Ronald Reagan was born and raised in Illinois before making a name for himself in Hollywood and leaving an indelible impression on Washington, D.C. He took on a vice president from Texas - by way of Maine - and twice beat Democratic presidential challengers, one from Georgia, the other from Minnesota.
He was affable enough to turn Democrats from all over the country into Republicans and smart enough to keep them that way, despite the attempts of an Oklahoma-born would-be assassin's bullet. When he left all Americans on June 5, the question was not if the nation should immortalize Ronald Reagan, but how we should, and where it should be done.
How should we immortalize Ronald Reagan? A statue seems a perfectly fitting tribute. Long-standing, seemingly permanent, much like the Great Communicator himself. But, where should this statue be?
Not Lansing.
Last week, state representative Leon Drolet, R-Clinton Township, succeeded in passing two bills through the Michigan House of Representatives that would pave the way for a privately funded statue of Ronald Reagan to overlook the state Capitol. Drolet, inspired to enter politics by a Reagan speech at Macomb Community College in 1984 and presumably inspired to suggest the statue by the former president's recent passing, says the monument would stand as a testament to Reagan's far-reaching impact on the country and the world.
Well, we love statues. We love the concept, the art and the craftsmanship. But as long as we're constructing statues in places completely illogical and arbitrary to their surroundings, let's commission one of Will Ferrell in the Brody Complex courtyard.
Political leanings notwithstanding, Ronald Reagan certainly deserves commemoration. Whether he was held in thought affectionately or if his economics parlayed into less desirable territory, the Gipper was a popular president who deserves our respects, if only in recognition of his dedication to the country. State-owned land in Lansing, however, is not a prudent choice for its location.
Aside from carrying Michigan twice in his electoral triumphs, and despite the work he did to invigorate the slumping auto industry in the early 1980s, Reagan's attachment to Michigan simply does not run as deep as Rep. Drolet would believe. Self-serving, privately funded pet projects have no place on state property.
To be sure, this isn't a political decision. State Rep. Larry Julian, R-Lennon, deemed it "an issue of people" and we're inclined to agree. To each his own, but in its appropriate place and time when accessorizing our Capitol.
Besides, ever heard of Gerald Ford?
