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April 2, 2007Bush: The president of all the people - UPDATED
Don Surber shows a wonderful picture of President Bush, helping Democrat Sen. Robert Byrd walk as they gather to confer a congressional Gold Medal to the Tuskegee airmen who served in World War II. Sen. Robert Byrd is, of course, a former Klansman, and as partisan a Democrat as one may find. In the picture, Bush holds Byrd’s hand with great gentleness and compassion, in no way demeaning Bryd or taking away his dignity. But you can see that he is firmly grasping the old man’s hand; Bush is concentrating entirely on serving him safely to his seat. Surber says that the picture didn’t get picked up by many papers and suggests that it’s because the press is reluctant to remind people that President Bush is an utterly decent, humane and gentlemanly man. Nothing good is permitted to be shown of President Bush, these days. Doesn’t fit the “Bush is evil and moronic” template. I more than suspect that Surber is correct. It’s been that way for a while, actually. I recall that a year after 9/11, President Bush’s poll numbers were still in the stratosphere; they were very high heading into Iraq. They were still pretty high during the “cedar revolutions” and the “orange revolutions” - the so-called “Arab Springtime” during which time Democracy seemed to be threatening to break out all over the world. It was all happening under Bush’s watch, and Bush was dancing with these folks as they demonstrated their hopefulness. That was only in two years ago, in May, 2005. Feels like half an age, doesn’t it? I remember writing, a few months later, (and it’s somewhere in my archives, but I haven’t time to look for it just now) that directly after May 2005, it became near to impossible to find “good” press for President Bush. Anywhere. I recall writing that it seemed like a giant foot had simply come down and quashed all of that forward movement, all of that Intention. Suddenly it all simply stopped. Try to find any sort of decent press - or even a simple word of praise - for President Bush within the NY Times or the major news organizations, the wire services, the nightly broadcasts, from that point on. Moreover, try to find a member of the “loyal opposition” (aside from Joe Lieberman) who has managed in the last two years to treat the president with the courtesy due both his humanity and his office. Lots of vituperate name-calling, but very little willingness to see Bush as a human being, to present him as one. I thought it was enormously funny last week to watch Rosie O’ Donnell carry on about how the terrible, horrible conservatives and the evil American president have “stolen the humanity” of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. She and hers have absolutely no problem robbing the president of his humanity, every single day, and doing all they can to keep the president’s instinctive, stubborn decency out of everyone’s line of vision. But once in a while - more and more thanks to the internet - you get a glimpse. You get to remember that this president does not return in kind. He does not offer a hand to you only if you’re from the right party, and if you do him fealty. That picture of Bush with Byrd reminds me that he is - in his own mind, if not in yours - the president of all the people, determined to serve your safety, your infrastructure, your economy and your future, even if you would rather he did not. Even if you wish he were dead. Even if you call him names. Even if you try to destroy his presidency and take him down. Even if you do all that from his own party and not from the “opposition” side. This president will not return in kind. He hasn’t in six years, no matter how rude others have been. I was on retreat this past weekend, and praying about and for many people, praying over many issues. When I thought of President Bush, I kept thinking of that line from Isaiah, Chapter 50: Morning after morning The Lord GOD is my help, It is part of the prophecy of Christ, of course, and I am by no means suggesting that Bush is to be compared to the Christ - the savior - except in this way: he follows the example of the Master - the example laid out by Christ - especially as we are to contemplate and learn from Him, this very week. President Bush is doing what is unthinkable - he is staying true to the task laid out before him, to serve all the people. He is remaining faithful to that and he is counting on his God to do the rest, as his God has promised. This is remarkable witness. In an era when every special-interest group demands satisfaction for real or imagined “slights,” when Christians try to insist upon respectfulness from the arts, and radical Islamists demand blood or force conversions for any perceived “insult,” this Christian man stands before the world and insists only that the course of liberty be pursued and that he be allowed to protect the safety, rights and freedoms of his citizens. He does not insist that you treat him well. Quite the opposite. He looks at something you can’t see and he allows you to say anything about him you want to, and he holds fast to a promise. He stands before the entire world and allows that world to curse and mock him, to condemn him. He allows himself to be identified as the “cause” of every difficulty - the “biggest terrorist” in the world, the “most vile human” on the planet. Not Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, not Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, not the raping, murdering warlords of Dafur, not Vladimir Putin. George W. Bush, who started a revolutionary push toward world-wide liberty and democratic process - he’s the vile oppressor. He’s the guy who wants to take away your freedoms, pollute your planet into extinction and silence your internets. He’s the “Nazi” who is trying to kill the free speech you are ironically spouting all over the place against him, on television, on the radio, on the stage, on the printed page, quite without fear of reprisal. President Bush, you see, is not the one who tries to shut people up. In the face of that upside-down disorientation that says “good” is “bad” and “truthiness” is enough, President Bush gets up every day and keeps going, and remains steadfast, and lets you hate him all you want. And if you stumble in his line of vision he will not step around you. And if you’re old and feeble, he will help you walk. Yes, this is remarkable witness. How many of us would be capable of doing the same? Do not repay anyone evil for evil; be concerned for what is noble in the sight of all. UPDATE: Redstate recalls how Sen. Byrd has treated this president in the past. http://theanchoressonline.com/2007/04/02/the-president-of-all-the-people/trackback/ 23 Responses to “Bush: The president of all the people - UPDATED” |
April 2nd, 2007 at 1:46 pm
[...] The Anchoress has a post on another kind of shepherd who suffers from linguistic stones thrown at him daily and yet stays faithful to his mission. [...]
