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Subject: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: stefchu on 01/22/04 at 12:23 a.m.

I was walking home from school. I was in the 8th grade,at the time. All of sudden,I heard one of my classmates,who was standing on his front porch talking to neighbors,shout out loud,"The President has been shot!" I ran home as fast as I could. I wanted to catch the news coverage on tv. I was afraid that if I did not make it home soon enough,Reagan would have died in an ambulance,or hospital,somewhere. Where were you on this day,and what was your reaction when you first found out he was shot? Thanks! Sincerely,Steve.

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: ProgShred on 01/22/04 at 12:27 a.m.

I was in school. I think lunch had just ended when we heard. We all expected him to die because up until that point, every President elected in a year ending with 0, died in office.

RR broke the curse.

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: Rapture_Man on 01/22/04 at 12:42 a.m.

At school, on my birthday.

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: Zed_Omega on 01/22/04 at 03:14 p.m.

Celebrating what I thought might be the start of a better United States with that old fogey out of the way. Now we've got Reagan #3 in the White House and America is slipping further away into disgrace!
What a shame...

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: jaytee on 01/22/04 at 03:17 p.m.

In Australia ...

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: rubixgirl on 01/22/04 at 03:17 p.m.

I believe I was in school. I think I remember the Challenger exploding, better than Regan being shot.  :o

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: gumbypiz on 01/22/04 at 03:39 p.m.

I was hanging around the media center (library) after school in the 7th grade (middle school).
Had a terrible crush on the librarians daughter, and we were flirting like mad. ;D
The TV was on & the news broke to show the details.
I remember it was surreal, because the girl CHEERED when she heard the news. She was glad it happened and wished he was dead.
All this comming from a 12 yr old girl.
Kinda chilling, I'm mean, I didn't like Reagan (or his voodoo policies) by any stretch of the imagination, but I didn't wish him to die...

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: Howard on 01/22/04 at 08:28 p.m.

Sorry,I was too young to remember as a 7 year old child. :(


Howard

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: MaxwellSmart on 01/22/04 at 10:42 p.m.

My friend Kyle and I were walking up to the General Store (Yes, we lived in a town with one store called the "General Store"), and my sister was walking back.  She said, "did you hear about Reagan, he got shot."  I thought the kind of big sister jive she was always trying to dupe me with, so I said, "Nah-ah, no way, you're full of it."  I said to Kyle, "She's always saying that kind of stupid crap."  When we got into the store there were a bunch of grownups standing there listening to the radio and whispering.  I was stunned, the president got shot! Is he going to die?
I spent the rest of the afternoon glued to little radio, listening to reports.  What was Reagan's condition?  Is Brady dead? Is Brady going to pull through? Who is this Hinkley kid?  One secret serviceman confirmed dead.  Reagan in emergency surgery.
It was very intense for me.  It was the first national emergency I was cognizant enough to grasp as it happened.

The next day, our teacher let us take up the morning discussing the terrible event.  

If Hinkley had used a higher caliber, Reagan would be dead.  If Hinkley's bullet entered the President's chest a few centimeters over, it would have killed him.  History would be quite different.

People started making jokes, such as, "Anybody who wants to kill Rondald Reagan and scr*w Jody Foster is OK in my book!" That's not my idea of a good joke.
I can't stand Reagan in the slightest, but Hinkley's no hero to me.  He was a sick, spoiled rich kid.  Reagan found comfort in the fact that his would-be assassin came from a "good" family.  By "good," we all know what he meant. ;)  Hinkley  was found not guilty by reason of insanity.  If they find he is no longer dangerous, they will have to let him go.  That's the law, but the idea of Hinkley walking around free doesn't sit well with me.

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: Stevie B. on 01/22/04 at 11:13 p.m.

