A Tribute to President George W. Bush

Dear Mr. President,

When I think back over the last eight years, a few things stand out to me quite strongly.  While I do not agree with everything you did or how you did it, I believe those things pale in comparison to the leadership, courage, and steadfast faith that you showed all Americans while you were in office.  I respect you and honor you as our 43^rd president and want to say thank you.

Thank you for keeping us safe.  My son was born into a safer world while you were president.  Our enemies knew that you were not someone that would passively step aside while they terrorized our nation.  They knew that America would not come to the table for a cup of tea and negotiations with ruthless people who murdered over 3,000 of our loved ones on September 11^th.  You kept us safe for nearly 8 years and, together with the national security team with whom you surrounded yourself, thwarted many potentially deadly attacks.

Thank you for protecting the unborn.  From the Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004 to the Supreme Court justices who you appointed and were confirmed, you showed a respect for life and held to that conviction despite opposition.  Justices Roberts and Alito want to uphold the Constitution, not legislate their feelings, change law with the ebb and flow of public opinion, or cower due to people’s perception.  Thank you for selecting two strongly pro-life judges who believe that Roe v. Wade was a mistake.

Thank you for protecting our freedom by leading the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan, rather than on our own soil.  Although this has been such a source of heated passion on both sides, I, as you do, believe that freedom is something that all human beings should experience, and that no one deserves to be tortured and raped because of the whims of a ruthless monster like Saddam Hussein.  I firmly believe that history will show you to be a true leader and hero.  Humanity deserves to be protected.

Thank you most of all, Mr. President, for your witness for the Lord Jesus Christ.   You demonstrated to the world valuable Scriptural principles amidst some of the fiercest persecution . . . persecution that, I believe, had much to do with the very fact that you profess to love Jesus.  You showed us all how to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:43-45), stand firm in the faith (Matthew 10:22 and 1 Corinthians 15:58), and to not be ashamed of the Lord your God (Luke 9:26).  “Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man” (Luke 6:22). The name that is above all names is also the name that people love to hate and blaspheme.  You stood up for Jesus and you did it without apology.  Many times throughout your presidency, I thought of this verse:  “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (John 15:18).  I know you will be blessed because of what you faced.

I will spend much of my prayer time over the next 4 to 8 years lifting up our nation to God and asking for his protection over her.  I refuse to live in fear over what may happen, although it is a struggle many days when I see the news.  Thank you for all you did.  Your service to this nation is appreciated by many more than you may know.

 

Inauguration Day

I chose not to watch the Inauguration of Barack Obama. . .In fact, I chose not to watch the five previous days of festivities either.  But yes, I am still quite patriotic.

Let me be clear.  I acknowledge and celebrate today for the historic moment that it is.  The first African-American has taken the oath of office and has promised to faithfully execute his presidential duties for the next four years.  I applaud the progress that we have made as a nation. . .the racism that we are eradicating step by step. . .the hope that President Obama’s election inspires to all people of color, especially young children who now know that, for them too, “It is possible!”

This is a historic day. . .the American flags waving, the military marches, the great Constitution being honored, the democracy of our beautiful nation at work.  But for me, it is hard to not see what else is being celebrated in five days of over-the-top, borderline worship of another human being.  Yes, this day celebrates what America is all about–democracy, our historical roots, overcoming oppression and indignities–but it also symbolizes what has gone wrong.  As a conservative and as a Christian, I am disheartened that this country has elected a man not based on qualifications, experience, or even an outstanding record of superb character (do we really even know it yet?).  We have elected a man based on three things.  (1)  He made us feel a certain way, and in this day and age, when we are such slaves to feelings, that was key.  (2)  He was the anti-George Bush, and with the vicious and deep-seeded hatred of our 43rd president among a small group with a loud voice via the liberal media, that persuaded many.  (3)  He is black.  Can we really deny that race had a lot to do with this election?  I cannot count the number of times a voter on the nightly news was asked why he or she was voting for Barack Obama–what one principle or policy he or she supported and felt qualified him to be president–and they said because it was about time we had a black man in the White House.

So I sat Inauguration Day out.  I cannot celebrate, with half of the nation, a man that promises enough anti-life, pro-choice legislation to choke us.  I only hear the cries of unborn babies being denied life.  I cannot watch as the Hollywood elite, who, for 8 years have opened their mouths, here and overseas, to trash America, resist patriotism, limit to the best of their ability the conservative and Christian voice, and treated our leader so inhumanly, now praise America as if they stood by her all along.  I cannot condone an extended celebration that costs double what Bush’s inauguration cost when we are in the middle of a military war abroad and an economic crisis here at home.  Where are all of those who had a problem with Sarah Palin’s wardrobe now?  I cannot understand how environment-loving celebrities and politicians flying in on 400-500 private jets for what can only be described as a self-glorifying party in D.C. is not considered hypocritical.

I love America.  Today I mourn what will inevitably be the beginning of her end.  A socialist agenda, a man who will not protect life, marriage, the family, or freedom, and a nation of individuals who either have no absolute truth to stand on, have abandoned it for the feel-good man of the hour, or have sat it all out in silence–these are not the things that I am proud of and they are not what I can celebrate today.  As a Christian, I believe the end of this world is fast approaching.  With President Obama’s policies, we may be reading prophecies out of the book of Revelation in every newspaper around the globe before long.

With God’s help, I will never treat the leader of the free world, President Obama, as many of those without decency and respect have treated President Bush, but I will also not celebrate in such a lavish way the beginning of an administration that has promised such detrimental things for the country I love.