On the last night of the Republican convention, President Bush was clearly moved by his own words. But only when he got to the part about war. All religious zealots are clear about right and wrong. Their god is the one and only higher power, and all others are false. And all religious zealots are keen about killing the opposition. Check the Old Testament and the New. As Mark Twain tells us in brilliant bubble-bursting satire in “Letters From the Earth,” the Bible is a record of simplistic self-righteous bloodshed. For leaders like Mr. Bush, complex diplomacy is frightening. It requires a well-furnished mind that can understand subtle social nuances in a variety of rich cultures. Any understanding of Middle East societies requires deep reading and study. We all know our president brags about not reading. You can tell by his speeches. Though his writers may read more—one wonders!—they are careful to reflect their leader’s simplistic view of the world.
If one Arab is a terrorist, all are terrorists. Killing one is as good as killing another. Just kill. If the rest of the world doesn’t agree, they just don’t understand. One nation can not only lead, it is the only one that knows the Truth. If other nations doubt this, the nation in charge (ours) can show them their guns and bombs and wave their trade agreements, subsidies and threats of embargo. Might makes right. The Bible says so.
This president upholds not the Constitution, which he has sworn to follow, but another volume as the highest authority.
I am afraid.