“…Yet no one could doubt President Bush’s support for our troops, or his love of country and commitment to our security”
This phrase, taken from President Obama’s address regarding the ending of combat missions in Iraq, was tweeted by Michael Moore along with the question, “Um, anyone agree w/ that?” I am a huge Michael Moore supporter. I have loved all of his films and admire his tenacity and bravery in uncovering the truth. However, he did what many of the so-called hate mongers and one-sided news media outlets have been doing to President Obama since he began running for the office of President; he failed to note the rest of the comment. I will provide the entire statement for you here:
“Now, it is time to turn the page. As we do, I am mindful that the Iraq War has been a contentious issue at home. Here, too, it is time to turn the page. This afternoon, I spoke to former President George W. Bush. It’s well known that he and I disagreed about the war from its outset. Yet no one could doubt President Bush’s support for our troops, or his love of country and commitment to our security. As I have said, there were patriots who supported this war, and patriots who opposed it. And all of us are united in appreciation for our servicemen and women, and our hope for Iraq’s future. The greatness of our democracy is grounded in our ability to move beyond our differences, and to learn from our experience as we confront the many challenges ahead.”
When you read the phrase in context, um yeah many would agree with that. What is so difficult about looking beyond our differences? As much as I think George Bush was a horrible president, I do believe that in his mind, he was doing what he felt was right. Maybe it was selfish and only benefited him and his cronies, but we all know he was not a huge humanitarian when he was elected right? My beliefs differ vastly from former President Bush, but what good does it do to constantly dwell on what he did or did not do? We can’t get those two terms back. All we can do now is take steps to change things. It takes a grace and integrity that I don’t even think I have yet, to not use the 18 minutes addressing the country to bash everyone and everything that was wrong with Bush and his administration. Negativity breeds negativity, as we have all witnessed with tea-party rallies. Bashing Bush and his policies only fuels the anger many feel about him and republicans in general. But what does that anger lead to? If only we all could move beyond differences and live in the present without constantly attempting to re-live the past. What should Obama have said, that Bush is a war hungry tyrant who cares nothing for our troops? What good would that do? People who consistently bash other people tend to be the same people attempting to hide their own flaws. What President Obama did do with this speech is to remind us how much sacrifice it took for those troops to fight for us and our way of life. How about we let the President be the stand-up guy he demonstrates that he is. After all, integrity and grace are in very short supply these days.
The Revolution Within 