I have followed, regularly at times, the television series Charmed, starring Holly Marie Combs, Alyssa Milano and Rose McGowan, as three sisters who possess magical powers. Although at times the supernatural theme may be seen as a trifle overbearing, the realistic portrayal of moral dilemmas in each episode is consistently intriguing and engaging. One recent segment contrasted the views of gifts (in the context of the series, magic) between one who possesses it (one of the sisters), and one who does not (a convicted felon). The felon associates great power with gifts, and seeks to harness this for his personal gain. Consequently the felon is killed by the magic and power that he craved for.
It is easy to empathise with such a character, especially when one considers the perceived lack of things material that the felon faces each and every day. His envy for those who seem to have a better life than he does is evident throughout the segment, and one could be forgiven for the jealously he must have felt for not being one of the Charmed Ones, who seem to have it easy while they sail through life and demons alike.
The world of entertainment is known to few; the public views celluloid images of carefully crafted snippet of what is in fact hard work on the part of directors, artistes, camera crew, make-up and, increasingly, computer technology. One such person who has demonstrated his understanding, and perhaps I may be allowed to add, mastery of television and the media, is Ronald Reagan. The former actor and governor of California did not exactly live a charmed life; he was born in the Midwest, and not from the Eastern coast like many of his predecessors. Yet President Reagan defied the odds, and age (he was in his seventies when he ran for the 1984 election), to the most powerful office in the land.
The 40th President of the United States is one of the few leaders who can arguably be said to be more respected among US citizens than most in recent times. Abroad, the former President is widely acclaimed to be the one who moved the world away from a nuclear confrontation between the US and the then-Soviet Union. Like a domino, Mikhail Gorbachev’s reforms of perestroika and glasnost transformed the face of Eastern Europe. This would not have happened as smoothly if Ronald Reagan did not communicate in no uncertain terms his sincerity in averting a Third World War.
At home, many Americans credit his bravery in reducing tax rates across the board as one of the important factors in establishing the US as the world’s leading economy. It is easy to forget that tax rates thirty years ago were as high as 70%. Politically, Ronald Reagan transformed the Republican Party from one that was averse to reducing taxes, to one that is progressive and some may argue, overly aggressive, in implementing expansionary fiscal policy. Yet it must be mentioned that Ronald Reagan was concerned about keeping the budget deficit to a minimum, although he did not achieve that goal during his two terms in office.
As a man, Ronald Reagan stood for optimism and freedom. Looking back on my childhood, I occasionally could not make any distinction between the President of the United States and the ever-cheerful clown that represented the MacDonald’s franchise. From the days of Vietnam doom and Middle-East gloom, Ronald Reagan transformed the psyche of the American public. Government was to stay out of the way of private enterprise. One can only speculate on how Coca-Cola and Pepsi would have survived, or whether the likes of Microsoft, and Ebay would indeed have been successfully launched in the first place, if the days of 70% tax rates persisted.
To the man, who has been an inspiration to my beliefs in free enterprise and responsible freedom of the populace, who has indeed been a bright light shining atop the hill of optimism, rest in the private peace that you deserve. You may not remember the glorious send off your nation has given you, but it was as beautiful as your vision for this world – harmony, joyful appreciation, and thanksgiving. In the words of another recently departed, one who was no more charmed than you were, being blind at age seven, one twenty years your junior – may both of you rest in the knowledge that your songs will live on in the memories of millions.
I've been so many places in my life and time
I've sung a lot of songs, I've made some bad rhyme
I've acted out my life in stages
With ten thousand people watching
But we're alone now and I'm singin' this song for you
- Ray Charles,
A Song For You
