reagan will rise from the dead--every minute of his levitation will be captured in detail by CNN. Then George Bush will try to profit from Reagan's sainthood. Just way too much more of the same.

Does anyone think that religious medals with one side carrying the picture of Reagan and the other Bush will sell?

au, funnnneeeeee. Do you suppose that there will be a star of David in there somewhere?

(did something wrong again. Lost my first response)

Jasmine, I wanted my students to watch the final act of OJ's trial, so I threw out my lesson plans for the day in favor of the TV. Can you believe that my principal came into MY classroom and jerked the plug out of the wall? His remark: "Teach English".

Folks, what the public demands, the media will be only too happy to provide.

letty
No star of David. We are not in the habit of deifying people.

but, but, but, au. Wasn't Jesus Jewish?

ssshhhhhhh!

Yes, he was a nice Jewish boy who was deified but not by us. Which leads me to a story. One of my friends passed away and I went to the funeral in his church One of the other people, friend, walked in with me pointed to Jesus on the cross and jokingly said that is what happened to the last Jew who walked in here.

Au, very funny!!

In addition to your medals, you might give some thought to the ubiquitous T-shirt. Kerry on the front and Bush on the back (maybe with a tail attached--like pin the tail on the donkey).

ouch! Quit stabbing my back.

lol -As long as it's not pre-empted by the Scott Peterson trial, Diane - I enjoyed reading your quote - well said, Roosevelt!