And does anybody know the movie that supposedly inspired Hinkley to do what he did? "Taxi Driver" (1976) starring Robert DeNiro. In this classic film,DeNiro plays a psychotic loner/cab driver who meets a teenage prostitute played by Jodie Foster. He tries to murder a senator,and fails in the attempt. He kills Jodie's pimp,and becomes a local celebrity when the press announces that he rescued her from gangsters. A little too close to reality,don't ya think?  :o Sincerely,Steve.

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: MaxwellSmart on 01/22/04 at 11:51 p.m.


Quoting:
And does anybody know the movie that supposedly inspired Hinkley to do what he did? "Taxi Driver" (1976) starring Robert DeNiro. In this classic film,DeNiro plays a psychotic loner/cab driver who meets a teenage prostitute played by Jodie Foster. He tries to murder a senator,and fails in the attempt. He kills Jodie's pimp,and becomes a local celebrity when the press announces that he rescued her from gangsters. A little too close to reality,don't ya think?  :o Sincerely,Steve.
End Quote


Taxi Driver is a big favorite of mine, but I don't identify with Travis Bickle!  I wouldn't say Hinkley was trying to copy Travis verbatim, but people with psychiatric issues often have weak identities and impressionable minds.  I'd say Hinkley absorbed the Travis character as he got obsessed with Foster's "Iris" character.  The "Taxi Driver" narrative was obviously a strong one in Hinkley's mind, but who knows what other material he used to construct his twisted persona?
It's like Mark David Chapman, John Lennon's assassin.  Chapman was wrapped up in J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye.  He called himself "The Holden Caulfield of the 1980s."  Holden Caulfield was disillusion with the grownup world, and so was Chapman.  Chapman decided that his hero, Lennon, was a "phony," as Holden would say.  So what's there left to do?  Kill John Lennon.
The violent psychoses of both men germinated long before they met their narrative vehicles.  Had it not been for "Taxi Driver" and "Catcher in the Rye," there would have been others instead.

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: Atari on 01/22/04 at 11:56 p.m.

I if recall correctly, we had a half-day of school that day. So we were re-enacting the shooting, embellishing it a bit like kids do :)

Brian

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: Stevie B. on 01/23/04 at 00:06 a.m.

Interesting stuff,Maxwell. By the way,what is your opinion of the ending of "Taxi Driver"? So many people I have met recently,many of which have only seen it for the first time recently I may add,are claiming that the scenes that take place after Travis hold his fingers in a gun like gesture,and makes the bullet sound effects,are all a dream. I disagree with this theory. I think Martin Scorcese wanted the ending to be reality with an ironic twist kinda like an O'Henry tale. I also think Betsy was nice to Travis because she had second thoughts about having a relationship with him. After all he was now a local celebrity. What do you think?Sincerely,Steve.

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: AndrewTalkingWalnut on 01/23/04 at 08:54 a.m.

Again, I was very little at the time, I was probably at home with my parents.

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: Race_Bannon on 01/23/04 at 02:03 p.m.

9th grade Geology class.  It was quite a shocker but coming from a very liberal community not many were that upset.

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: Stevie B. on 01/23/04 at 02:20 p.m.

I too,remember my classmates re-enacting the shooting. Someone would pretend to be Reagan,and walk around like they were waving to people in a parade like atmosphere. All of a sudden,someone would pretend to be Hinkley,and jump up and "convert" their hand into an imaginary pistol while making gunshot sound effects with their mouth. LOL! The things we did as kids.  :-[  Sincerely,Steve.

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: Dagwood on 01/23/04 at 06:21 p.m.

I was in 5th grade.  The teacher brought in a TV so we could watch the coverage.  I don't remember how the community felt, but I was sad that someone could do that to anyone.  Whether you agree with someone's politics or not, I think it is cruel to wish another human dead.

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: SmithsGirl on 01/23/04 at 09:42 p.m.

For some reason I can't remember?

What year was it?


SmithsGirl

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: woops on 01/23/04 at 09:43 p.m.


Quoting:
For some reason I can't remember?

What year was it?


SmithsGirl
End Quote



1981

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: SmithsGirl on 01/23/04 at 10:52 p.m.

Thanks!

