Response to "Subject-of-a-life"

I had a rather different idea of what characterizes a “subject-of-a-life” when Professor Johnson first mentioned it in class than what is described in the Blackwell Reference Online. I first thought that a subject-of-a-life is an entity that has a meaningful story to it. Things that have a long history, like an old church, an old ship, a favorite pair of shoes, or a heavily played and worn out guitar all seem to have a sentimental value to it simply because of its history. This is the reason I can place significant value on my instruments; for their capacity to have an especially rich history.

It seems to me that Reagan's subject of a life doesn't have much to do with honorary persons. Certainly honorary persons are to be valued for the same reason as regular persons, or else they would be given a different title.