Opinion
 

Staff Editorial

                            Matt Dulin                             Tony Hernandez 
                Jim Parsons             Dusti Rhodes           Richard Whitrock

Day of mourning

With the help of hours-long tribute specials on television and thousand word-long newspaper and magazine features, millions of Americans born during the Reagan era are getting a feel for the warm, sunny leader who died Friday.

Few of us, the children of the 1980s, can recall much of the former president. We were more concerned about catching G.I. Joe or Punky Brewster than the Iran-Contra scandal, the economic situation or communism. Some of us can recall his message to America after the Challenger exploded, and weire familiar with at least, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall."

Naturally, the coverage we see today will gloss over the presidentis life and achievements, highlighting a manis legacy to his country and to the world. The bitter criticism the Reagan administration tasted from the media has sweetened. In some ways, it seems media outlets feel guilty for being so hard on him. Thereis talk in some places of getting Reaganis bust on the $10 bill.

It seems that the nation is mourning a loss we cannot fathom. Surely, the nation lost a great leader, but we are aware of that only as peripheral witnesses to his time as president.

The University will close Friday in honor of the presidentis burial. State agencies and offices around the country will close to do the same, giving the nation pause -- a chance to truly reflect.

You donit need to watch the burial and listen to the commentary, though we recommend it. What you do need to do, however, is to be able to return to your normal life with a better understanding of Reagan -- the man and the president. Not a glorified image and a sound bite, but as full a picture you can draft by listening to the people who were around to hear his words and see his leadership. Talk to someone who voted for him, and talk to someone who didnit.

The children of the i80s should come to know the man that was, for a time, the nationis leader.