April 2nd, 2007 at 4:03 pm
[...] in many respects quite the pacifist. People on the left want us to appreciate nuance… well, here it is. Enjoy. Frustration aside, there is much there to admire about his character, and this steadfast [...]
April 2nd, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Here, as elsewhere when you have treated this subject, I am left shaking my head and persuaded, dear A, that one of us is hallucinating.
April 2nd, 2007 at 8:57 pm
I can assure you, Rand, I am quite in my wits.
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This is an eminently news-worthy picture - two powerful men of different political persuasions entering an irony-laden awards ceremony. The leader of the free world is helping the other to walk. It’s CERTAINLY newsworthy, and if it were any other president, you’d have seen it splashed all over the world. Funnily enough, it was not.
‘
It is not a picture that helps keep the Bush-hate going.
April 3rd, 2007 at 3:51 am
THIS is What I’m Talking About!…
President Bush helping Sen. Byrd walk at the ceremony honoring the Tuskegee soldiers.
Two men of completely different political persuasions and both in positions of power. One helps the other to walk to a ceremony.
How come we didn’t see this i…
April 3rd, 2007 at 6:29 am
[...] today, I read this article over at The Anchoress. I want to thank her for showing why, despite all the problems, our President [...]
April 3rd, 2007 at 8:47 am
I am persuaded that those who don’t understand your remarkably beautiful post about our beleaguered and yet steadfast President are narrow of mind, closed of heart and pinched of soul. And they, more than others, deserve our prayers and our compassion.
President Bush is a living example of what true goodness should be. I think that is why he is so hated by those who are closed off from common sense, compassion and love of this country.
Bless you, beloved Anchoress. Have a blessed and happy Easter.
April 3rd, 2007 at 9:35 am
[...] Anchoress notes just how far Leftists will go to deny reality. From The President Of All The People: Don Surber shows a wonderful picture of President Bush, helping Democrat Sen. Robert Byrd walk as [...]
April 3rd, 2007 at 10:15 am
Dear Anchoress,
What a beautiful and prophetic photograph this is. It is wonderful that you display it here on your blog. This post today is powerful and extreemly meaningful. It has brought tears to my eyes as I have felt so many times that the hate that has been shown President Bush is the display of human beings who feel they must band together to gain momentum and strength in their attacks. In the end it has only been hurtful and shameful. You’re right, we may wish he do things differently, but you have to give him credit or his steadfastness and his convictions.
I hope your retreat brought a new strength and new resolve. As always, wishing you the very best. ~Viola Jaynes
April 3rd, 2007 at 4:09 pm
Anchoress:
I agree that the President needs to represent all the people and not stoop to the level of his atackers.
The Presidents policies are critical to the well being of the nation. His messages and policies have been distorted with lies and ommissions by those in this country who would bring him down. The distortions and lioes are so great that they have entered into the historical record.
The President has to find a way to get his message out past the naysayers to the people. He will be accused of spreading propaganda but he will have to be insistent and persistent.
I do not know how the message can get past the fog but it has to be done.
April 3rd, 2007 at 4:37 pm
I have always felt that the hatred shown our president is totally out of proportion to anything rational. I may have wished a couple of his policies were different, but I have loved his character from the start. He is truly an example to us all and I am so thankful that you summed it up so beautifully.
April 3rd, 2007 at 5:27 pm
Bless you for this reminder. He is a good and decent man who is deserving of our prayers and our thanks. Have a wonderful Easter.
April 3rd, 2007 at 9:26 pm
rcareaga, if the Anchoress bewilders you so, let me remind you of the fact that Bill and Hillary Clinton not only despised the military, they made a habit of treating soldiers and airmen with gratuitous rudeness and contempt.
April 4th, 2007 at 5:18 am
The anti-Schizophrenia Drugs wore off… again…
Over the last few months, Democratic leaders have begun acting even more erratically than usual……
April 4th, 2007 at 11:35 am
[...] article about this is certainly not 100% positive, but the underlying act is (HT Anchoress, Don Surber, and too many others to [...]
April 4th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
okay, now i have a few tears in the eyes…
really outstanding post…
thank you.
April 4th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
An Admirable Man…
A worthy President……
April 4th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
[...] my puzzle, either 2nd Anniversary of John Paul II’s passing Andrea Jeager now an Anglican Nun The president of all the people - UPDATED Some hot links before I retreat Being called on my instincts The Father and Child reunion… [...]
April 4th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
[...] Anchoress points us to a glimpse of the President Bush we all know about, but the media is loathe to report on. Doesn’t fit “the template.” But once in a [...]
April 6th, 2007 at 10:03 am
“He holds fast to a promise”…
As we start organizing foodstuffs and table-decoration items for the movable feast that will be Easter Dinner at Goomp’s, Baby pauses in the aftermath of a good snort of catnip. It’s a classic case of a bad plan, poorly executed….
April 6th, 2007 at 5:27 pm
[...] at 5:27 pm (Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, America 101, War on Terror, Faith) One of The Anchoress’ posts from a couple of days ago continues to wobble around in my head. She has such a touch - such an [...]
April 7th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
I try to see the President your way, Anchoress, and often succeed. But, sometimes it isn’t easy. Things like this -
http://www.reason.com/news/show/119424.html
- just drive me crazy. Blame it on the underlings, if you like, but Bush’s refusal to crack heads and insist that the Federal agencies promote his policies lies at the root of the problem.
But, God bless him in spite of it all. We could do a lot worse than GWB as our President, and we probably will.
April 9th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
[...] my puzzle, either 2nd Anniversary of John Paul II’s passing Andrea Jeager now an Anglican Nun The president of all the people - UPDATED Some hot links before I retreat Being called on my instincts document.write(”); if [...]