Hmm, I was 7 years old. That may explain why I don't remember   :-/


SmithsGirl

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: PhiKapDave on 01/24/04 at 09:13 p.m.

I was in fourth grade. I was already at home (had a half day at school) and saw it on TV when the news broke.

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: MaxwellSmart on 01/24/04 at 09:15 p.m.

Oh, I was misspelling the assassin's name, it's spelled with a "c," Hinckley.

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: gumbypiz on 01/24/04 at 09:32 p.m.


Quoting:
Oh, I was misspelling the assassin's name, it's spelled with a "c," Hinckley.
End Quote


Do you remeber that they changed the Williams Katt's character on "Greatest American Hero" because it was by chance also Hinckley? His students called him Mr. H for almost a season then changed the name completely the next season without so much as an explanation..very nervous those network execs..

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: Stevie B. on 01/24/04 at 10:54 p.m.

I read that somewhere,too. I also read somewhere that they actually fired the original actor who was supposed to play John Lennon in a 1985 made for tv movie about John and Yoko. The reason? The actor's last name was Chapman,the same last name of the real person who killed the real Lennon. Life and art can be strange,at times.  ::) Sincerely,Steve.

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: the_OlLine_Rebel on 01/26/04 at 09:01 a.m.

Quoting:
Too bad RR broke the curse. ;) ;D
End Quote



You know what?  It amazes me how the "loving-hearted" liberals (and yes, that's what I'm logically assuming you all are) are so darn NASTY and mean-spirited whenever anything bad/beyond the control of some hated (oh no, libs don't hate!!!) conservative happens, much less generally making fun of them personally, completely unprovoked (a`la the Margaret Thatcher thread some time ago here).

I've never seen any nastiness about liberals in trouble on these type of forums.  I've seen nastiness about Rush Limbaugh w/his hearing, Charlton Heston w/his Alzheimer's (not to mention Reagan), and the just-plain-mean "old hag/tranvestite" Thatcher thread.  But no, liberals aren't mean.  They never wish ill, or express glee over it.  They don't do personal slights, either.  Oh, no.   ::)

Being gleeful about some1 dying - unless he's a Hitler or Stalin, which frankly I wouldn't care about and mite even be quite happy - is simply cruel, nasty, mean, and evil.    >:(

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: MaxwellSmart on 01/26/04 at 04:37 p.m.


Quoting:I've never seen any nastiness about liberals in trouble on these type of forums.  I've seen nastiness about Rush Limbaugh w/his hearing, Charlton Heston w/his Alzheimer's (not to mention Reagan), and the just-plain-mean "old hag/tranvestite" Thatcher thread.  But no, liberals aren't mean.  They never wish ill, or express glee over it.  They don't do personal slights, either.  Oh, no.   ::)End Quote


That's why I stipulated that I didn't think the jokes were funny.  I brought them up because people were telling them at the time.  If this were a political forum, I would consider it my challenge to CHANGE the mind of someone who sees the Ronald Reagan "conservative" agenda as good for the country.  I get nowhere if I sneer at poke fun at someone with whom I disagree.  That's what Rush Limbaugh does.  The reason he got sooo popular was that corporate America made him omnipresent because his views favor the big corporate agenda.  America's consent to have him on 600+ radio stations is a manufactured myth in the manner of Orwell's "1984."  BTW, Rush would still have his hearing if he took the personal responsibility to stay off the drugs he was telling everybody else to take the personal responsibility to stay off of.

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: AndrewTalkingWalnut on 01/26/04 at 04:38 p.m.

Didn't Reagan forgive the man that shot him?

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: PhiKapDave on 01/26/04 at 05:26 p.m.


Quoting:
Didn't Reagan forgive the man that shot him?

End Quote




Hmmm...I thought that was Pope John Paul II. Not sure about Reagan.

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: the_OlLine_Rebel on 01/27/04 at 08:38 a.m.


