Former Wyoming Senator Alan Simpson spoke graciously and with loving admiration, about the friend he had in the 41st President of the United States, accurately portraying a lifetime of service, honor and integrity. It was all the more poignant against the backdrop of a millennial generation clueless about the character attributes of many of “The Greatest Generation”. Moreover, the loving praise heaped on President George HW Bush by the news media was in obvious stark contrast to the insulting and often vitriolic manner with which they treated him as POTUS.
I struggle sometimes, to find the reasoning behind the type of hypocrisy displayed by those whom we look to for fair and objective reporting. I would even say it’s worse than at any time in American history and an embarrassment in the eyes of our enemies.
Ultimately, I suppose some of it is rooted in insecurity, and envy of a war hero who couldn’t bear the thought of someone else fighting in his stead, and who put his life on hold and in danger for his country and compatriots. A man who was incapable of the hate often directed at him, who “aspired to what was right before what was convenient”, and who understood with clarity, that “Those who travel the high road of humility in Washington, D.C., are not bothered by heavy traffic”. Hmmm, wrap your arms around that, world of academia. Teach that to our posterity… RIP 41… Godspeed…
