I entered college in the fall of 1979. My family had always belonged to the Democratic party. I feared Ronald Reagan. I truly believed that his election meant the beginning of the end of the world. It was the Cold War. Everyone was a bit edgy.
Back in the day, those of us in the dorm played a card game, Rook, every night. (Yes, Mom, every night.) There was a promising rock star who was a favorite on the dorm floor: Prince. Prince’s song, “Ronnie Talk to Russia,” came to mind yesterday as I watched the news coverage of Ronald Reagan’s passing.
Ronnie talk to Russia before it’s too late
Before it’ too late
Before it’s too late
Ronnie talk Russia before it’s too late
Before they blow up the world
You go to the zoo, but you can’t feed guerrillas
Can’t feed guerrillas
Left-wing guerrillas
You can go to the zoo, but you can’t feed guerrillas
Who wanna blow up the world
Ronnie if you’re dead before I get to meet ya
Before I get to meet ya
Before I get to meet ya
Ronnie if you’re dead before I get to meet ya
Don’t say I didn’t warn ya
Ronnie talk to Russia before it’s too late
Before it’s too late
Before it’s too late
Ronnie talk to Russia before it’s too late
Before they blow up the world
Before they blow up the world
Dontcha.
Don’t you blow up my world
Back then, all of us believed that World War III was inevitable & soon. When the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, some of us registered as conscientious objectors. Daily, we were reminded of the Cold War dangers that might escalate into the unthinkable.
When it came time to encourage folks to play Rook, I was known for saying, “Come on guys! One day you’re gonna be 40 years old, married with children, and wishing you were back in Gardner dorm playing Rook!” Anyway, thinking we were all gonna die, we often partied like it was 1999.
Now having crossed that age marker, I hugged my tearful wife yesterday and explained to our children who Ronald Reagan was. It all seems so long ago. I’ve yet to want to be back in the dorm, in the Cold War, playing Rook.
I was wrong. With gratitude, I admit I was wrong … and Ronnie was right.
May God be merciful to him and those who mourn.