Quoting:

That's why I stipulated that I didn't think the jokes were funny.  I brought them up because people were telling them at the time.  If this were a political forum, I would consider it my challenge to CHANGE the mind of someone who sees the Ronald Reagan "conservative" agenda as good for the country.  I get nowhere if I sneer at poke fun at someone with whom I disagree.  End Quote



I'll ignore that last part.   ;)

It wasn't directed at you, MS, just the myriad who have indeed poured their venom on the forum, not to mention many others I frequent - sometimes unrelated (i.e., having nothing to do w/the original subject matter - see my thread on "pivotal 1980 song" going off topic).  I'm tired of it and by God, I'm going to call a spade a spade.

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: Marian on 01/27/04 at 01:52 p.m.


Quoting:
I was hanging around the media center (library) after school in the 7th grade (middle school).
Had a terrible crush on the librarians daughter, and we were flirting like mad. ;D
The TV was on & the news broke to show the details.
I remember it was surreal, because the girl CHEERED when she heard the news. She was glad it happened and wished he was dead.
All this comming from a 12 yr old girl.
Kinda chilling, I'm mean, I didn't like Reagan (or his voodoo policies) by any stretch of the imagination, but I didn't wish him to die...
End Quote

:o :oI wonder where she is today.Anyway I was in school in the ninth grade.cheers!

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: Dagwood on 01/27/04 at 06:34 p.m.

Quoting:


You know what?  It amazes me how the "loving-hearted" liberals (and yes, that's what I'm logically assuming you all are) are so darn NASTY and mean-spirited whenever anything bad/beyond the control of some hated (oh no, libs don't hate!!!) conservative happens, much less generally making fun of them personally, completely unprovoked (a`la the Margaret Thatcher thread some time ago here).

I've never seen any nastiness about liberals in trouble on these type of forums.  I've seen nastiness about Rush Limbaugh w/his hearing, Charlton Heston w/his Alzheimer's (not to mention Reagan), and the just-plain-mean "old hag/tranvestite" Thatcher thread.  But no, liberals aren't mean.  They never wish ill, or express glee over it.  They don't do personal slights, either.  Oh, no.   ::)

Being gleeful about some1 dying - unless he's a Hitler or Stalin, which frankly I wouldn't care about and mite even be quite happy - is simply cruel, nasty, mean, and evil.    >:(
End Quote



Thank you!  I agree 100%

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: MaxwellSmart on 01/28/04 at 08:33 p.m.

Boy, that Ronald Reagan, he sure is a polarizing figure.  I just wish more people understood the Supply Side Economics swindle.  It's a myth still alive today.  As with the 1981 tax cuts, unless you are extravagantly wealthy, the Bush tax cuts ARE GOING TO HURT YOU!!!  I am recommending a book to EVERYBODY regarding this issue:
Perfectly Legal
by David Cay Johnston
http://www.corporatemofo.com/stories/031228johnston.htm
This issue is of paramount importance to all our lives, but don't take my word for it, take Mr. Johnston's.  And, as Forrest Gump would say, that's all I have to say about that.

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: Jake999 on 02/01/04 at 01:09 a.m.

I wasn't even born yet. I was born in 1983.

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: satan on 02/01/04 at 02:23 a.m.

Quoting:
Boy, that Ronald Reagan, he sure is a polarizing figure.  I just wish more people understood the Supply Side Economics swindle.  It's a myth still alive today.  As with the 1981 tax cuts, unless you are extravagantly wealthy, the Bush tax cuts ARE GOING TO HURT YOU!!!  I am recommending a book to EVERYBODY regarding this issue:
Perfectly Legal
by David Cay Johnston
http://www.corporatemofo.com/stories/031228johnston.htm
This issue is of paramount importance to all our lives, but don't take my word for it, take Mr. Johnston's.  And, as Forrest Gump would say, that's all I have to say about that.
End Quote



I find it interesting that those of the liberal persuasion seem to think that tax cuts only benefeit the wealthy. The primary driving factor of our economy is supply and demand. When the demand exceeds the supply, suppliers must generate product to meet the demand placed upon them by consumers. What causes consumers to demand more? The ability to purchase more! When the consumer demands more, the suppliers must produce more. The byproduct of this over demand is that suppliers must meet the demands of the consumer, which drives the creation of JOBS. I can tell you what I will do with the money that I receive from President Bush's tax cuts, can you tell me what the goverment will do with your money, otherwise?
Back to the subject at hand, I was 10 years old when  Reagan was shot, and it was the first time that I remember feeling vulnerable and angry.

