In a message dated 9/21/01 10:11:45 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> Just an individual POV on Bush (however shared among my middle class middle
> smart French friends). He's frightening me talking about "Crusade" (not a
> very good choice of word in the context) using a lot of religious terms
> like Evil and Good, using the word 'God' in every speech. Very
> disturbing.
Aye, considering what the Crusades did to the Muslim world in the 11th -13th
centuries one would think that's not exactly the most politically correct
word to use.
However, we Americans are pretty angry and that's not going to change soon.
Our anger has been compounded by the images and film(s) shown nationwide of
4000+ Muslim Palestinians dancing and celebrating after thousands of our
citizens died. It's also been compounded by Iraqi and Libyan embassies here
in New York keeping their flags at full mast despite some rather scathing
editorials in the papers here. (The NYPost has been making lots of noise
about it.)
As for Bush:
While he may not be the most eloquent President we've ever had, (his father
was the same way) at the moment, he's definitely speaking for a majority of
Americans right now. Bush is from Texas. Quoting scripture is one of the
ways, historically, that Texan politicians get elected and stay elected. The
others are a) being pro-big business concerns, and b) being tough on crime.
In addition, a large majority of our country is made up of religious
Christians who like to know that their elected leaders are also, in the
thought that they will therefore conform to a certain moral and ethical code.
Most American politicans who are not from either coast can quote scripture
passages to fit any situation. Sadly, many of our politicians are very good
at quoting scripture, but not too good at following it.
Jon
