Getting Rid of the Gipper

The deconstruction of past heroes is tied to an assumption of moral progress and evolution that is, for Christians, theoretically untenable and empirically false. Hence why C.S. Lewis encourages us to read old books: to transcend the unseen prejudices of the present age. This was, I thought, part of the reason for the College’s emphasis on the great books of the Western tradition. Perhaps it was also partly why King’s chose figures from the past as House namesakes, figures who perceived some timeless truth in a way their fellows did not. Regardless of what the initial motivations were for reviewing the namesakes, any move to abolish the House of Reagan at this time would play into the hands of those who oppose the fact that King’s is both Christian and conservative. Perhaps Kingsians should humbly attempt to learn from these flawed namesakes, rather than assume moral superiority over them.