TV Re-runs

[bcholmes]

So let me see if I understand this. He was a great leader -- perhaps one of the greatest men of the 20th century. He served as an inspiration to his people. He was an actor earlier in his life, a past that helped him become a great orator. He survived an assassination attempt not long after he entered office. He is credited with ending communism. And some say that, because of conservative social ideology, he failed to support efforts that could have helped reduce the spread of AIDS.

Are we recycling the Reagan funeral? 'Cause you know, that got tiring really fast.

Comments

[ruth-lawrence.livejournal.com]

I have been thinking exactly the same thing.

[blueinva.livejournal.com]

Nah, Ronnie didn't play soccer, and his employees never got caught buggering altar boys...

[herbmcsidhe.livejournal.com]

No, just congressional interns.

[xthlcm.livejournal.com]

The difference being that JP2 actually led a life of sacrifice and dedication to his work, while Reagan didn't go much deeper than his makeup.

I won't miss JP2's rule -- he decided to ignore a bunch of Vatican II and was socially very conservative. However, he was also a powerful speaker and believed strongly in a Church that could serve as a force for peace in the world. He never shrank from condemning the actions of powerful nations, and stuck to his interpretation of Christ's principles. JP2 would never have stayed quiet about the plight of Jews in Europe during WW2.

He also believed that the cause of peace could only be served by understanding how all human beings relate to God. He was the first pope to visit a synagogue and, subsequently, the first to visit a mosque. He was responsible for a spirit of ecumenicalism that pervaded the Church -- I went to seder meals as a Catholic elementary student because of his influence.

I just hope the next Pope isn't a conservative Italian. What's really needed is a Pope from the "third world", preferably liberal, who can lead today's Catholics more effectively. Not the African guy though -- he has some nasty things to say about women and gays.

[persephoneplace.livejournal.com]

ohmygoodness, this is one of the funniest things i have read on the subject :)