Thursday, January 22, 2009

Farewell, Mr. President


Although I voted for you.... twice..... I did not always agree with your decisions....... however, whether I agreed with you or not, I will say that you have always been a “class act”. You and Laura have displayed amazing dignity under the vitriolic hatred that has been spewed at you over the last eight years.

It can be said, without fear of serious argument, that no previous president has been treated as brutally, viciously, and as unfairly as you were.

You have endured a deliberate and planned assault on everything you stood for, everything you were involved in, and everything you tried to accomplish. Your enemies were willing to risk the country’s safety, its economic health, and the very balance of the democratic system of government in order to get at you. They have been out to bring you down at all costs, or at the very least, to destroy your personal and presidential reputation.

As the New York Times began jeopardizing national security by publishing secret security documents it had obtained, the fact that you were able to curtail any further attacks while the media, as a whole. was working to undermine your efforts, is a little less than miraculous.

In all of these attacks, you have exhibited nothing but serenity. You will be viewed by history as a man who picked up the worst hand of cards dealt to any president since Roosevelt...and you played it out better than anyone had a right to expect.

Other presidents may encounter the same level of mindless hatred and suffer comparable abuse--but we can be sure that no one will ever meet it with more equanimity than you did!!

Your breeding was never more apparent, than when you were under attack.

Your graciousness to the Obamas in helping them with their transition, has been admirable. I have appreciated your positive words, for the Obamas. I believe you show a genuine warmth for President Obama. I suspect you admire his sense of family, his relaxed and easygoing nature, and his character.

With this, I wish you well. .

I believe history will treat you much more kindly than your contemporaries have.

Farewell, George and Laura--God speed!!

Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory
that far outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4 : 17-18



********************************
I wrote this because, for the past eight years, the hatred I have heard expressed toward George Bush was more than anything I have ever experienced, having lived through many presidents. We have all had problems with presidents and their decisions, but this raw hatred, expressed by many of my liberal friends and acquaintances, wore me down. Along with this hatred was the implied stupidity with which the Republicans were viewed. If you didn't agree with "them" you were stupid and uninformed...and several of my friends seemed to be consumed with their hatred. It has not been a comfortable eight years for those of us who aren't liberal in our thinking. I have a right to my beliefs, as do they, without hatred and derision being so blatant!

As I watched the inauguration, hearing the jeering and cat calls towards George and Laura Bush made me sick...so if you have read this far, you know what brought this post on!!

. This will be my only post with political overtones, I promise. I am committed to praying for President Obama and supporting him in all that I can. The last eight years have taught me something--respect for the Office, regardless of what I may or may not agree.

23 comments:

Kim said...

I couldn't agree more! He was the right man for the job at the right time in history. Despite my disagreement with certain things he did, I am proud to have voted for him...twice.

I watched the most irritating video yesterday of a bunch of celebrities pledging to get behind President Obama because it's the "loneliest job in the world." They want us all to unite now that their guy is in office. How they cannot see the hypocrisy and duplicity and idiocy in that is beyond me.

Kim said...

Oh, I also meant to say that I love that top picture!

Anonymous said...

It has been very fascinating to watch Holly*wood have such a huge part in the presidential race this time. I believe the tide is changing and Holly*wood will begin to have an even greater influence in our culture than ever.

I did not always agree with President Bush's politics, and dare I admit publicly...He had my vote both terms. But, there has never been a president I have always agreed with. I always felt the Bushes were well intended and gracious. No person makes it to being the president of this country who is not intelligent. The disdain with which we treated him was an embarrassment to me, as a citizen of our country (wishing for us to be a model of democracy). In mocking our leader, we mocked ourselves in a way.

Kathleen said...

Cheers and amen! It has been a difficult task to zip my lip when I hear others (some of them good friends, or family) jeer George W. You said it well, and you said it all.

I believe history will be good to George & Laura because today their enemies do not know what they do not know. He did. And I am so grateful he dispatched that knowledge with utmost care.

Kathleen

Sally said...

I for one agree with you 100%. I am not one to run around spouting off my political views, but in this case I couldn't agree more that the Bushes were treated horrible. There is just no other way to put it. I for one am so happy he was Commander In Chief when we had the 911 attack. So many times I told my husband, if I were him I would just step down, thankfully he was not me. He held his head high, stood by his convictions and his wife was always there with him, no matter what. She in my estimation was a true "First Lady". I have nothing but respect President Bush and Laura. May God Bless them much for their years of service to our Country and may history treat them better than the American Liberals.

Ruthie said...

I totally agree with you and all that has been said. I was so sorry to see the Bush's leave. They were truly put here at a time when our country needed them and I thank them for their service to all of us under such difficult times.

(Yes, my daughter is an author herself and has been published. We are very proud of her).

HW said...

Amazing post.

The day after President Obama was elected, in hearig the complaining of family and friends I said "I will not be angry for the next four years."

Here's the thing. As president, Barack Obama deserves my respect and loyalty. I will not agree with him on everything (obviously) but I will not call him stupid, ignorant, evil or any of the other names used against George Bush and his family.

