Thursday, January 20, 2005
I hardly know where to begin with George Bush's inaugural speech
I hardly know where to begin with George Bush's inaugural speech, except to say that while its abstractions ring true, they are actually ruses. Here's a few stirring lines:
"America's vital interests and our deepest beliefs are now one."
Is he referring to an abundant supply of gasoline (interests) for America's SUVs (beliefs)? This isn't the 1864 inaugural.
"Freedom, by its nature, must be chosen, and defended by citizens, and sustained by the rule of law and the protection of minorities."
Does anyone believe this can or will happen in Iraq?
"The great objective of ending tyranny is the concentrated work of generations. The difficulty of the task is no excuse for avoiding it."
This is a great objective, but historically it has not been on the United States of America's agenda. Our two paramount objectives have always been the protection of our own national freedom & the preservation of the Union. We have never taken on a trans-generational task of pre-emptively ending tyranny where it does not directly threaten us.
"That edifice of character is built in families, supported by communities with standards, and sustained in our national life by the truths of Sinai, the Sermon on the Mount, the words of the Koran, and the varied faiths of our people."
The inclusion of the Koran here is both gratuitous & cynical. First, Christians of Bush's stripe cede no truths to the Koran. If they do, then why not mention the Diamond Sutras, Analects of Confucius, & even the Book of Mormon? Second, Christians of Bush's stripe are a lot more dogmatic about John 14:6 than they are with what they regard as but a few informal pastorly suggestions on the standing of peacemakers, mourners, & the poor in spirit in the cosmic scheme.
"The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world."
This statement would seem the least open to dispute, but not if it is placed in another context, a hypothetical speech by Bush two years ago:
"Although there is no credible evidence that Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction or a viable nuclear program, or was involved in the attacks on 9/11, I am ordering an invasion of Iraq anyway in order to overthrow his government & create a democracy, because the best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world." Would Americans have then supported Mister Bush? Of course not. Say, why don't we expand freedom next in China & Saudi Arabia?
What George W. Bush has done & is doing is he is rewriting in an Orwellian manner his justifications for invading & occupying Iraq. He should not be allowed to get away with it. But so far, our mainstream press & elected representatives have shown no spine for the battle. & this emboldens Bush & his neo-com sycophants to apply the same greasy standards of untruth to his domestic agenda.
Add YOUR comments here
"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." Thomas Jefferson
"America's vital interests and our deepest beliefs are now one."
Is he referring to an abundant supply of gasoline (interests) for America's SUVs (beliefs)? This isn't the 1864 inaugural.
"Freedom, by its nature, must be chosen, and defended by citizens, and sustained by the rule of law and the protection of minorities."
Does anyone believe this can or will happen in Iraq?
"The great objective of ending tyranny is the concentrated work of generations. The difficulty of the task is no excuse for avoiding it."
This is a great objective, but historically it has not been on the United States of America's agenda. Our two paramount objectives have always been the protection of our own national freedom & the preservation of the Union. We have never taken on a trans-generational task of pre-emptively ending tyranny where it does not directly threaten us.
"That edifice of character is built in families, supported by communities with standards, and sustained in our national life by the truths of Sinai, the Sermon on the Mount, the words of the Koran, and the varied faiths of our people."
The inclusion of the Koran here is both gratuitous & cynical. First, Christians of Bush's stripe cede no truths to the Koran. If they do, then why not mention the Diamond Sutras, Analects of Confucius, & even the Book of Mormon? Second, Christians of Bush's stripe are a lot more dogmatic about John 14:6 than they are with what they regard as but a few informal pastorly suggestions on the standing of peacemakers, mourners, & the poor in spirit in the cosmic scheme.
"The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world."
This statement would seem the least open to dispute, but not if it is placed in another context, a hypothetical speech by Bush two years ago:
"Although there is no credible evidence that Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction or a viable nuclear program, or was involved in the attacks on 9/11, I am ordering an invasion of Iraq anyway in order to overthrow his government & create a democracy, because the best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world." Would Americans have then supported Mister Bush? Of course not. Say, why don't we expand freedom next in China & Saudi Arabia?
What George W. Bush has done & is doing is he is rewriting in an Orwellian manner his justifications for invading & occupying Iraq. He should not be allowed to get away with it. But so far, our mainstream press & elected representatives have shown no spine for the battle. & this emboldens Bush & his neo-com sycophants to apply the same greasy standards of untruth to his domestic agenda.
Add YOUR comments here
