Reagan's Death

Death is always an ugly topic. And say what you will about Ronald Reagan's political legacy, but it is only the cold-hearted who do not acknowledge the short-term pain and mourning of the former President by his loving family. Even worse, this was truly a long goodbye for them.

Alzheimer's is a horrific mental disease, almost as bad as having a stroke. My family has suffered from both – my mother is a recovering stroke victim, and my grandmother’s mind is slowly decaying from Alzheimer’s. It is really tough to say which hits the family more acutely – with a stroke, most survivors tend to visibly redevelop their mental and physical abilities, but with Alzheimer’s there really is no turning back, just a slow and mindless downturn in one’s mental – but not necessarily physical – health.

I am as sorry for his death as I am sorry for his family having to see him slowly deteriorate over the last decade. Whether the country needs gavel-to-gavel news coverage, week-long tributes, a month-long flag salute, and a federal government holiday during his funeral, is not my place to say. But I will say its premature to talk about adding his likeness to money, renaming buildings, and setting up memorials.

First, we should complement his political legacy with a personal one – and support his wife Nancy’s efforts to find a cure for that dreadful mine-killer that is Alzheimer’s disease.