I have wished for the last eight years that people could disagree with a person without hating that person. Even now that he is out of office, the Bush bashing continues.

Thanks for your great words.

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

I love the pictures and the post!! Have a great weekend...m.

Anonymous said...

Are we the "silent majority"? You have bravely stepped out and said what many of us have wanted to say, especially in the last 3-4 years as the Bush bashing escalated, then extended to the non-stop gratuitous attacks on Sarah Palin and her family.

Once Bush has faded into the background, the attack dogs will sharpen their teeth and turn their total focus on Sarah Palin, who is perceived as a new political threat on the horizon.

The pictures are just the frosting on the cake, leaving one with a feeling of pride and goodwill.

Thanks for offering these welcome reasoned words.

Tonja H. said...

Well said, Granny! I think it's pretty evident that the primary reason the Bushes were under so much hateful attack is that they were willing to both talk the talk and walk the walk of their faith, instead of being swayed by popularity interests. Like you, I didn't agree with everything, but much of what I didn't agree with didn't start with him, but rather got foisted upon him by the bodies of government under him. And a lot of what has been blamed on him actually stems from prior administrations. No doubt the current administration will get credit for much of the good that Bush started... I just found out that a major victory in Iraq, of decimating Al Qaeda leadership, hasn't even been widely reported here, probably because the media didn't want to give Bush any credit while they were busy celebrating the arrival of Obama. Pitiful, but fortunately Bush doesn't put his stock in what the public thinks of him, because he already knows what his Lord thinks of him. Stay strong, and don't be afraid to speak out when you see an injustice. For only through good people doing nothing does evil get such a strong toehold, to paraphrase a popular quote. We humans are such sheep, you know. :-)
Hugs!!

pbo said...

What an excellent farewell! Very well said! You have my vote!

sister sheri said...

What eloquent words... how they ring true for so many of us. Thank you for taking the time to put your heart on the paper via pen. May we reflect our Lord and Savior in all we SAY and DO. Blessings!

Anonymous said...

Hey Aunt Joan! I'm actually still in Tokyo, today is my last night. I am sooo excited to go back to San Francisco, albeit only for a week. I move to New York on February 1st, and start my new life there. As far as travel nothing big coming up immediately...Looks like I will be going to Cuba in April, a possible work conference in North Carolina in March, Will be spending lots of time in Boston because I'm a bridesmaid for a May wedding, and then continuing to work on the program I'm starting and heading in Mexico this summer. Maybe some day I'll actually make it up to Portland!!! :)

Peter said...

You have expressed my thoughts to beautifully. I hope to live to a day when his legacy will be highlighted with his crucial great acts.

Anonymous said...

The above comment is actually mine, not my husbands:)

Bev said...

I am not American so really should not have a say in this but I have to - I can't keep quiet about such injustice. You have put this over perfectly!

Pam said...

Thank you for a beautifully written post. Like you, I have not always agreed with Mr. Bush, but I voted for him (twice) and feel he was the right man at the right time. He and Mrs. Bush did indeed conduct themselves with class and I truly appreciate their service to our country.
Blessings,
Pam

Anonymous said...

Wonderful post! Well said or (typed) you know, I really feel President Bush will be Vindicated in the decisions he made. He was the right man for the right time!!
Blessings

Technonana said...

Joan, I have chills reading this post!! My husband and I watched George and Laura as they were welcomed home!! What a difference it made being back in their home state. I believe and will say it to my dying day that George W. Bush was born for 'such a time as this' and praise be to God for this man, who always sought to do what was right and kept us safe for 7 years!!
I too, agree with the sentiments offered here!! Well said my friend! Well said!!
Sharon

Unknown said...

Amen! What a great post! The ignorance that the media and those who support them have shown has been pitiful! Our country, in general, is a mess...and it is not George Bush's fault! How on earth can we expect for God to "bless America" when America acts with such distain for His Word and His ways? And now, our "hope"...our "change" comes in the form of a man who openly supports the killing of unborn children, and a number of issues that are very much against God and His Word. Our country is so wrapped up in this man, and has forgotten where their true hope is found! I have a feeling the next few years is going to be a rough ride...I will be respectful of the position of President, but have no expectations of things getting better! We live in sad times, don't you think???

Patty said...

Well done, Joan. I agree whole heartedly. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.

Anonymous said...

Right on!It could'nt have been said better. I've visited your site a few times,however this is my first comment. I think the world of you!

Anonymous said...

Dear Joan, I echo all you have said here. I've never been so grieved for this country. I actually just wrote a post about it. It is so true, Bush has been blamed for problems that were a long time coming, the worst of which were results of decisions made by previous presidents, both democratic and republican. I also didn't agree with everything he did, but I also think little does this country realize the reality of threats that he knew were real.
I also believe that history will show the truth in time. I'm just sad that the media has such a control on the minds of this country who so readily and willingly jump onto a bandwagon without really searching out and knowing the facts and the history.
I'm guilty of that myself about not knowing what I should about history, but I want to learn more. I'm aware of the importance of it like never before.