How many of us thought it a bit odd that President Bush showed up at the eulogy at Virginia Tech? This is a man who has made an issue of not showing up at any dead Marine's service. Actually, I wondered if the man had guts enough to show up and was ... pleasantly surprised. I didn't burn his short speech, but knew that I could find it on youtube. Yes, ... I did find revealing parts of his speech, though, that are well worth examining.
The first thing that came to my mind, was, why was it so urgent for the president to show up at Virginia Tech, at all? Yes, there were over 30 dead, including teachers and students, but there were over a thousand people who eventually died along the Gulf Coast. In New Orleans there were hundreds dying, but the president was a no-show for 5 days. He could have made a difference. What gives? Well, ... ah, up to this point in his administration, Bush simply has been a virtually a "no-show." Could we say that Virginia Tech is his base? That makes a difference! Or is the man working on his legacy.
My wife insists that one of his writers, wrote his short eulogy. I think not. I think the speech was hastily put together by the president and was probably, reviewed (read) in front of his mirror. The speech, itself, was sophomoric. We know that Bush is a poor public speaker, even when his speeches are written for him, and even after practicing the speeches in front of his staff a dozen times. Remember, this is the man that flunked debates, three in a row. The speech by Virginia Tech's president was phenominally extemporaneous, as he used the entire stage for his delivery. Why do I think Bush's speech was purely his?
Why does the president slur his "s's?" I think it is a personal thing by a man who snobs his position in life and believes his words have power. SSsssadly, they do not, even after 8 yearsss of "practissse." His slurred s's, to me, are forcibly, unimpress...ssive. Well, sit back and bear with me on this one.
First, without the speech in front of me, I think of the idiom, "wrong place at the wrong time." Wrong! How absolutely incongruant is this phrase as used in the speech! The students were just the opposite. The students WERE in the right place at the right time. It was Seung-Hui Cho, who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Did the president over-look that, or maybe, this part of the speech would have more properly been included in a speech about the three lacross players at Duke. Absolutely, nothing has been said about the fact that what happened to the "Duke Boys" was literally, "of their own making." They knew that the illegal party was off campus so that underage attenders could illegally consume alcohol without getting in trouble. And, ... more than likely they knew that a stripper had been hired for $800. Heck, ... they probably chipped in for the $800 transaction to get the ladies. Could Seung-Hui Cho have chosen the time of his executions because these boys with their high priced lawyers, walked away, as if no campus or state laws had been violated? Just the lady strippers were creamed on this one. Money talks. And now we learn one of them is rewarded with a 6 figure Wallstreet job.
Or could the trigger had been the fact that Bush had ordered our troops into a situation that has our soldiers at the "wrong place at the wrong time." We are looking at 6 years going in, where, at the hands of this president, our troops have "pre-emptively" invaded another country for, primarily, the world economy, and Iraq's oil reserves - killing tens of thousands of innocents. Luckily, we didn't invade South Korea, a good friend and a good neighbor.. Just so far this month we have lost 65 soldiers not counting the 1000 innocents. Fact, ... bombs take out people, without respect to class or age, when they are dropped ignited.
In the Korean society, the entire family becomes disgraced, when a member of their family does something bad. But Seung-Hui Cho had mental problems. Untreated, Seung-Hui became a deadly mental disease that lead to his death - an excellent example of how mental problems are truly diseases. Has Bush no decency? Mr. President, the man had a disease and was not evil. So, what? Do you think Seung-Hui had demons in him that should have pulled out and sent to a group of pigs, which head-long rushed into the sea?
Bush is a log, when it comes to getting things in his head. Once in his head a term possesses him, much like Cho, making him use words and phrases over and over to the point of exhaustion. Bush's decisions have killed, many times more that 32. Bush's speech is exhibit A.
"This week, we reflect on what has been lost and comfort those enduring a profound grief. And somehow we know that a brighter morning will come,” said President Bush. “We know this because together Americans have overcome many evils and found strength through many storms.”
