Tears are streaming from my eyes, down my cheeks
and splattering onto the sheets of my Big Chief
Tablet, as I write this column at two o’clock
in the morning on Wednesday.
I’m sorry for this sad show of un-warrior-like
weakness, Big Chief. I know, I know, I look
like a big papoose right now, Big Chief.
I will cure myself of this squaw-like display
of unmanly emotion by staying awake for the
next 72 hours straight, standing at the top
of a tree, relying on only my left foot for
balance, and I will torture myself by listening
to Rush Limbaugh re-runs over a loud speaker...over
and over and over again.
Got any painkillers, anyone?
Just kidding.
I am never that sappy when writing for a mass
audience of newspaper readers. I love ya. I
never pull the wool over your eyes, Gentle Reader.
You are the fine folks who ultimately complete
my performance appraisal every year.
President Gerald R. Ford, Jr., died on Tuesday
evening at the age of 93.
What a great man. What a good person: Ford
was an excellent and loving husband and father.
Ford was a loyal friend. He was an honest man,
full of integrity. And he was a reliable President.
I just love Jerry Ford.
Ford just might be one of the best Presidents
in U.S. history–at least in terms of his
stellar character and personal courage.
Many Americans, this writer included, believe
President Ford did a courageous and farsighted
thing when he pardoned Richard M. Nixon on Sept.
8, 1974.
Gerald Ford was an honest, straight-talking
man. He always maintained the courage of his
convictions, too.
Recently President Gerald Ford publicly disagreed
with King George II over the U.S. war in Iraq.
During a 2005 recorded interview with journalist
Bob Woodward, President Ford revealed that he
completely disagreed with King George II’s
decision to make war in Iraq.
“Rumsfeld and Cheney and the president
made a big mistake in justifying going into
the war in Iraq. They put the emphasis on weapons
of mass destruction. And now, I’ve never
publicly said I thought they made a mistake,
but I felt very strongly it was an error in
how they should justify what they were going
to do,” Ford told Woodward.
We, a nation of the free, the great beacon
of representative Democracy, have suffered terribly
the past six years from having a President who
lacks leadership skills and in consequence vests
way too much authority into the hands of people
like Donald Rumsfeld (Dr. Strangelove) (Mrs.
Rumsfeld forgot to tell Donald that the Cold
War ended in 1991.); Colin Powell (a head-nodding,
ignorant Uncle Toady); and Dick Cheney (a dissembling
megalomaniac–and a bad shot).
In contrast, President Ford just dripped outstanding
leadership traits and was chock full of character
and integrity.
Also, Ford was quite possibly the best athlete
we’ve ever had as President of the United
States. Ford was a twice national champion football
starter for the University of Michigan Wolverines
(in the 1932 and 1933 seasons). Ford played
center and linebacker on the two back-to-back
national championship teams (who were also both
undefeated).
Ford was named Most Valuable Player for the
1934 Wolverines. Ford’s football credentials
carry great weight with this writer. Football
ability like Gerald Ford’s demonstrates
valuable leadership, the ability to practice
teamwork, persevere and to compete successfully.
Football is the divine sport.
Football is fun. Football is fantastic. Football
is almost a religion because it is so fabulous.
Football was designed by saints here on Earth
to please the gods.
And President Ford was one of the best football
players in his time. Ford was good enough to
be offered contracts to play professional football
for two different professional football franchises.
Anyway, his football studliness is one more
thing to love about Jerry Ford.
It’s difficult to interpret tragedy in
the passing of a 93-year-old person; however,
it is always sad to say goodbye. There is always
sadness in saying goodbye to someone who’s
loved.
Ironically, President Ford was roundly criticized
for pardoning his close friend Nixon. But most
pundits today concur that Ford did the courageous
and correct thing in pardoning Nixon.
Ford’s pardon of Nixon allowed this country
to begin the healing process over Nixon’s
criminal presidency and the incredibly deep
and raw wounds of the Vietnam War.
The world is now absent one more excellent
human being with President Gerald Ford’s
passing.
(Email Dave Kinnamon at
david@plattecountylandmark.com)
