Considering the history of this blog, current events, and the fact that I have an Internet-connected-computer and time to kill, I figure I need to blog one more time about someone I have blogged about more than anyone. This person has received nothing but vitriol from me, and as he leaves his position of eight years, perhaps it is time for a little sympathy.
I started this blog a month after George W Bush won his second term in office. My disbelief and anger were so great, I felt I needed an outlet to spew it. Thankfully I've done more with this blog than just hate on the President. Now I would like to offer him a little compassion.
A few days ago I saw a flippant news story in a major news outlet with a headline comparable to "Few Care as Bush Gives Final Speech". As much as I can't stand the guy being in the oval office, I do feel like some respect is owed him simply for being President. The contents were also disheartening. Several of the President's key quotes were repeated, one in bigger and bolder letters:
As the years passed, most Americans were able to return to life much as it had been before 9/11. But I never did. Every morning, I received a briefing on the threats to our nation. I vowed to do everything in my power to keep us safe.
I honestly believe this comment is true. Just look at the guy. He looks to have aged 20 years in less than half that time. Look at his eyes when he speaks. This is a guy who believes in, and is obsessed with what he is saying, and wants you to know what he believes as truth as truth.
Despite disagreeing with most of his methods, and well, almost everything he has said or done or allowed since entering office, I believe this is a man who truly cares about America, who wants the absolute best for America, but sadly, doesn't understand what makes America America in the first place. Above everything this is a guy who has basically given his life for his country. I pity all the sleepless nights he has had, and all the ones he will continue to have.
I would love to have a beer with George W Bush. Actually, I think he would be one of the easiest guys to hang out with in the world. He seems like a nice guy and a ton of fun. But I would never, ever want him to be President...to which history responds, "Too bad!"
Barack Obama, you are the first politician I have been genuinely excited about since I gained the right to vote ten years ago. When you said "Yes we can" I believed you. We put you where you are because you made us believe you could help bring back hope to the country and get the job done. Please hold true to your promises.
It's bad enough to not vote for a guy, then spend nearly a decade watching him wreck your country. I think it's far worse to see a guy you helped put in office do the same.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
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4 comments:
I really think Bush has seemed more and more human as his term ends. I'm not going to say anything about his presidency or that of President-elect Obama (mainly because I rarely discuss politics with anyone other than my husband or my parents), but I do agree that Bush has aged a lot during his term in office, AND he has given a large portion of his life to a country that has done nothing but try to suck even more life out of him in many ways. He's human, and he never claimed to be anything else. So many that created divisiveness in this country under Bush are now calling for everyone to pull together under Obama. My take? No matter who you vote for, you support the person who is in office as the President. I see some that created the divide under Bush now telling those people who didn't vote for Obama to suck it up and come together for the sake of our country, and the hypocrisy kind of makes me feel sad for Bush. I supported the United States (note the "United" in there) under Bush, and I will continue to support my country under Obama. The President may be the head, but we are the body, without which the head can't do much of anything. Let's just work together.
To every single thing that you just said:
Amen.
I very quickly found myself at odds with Obama's slogan. But it's not just his slogan. "Yes we can" has always been America's slogan. It troubles me, because we Americans live it out. It gives us a sense of entitlement to prosperity and takes away the reality of our utter dependence on God for everything. There's a blog post coming down the pipeline on this in the near future.
Good food for thought. Eagerly awaiting this post.
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