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| Tuesday, March 20 | | · | Finally, Some Good News |
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| Friday, January 12 | | · | Shadow Armies: The Unseen, But Real US War In Africa |
| Wednesday, December 13 | | · | The U.S. is Not a Democracy, It Never Was |
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Inside U.S.A.: George Bush: 'Fine Boy' Or 'Master of Illusion'
Posted on Tuesday, December 02 @ 18:05:26 UTC
Topic: Bushfire
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 by Ben Roberts
A few weeks ago Barbara Bush said in a TV interview, 'Don't mess with my son
George. He's a fine boy.' I will not criticize her for her point of view. The man is
after all her son, and a mother's connection to her offspring is no small matter.
However this thinking seems to run in the family and beyond. During his
re-election bid, George Bush Sr. was being taken to task by a challenger
regarding the Silverado Savings and Loan scandal where another son, Neal, had
bilked the Small Business Administration and us taxpayers out of a billion dollars
to fund this illegal enterprise. An exasperated and defensive Bush raised his
hackles and blurted out 'Leave my son out of this. He's a fine boy.' Then further
afield. During the 2000 presidential elections a woman was heard to say, I'll go
with Bush because he comes from good stock.' In other words 'A fine boy.' Is this
really the case? Are we talking a 'fine boy' or rather a 'master of illusion,' where
things are far different from what they seem? Let's see.
During the 2000 presidential campaign Bush was asked during a debate if he
had reservations about the death penalty and his leading the pack nationally,
while Governor of Texas, in signing the death warrants of 150 inmates. The
question was asked against the backdrop of certain states re-examining their
death penalty policies amid concerns of questionable evidence and wrongful
deaths. As soon as the question was asked Bush slapped his hand over his
heart in Boy Scout fashion and without hesitating stated, 'Deep in my heart I
believe all of those sentenced to death were guilty of their crimes.' That could not
have been true. Some years ago, a well-written book detailing the inner working
of America's deathrow recounted how a leading forensic investigator in West
Virgina, notorious for falsifying evidence, was booted out of the state for his
heinous actions. He resurfaced in, you guessed it, Texas, where he flourished.
Wanna bet your house, giant screen TV, and the kids Playstation system, that at
no time in his death warrant signing did Bush accidentally get tainted evidence
that had this man's imprint all over it? Once again, what was striking was the
lack of hesitation with which Bush answered the question. No soul searching,
silent pondering, or thoughtful deliberation at the gravity of authorizing the taking
of a fellow human beings life. Would a 'fine boy' respond in such a manner?
Nowadays George Bush describes himself as the 'compassionate President.' Is
he being real or are we dealing with a 'master of illusion?'
Shortly thereafter, during the Florida elections Gore had indicated that he was
about to concede to Bush, only to be told by his people that Bush team had
resorted to a number of irregularities to deny Democrats the opportunity to cast
their vote on his behalf. Gore took note and made it known that he was not giving
up after all. Bush, who had been rushing around assembling his cabinet became
royally upset, and accused Gore of being wishy washy and hindering the
democratic process. Would a 'fine boy; who stood for democracy and fairness
respond in such a manner, or would he pause and say 'Wait. Something has
gone awry here. Let's step back and ensure that our fellow citizens get to fairly
exercise their God given right to vote.' Or could it be that here George Bush was
the 'master of illusion?' An illusion of having won that was being put under
scrutiny, and which he decided to keep intact by blasting Gore? Was this
behavior consistent with that of a 'fine boy,' or more along the lines of a 'master
of illusion' using sleight of hand to direct our eyes elsewhere?
In an article by Helen Thomas titled 'Pentagon Manages War By Limiting Coffin
Pictures,' and carried in SmirkingChimp on October 13, 2003, she refers to a
Lieutenant Colonel Cynthia Colin who takes great pains to explain that the ban
on media coverage stems from compassion for the families, 'to protect their
wishes and privacy during the time of greatest loss and grief.' In addition to this
George Bush has not attended the funeral rites of any of America's fallen men
and women in the war in Iraq. Let me see if I get this right. George Bush, who
sells himself as the 'Compassionate President,' has excused himself from being
present at the last rites of this nation's young sons and daughters that he sent
into battle, and barred other Americans from sharing in the grief of these fallen,
is doing so because he is compassionate and protecting the wishes of the
families? Are these the actions of a 'fine boy,' or a 'master of illusion' trying to sell
us on the notion that the war is going fine?
Back to Neal Bush. Yesterday Reuters carried a story on him and his divorce
trial. His wife, Sharon Bush, is finally divorcing him after twenty-five years for
blatant infidelity. In testimony he describes having regular and indiscriminate sex
with a long procession of women who simply showed up at his hotel door and
who he had never seen before. In this day and age of sexual disease and the
need to encourage sexual restraint and abstinence in our nation's youth, this
man admits to a life of sexual abandon that tore apart his marriage. Are these
the actions we expect from a 'fine boy' who 'comes from good stock?'
Lao Tzu, the great Chinese philosopher states that the greatest harm humans
can do to themselves is to succumb to the illusions of hope and fear, because
they make one a powerless victim. He is so right. As elections get closer masters
of illusion will turn up the volume on fear and mayhem. Americans need to know
this so that, instead of becoming victims, they realize that this country is a nation
'by the people, of the people, and for the people.' We constantly hear this quoted
but need to grasp that it is a reality. As this Thanksgiving season comes and
goes let us be thankful for, and feel empowered by a 'fine boy' who said 'Our
lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.' His name? Martin Luther King.
Ben Roberts is a newsletter editor, freelance writer and published author. His book, Jackals of Samarra, was published in January 2001.
Ben can be contacted by email at: grandt730@aol.com
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