Beating around the Bush
Apr. 13th, 2004 10:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
xaaraI hate watching George W. Bush speak without a prepared statement in front of him. It's gut-wrenching - there's a constant question of what's he going to mess up next? I can't stand questioning the leader of my country like that. I feel horrible watching him stand up in front of a group of reporters and blunder through his answers to straightforward questions. He loses track of his subject halfway through his answer and therefore butchers the subject/verb agreement; he says things like "we have to be on the offense" when he really means "we have to be on the offensive;" he rambles on and on and eventually brings God into everything he says. It's like watching a car accident or seeing some lady catch her purse strap on the bottom can of a canned fruit display. It's terrible to watch, but I can't help watching, hanging on every word, thinking this man was elected President of the United States.
And God. Bush brings God into everything. I'll freely admit that I'm at least somewhat religious, as are most of the people I know, but I never bring those beliefs into a political discussion. They simply don't belong there. The US is a country where freedom of religion (or freedom from religion) is purportedly valued as highly as any of the other basic rights outlined in the Constitution. This is not to say that I think all mention of religion should be banned in public areas. I don't believe that striking the words "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance is necessary. However, I do not in any way believe that the President of the United States should be claiming some sort of divine obligation to spread democracy and freedom. There is no such thing as manifest destiny, there is no right way to form a government, and there certainly is no one definition of freedom.
For me, freedom is the ability to write this journal entry, to go to school, to have private memories and secrets that no one will ever hear. Freedom is my ability to choose my faith and the nutrients that go into my body and the words that come from my mouth or my pen. But for someone else, freedom might mean living by a strict set of religious or government guidelines, and staying at home raising a family. How could I call that inferior? How could I, as a proud American citizen, say that my country (which is only mine by the purest matter of chance) is better than any other? I've seen my government falter and fail, quibble and filibuster, send money to the wrong people and withhold money from those who deserve it. How could I claim that this system works more effectively than any other?
American foreign policy is aimless and appalling. I think that the terrorist attacks in New York and DC sent a message to the heart of the people: You are not perfect. You are not protected. You are not invincible. You are not such a superpower that a small group of well-organized men cannot hurt you. What are you going to do? Nullify all civil freedoms, make all correspondences and transactions available to the government organizations that oversee your safety? Or clutch tightly to your inalienable rights and hope that this doesn't happen again? Will you go to war against phantoms or will you watch as the situation unfolds, unwilling to risk your neck in a place that does not want you?
I suppose I'll just have to grind on, live my life as I have been, and hope that the rash moves made by those I am forced to trust do not put the United States in the position of mediator in a place where it does not belong and is not welcome.
And God. Bush brings God into everything. I'll freely admit that I'm at least somewhat religious, as are most of the people I know, but I never bring those beliefs into a political discussion. They simply don't belong there. The US is a country where freedom of religion (or freedom from religion) is purportedly valued as highly as any of the other basic rights outlined in the Constitution. This is not to say that I think all mention of religion should be banned in public areas. I don't believe that striking the words "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance is necessary. However, I do not in any way believe that the President of the United States should be claiming some sort of divine obligation to spread democracy and freedom. There is no such thing as manifest destiny, there is no right way to form a government, and there certainly is no one definition of freedom.
For me, freedom is the ability to write this journal entry, to go to school, to have private memories and secrets that no one will ever hear. Freedom is my ability to choose my faith and the nutrients that go into my body and the words that come from my mouth or my pen. But for someone else, freedom might mean living by a strict set of religious or government guidelines, and staying at home raising a family. How could I call that inferior? How could I, as a proud American citizen, say that my country (which is only mine by the purest matter of chance) is better than any other? I've seen my government falter and fail, quibble and filibuster, send money to the wrong people and withhold money from those who deserve it. How could I claim that this system works more effectively than any other?
American foreign policy is aimless and appalling. I think that the terrorist attacks in New York and DC sent a message to the heart of the people: You are not perfect. You are not protected. You are not invincible. You are not such a superpower that a small group of well-organized men cannot hurt you. What are you going to do? Nullify all civil freedoms, make all correspondences and transactions available to the government organizations that oversee your safety? Or clutch tightly to your inalienable rights and hope that this doesn't happen again? Will you go to war against phantoms or will you watch as the situation unfolds, unwilling to risk your neck in a place that does not want you?
I suppose I'll just have to grind on, live my life as I have been, and hope that the rash moves made by those I am forced to trust do not put the United States in the position of mediator in a place where it does not belong and is not welcome.