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: MaxwellSmart on 02/01/04 at 09:26 a.m.


Quoting:


I find it interesting that those of the liberal persuasion seem to think that tax cuts only benefeit the wealthy. The primary driving factor of our economy is supply and demand. When the demand exceeds the supply, suppliers must generate product to meet the demand placed upon them by consumers. What causes consumers to demand more? The ability to purchase more! When the consumer demands more, the suppliers must produce more. The byproduct of this over demand is that suppliers must meet the demands of the consumer, which drives the creation of JOBS. I can tell you what I will do with the money that I receive from President Bush's tax cuts, can you tell me what the goverment will do with your money, otherwise?
Back to the subject at hand, I was 10 years old when  Reagan was shot, and it was the first time that I remember feeling vulnerable and angry.
End Quote


Liberal's got nothing to do with it.  The supply side theory you just outlined is a fraud.  Like I say, don't take my word for it, take Mr. Johnston's, or numerous other experts who have disproved the theory over the years.  Heck, you can see the lies right in front of your eyes if you're willing to take a cold, empirical look at what's going on.  Labels such as "liberal,"  "conservative," "Democrat," "Republican" are used by Rush Limbaugh types to fog the real issues.  When you find out the truth about the Bush tax cuts, you'll again feel vulnerable and angry.

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: CatwomanofV on 02/01/04 at 11:45 a.m.

I was in my senior year of high school. I was getting off the bus as my parents met me at the bus stop (they never did that) and told me. The rest of the day was watching t.v. They announced that James Brady died due to a bullet in his forehead-only to come back on a few minutes later saying they were wrong-James Brady did not die. (In fact, he is still alive today-and has given his name to the Brady Bill for gun control.) I also remember Reagan was quoted as saying "I hope you are all Republicans" to the doctors before undergoing surgery to remove the bullet.



Cat

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: MommaLisa on 02/01/04 at 12:49 a.m.

In school; 5th grade.  I will never forget it.  It was Catholic school, so we all prayed for him...

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: SafetyDance on 02/01/04 at 02:03 p.m.

I was in 6th grade, my mom picked me up from school and told me. we listen on the car radio.

On tv they showed the video of him getting shot over and over and over...

Remember when Sat Night Live had Buckwheat get shot? LOL

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: stingr22 on 02/04/04 at 06:46 a.m.

I was in English class in 9th grade.  The principal came across the intercom and said, "President Reagan was shot."  I felt my heart in my throat.  I thought for sure he was dead.  He then said that he was being hospitalized and they felt he would make a full recovery.  Pretty scary moment...

Subject: Re: Where were you when Ronald Reagan was shot?

Written By: stingr22 on 02/04/04 at 06:50 a.m.


Quoting:
I was in 6th grade, my mom picked me up from school and told me. we listen on the car radio.

On tv they showed the video of him getting shot over and over and over...

Remember when Sat Night Live had Buckwheat get shot? LOL
End Quote



Yes!  That SNL skit was probably the all time best!  They cut in about 15 times during the show and showed the footage of Buckwheat being shot.  The shooter ended up being John David Stutts (which was also Eddie Murphy).  What cracked me up the most was when they interviewed everyone that knew him.  They would ask, "Do you feel that John David Stutts shot Buckwheat?"  They all said, "Oh definitely.  That's all he ever talked about."  Then they showed his high school yearbook and he was named "Most likely to shoot Buckwheat."  CLASSIC! ;D ;D ;D ;D