The Bush Inaugural Speech

We are led, by events and common sense, to one conclusion: The survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands. The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world.
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And when the soul of a nation finally speaks, the institutions that arise may reflect customs and traditions very different from our own. America will not impose our own style of government on the unwilling. Our goal instead is to help others find their own voice, attain their own freedom, and make their own way.
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We will encourage reform in other governments by making clear that success in our relations will require the decent treatment of their own people. America’s belief in human dignity will guide our policies...

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All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: the United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you.

The quotes above offer some well-placed platitudes and resounding rhetoric, but does the world truly believe that we mean these words? Do Arabs, Persians, Palestinians, Egyptians, or Pakistanis really believe that we support the freedom of all people to choose their own forms of government while we send money (often in large quantities) and the materiel of war to oppressive regimes throughout the Middle East? Mr. Bush says that we will support the populace in countries who long for and fight for freedom. I have no doubt that he is largely referring to Iran and Syria and maybe North Korea or China; however, I do not think that he is referring to the citizens of Saudi Arabia or Egypt or to the Palestinian people. Do the oppressed people of the world really believe that we will stand up for their rights to freedom and to self-government? NO. In today's WashPost, Scott Wilson writes about the Arab response to Mr. Bush's Inaugural address. He points to the very arguments that I am making here. The people of the world do not believe that America means what it says when its practices do not reflect those words.

WAKE UP, AMERICA!!!

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Our country has accepted obligations that are difficult to fulfill, and would be dishonorable to abandon.

Does this line represent George Bush's attempt at saying, "When we went into Iraq, we had no idea what we would be getting ourselves into. Of course, it is too late now and we just have to suck up our mistake and deal with it."? Or, instead, is it his effort to side-step the issue all together while justifying the promise of a freely elected government in Iraq?

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From the viewpoint of centuries, the questions that come to us are narrowed and few. Did our generation advance the cause of freedom? And did our character bring credit to that cause?

One might argue that our character in events such as Abu Ghraib (and the detention of so many 'illegal combatants' in Guantanamo, Cuba who might be innocents) has not brought credit to this nation of freedom. This nation who traditionally prides itself in preserving the rights of humankind to live as they believe. The tradition, so many would have us believe, extends only to citizens of the United States itself; in reality, our Constitution guarantees rights to all, not just citizens. The extention of rights to all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, or place of origin, represents the defining principle upon which this country was founded. We have forgotten the American place in history in offering these freedoms and rights without reservation to all who step onto our shores and to all with whom we come in contact. THAT is what liberty is all about!

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We have known divisions, which must be healed to move forward in great purposes - and I will strive in good faith to heal them.

This country continues to know division and will continue to know division as long as this President, who may or may not have been legitimately elected in 2000, continues to govern as though he has a mandate of 65% of the vote. When he entered office in 2000, he offended the people of the country by making decisions contrary to American ideals and values. He continues to make those decisions without consulting with his opponents and without informing his detractors. Until this man finds some humility, he will continue to create divisions in this country, and not to heal them. When arrogance is justified, people are willing to forgive hubris; but, when there is no evidence to support conceit, most people (at least 48-50%) do not like the attitude! This President (and particularly this Vice President) will never be a uniter. Within days of the greatest unifying force this country had witnessed in half a century, Mr. Bush had pushed away half of the nation by pursuing his own radical agenda while using the attacks of 9/11 as an excuse for his actions. At a time when this country could have remained united in its efforts and its motivation, the Bush administration alienated half the population. He will continue to govern with this misplaced hubris and ill-conceived arrogance--mark my words.