“And we know there will be a day, as promised in Scripture, when evil will meet its reckoning and when every tear shall be wiped away."
Cho had a serious disease, Mr. President. Have you no decency? Would you like others to view your girls' alcoholism as evil. Get real. You are feeding the fire that killed 33, and heaping manure on a good Korean family who does not deserve it.
But now let us turn to Bush's Biblical chosen selection.
Romans 12:21 "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Yes, you read it right. Bush chose to use a verse from the Bible that the word "evil" is used, twice. Thank God he is not a psychiatrist. Axis of evil! Does this man have a hang-up or what!
This verse was written by Paul to the church in Rome. Saul was the most educated of Jesus's followers, and he had the authority to give Christians the ultimate sentence. But his dramatic change came on the road to Damascus, after which he changed his name from Saul to Paul. The verse stands, powerfully, on its own - beginning with a capital and ending with a period. Bush certainly has not lived or governed with this mantra. In fact, Bush has openly flaunted just the opposite behavior. An "eye for and eye; tooth for a tooth," would better describe Bush's actions, which is an Old Testament phrase, used 4 different times. But Christians no longer have the right to use that phrase!
Matthew 5:38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 5:39 But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer. But whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well. 5:40 And if someone wants to sue you and to take your tunic, give him your coat also. 5:41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 5:42 Give to the one who asks you, 50 and do not reject 51 the one who wants to borrow from you.
Who knows, if Bush had governed using Paul's advice, would we not have lost, at least 3,332 men and women, and The United States would not be alone in the world, with a huge black eye. The Islamic right lives by the "eye for an eye" theology. Mercy killings for Muslim women who have dishonored the family? Even had we not gone in and had followed Paul's instructions, by taken down "the wall" that existed between our countries and theirs, I still cannot see a freed nation opening itself to foriegn tourism. Iraq is subjected to a strong religious beliefs.
But let us look at the verses above that, and understand that The Bible, as written, would have looked more like Choe's writing before scholars chipped it into chapters and verses, to make more sense of it. So let's look at the verses Bush excluded, for it is the exclusions that describe Bush's mind.
12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people. (Not this one!)
12:18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people. (Not this one!)
12:19 Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God's wrath, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. (Certainly not this one!)
12:20 Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head. (Heavens to say, not this one either. This is looking barren, here.)
Reading those verses that Bush left out indicates, quickly, that in Biblical terms, Bush "ain't no mental giant" when it comes to the New Testament. In fact, these verses solidly support the fact that every thing, including all plans and actions after 9/1l, were Biblically incorrect, ... sinful, if you may. We wonder what would Iraq have been like if we had openly applied Paul's guide-lines in dealing with this country; could Saddam have continued as the horrible dictator he was.
Bush and company had Bible studies in The White House, and with Ashcroft there, there was a press that all should be Christians. To me, it is strange that the group didn't study Paul's letter to the Romans and abided by his instructions, after 9/11.
Finally, as a once Bible salesmen, I would be amiss to point out that The Bible is the number one selling book in the United States, so far out distancing any other book, that the media simply does not include it in the Top Ten list of books sold. The Gideons alone, buys and distributes millions of the Bibles around the world. Bibles can be found in every hotel room in South Korea, a very Christian nation, and America. But besides the millions of those distributed by the Gideons, millions are purchased by churches to award their graduates each year and at baptisms. And, just having one Bible per household is anything but accurate.
Christians study dozens of translations available. The Bible will always be a "growth industry." An Oklahoman used colored markers in his Bible to track the threads throughout The Old and New Testament. The idea was so impressive, that it is published and has made the man and his family, instant millionaires. Do not take The Bible, for granted, Bill Mauer!- just because it is not shown on any best sellers lists. There's enough Bibles sold in the summer by college students, to blow any other book out of the country.
By the way, how many of us have gotten the Bush pass-me-around, showing a sketch of Bush morphed into Jesus. Pathetic. Talk about stupid Christians. And, finally, you "youtubers" can find the world's greatest blues dog, Sassie, by searching "okharpman."
