I suppose now that President Bush has limitless power, a.k.a., the power of God, the rest of us must cower before his countenance? Voters and Congress permitted the President to circumvent the U.S. Constitution for that omnipotent power, and of course we’re all paying for that decision now – with compounded interest.
George Walker Bush is a man who acknowledges the aspect of that potent power yet dismisses several of God’s other assets – compassion, humility, truthfulness and kindness to all creatures.
After the tragedies of 9/11 the Bush administration, based on false or misleading intelligence and with the approval of Congress and the American people, began to wage a "Holy War" on terrorism. We did so against the advice and feelings of many world nations. The administration has created havoc in the Middle East at the cost of thousands of Iraqi and American lives, including those of many civilians.
In truth, America, "the land of the free and the brave," has become "the loathsome and the feared." We have scalded the hands of our friends, while perpetrating wars and violent acts against those with whom we disagree. The democracy of our forefathers lies in shambles, while our leaders plot an assault on other adversaries. Will the Bush administration ride on to smite the infidels of Iran? Only time will tell.
History informs us that the Christian Crusades lasted almost two hundred years, from 1095 until 1291. Pope Urban II was responsible for assisting Emperor Alexus I of Constantinople in launching the first crusade. He made one of several influential speeches calling on the Christian princes in Europe to go on a crusade to "rescue" the Holy Land from the Turks. Were the Crusades successful?
According to Williston Walker, et al., A History of the Christian Church, 4th ed. (New York, Charles Scribner’s Sons) p. 284,
Viewed in the light of their original purpose, the Crusades were failures. They made no permanent conquests of the Holy Land. They did not retard the advance of Islam. Far from aiding the Eastern Empire, they hastened its disintegration. They also revealed the continuing inability of Latin Christians to understand Greek Christians and they hardened the schism between them. They fostered a harsh intolerance between Muslims and Christians, where before there had been a measure of mutual respect. They were marked, and marred, by a recrudescence of anti-Semitism…."
Apparently, humans have difficulty learning from their history lessons. The ground rules have again been set for another Holy Crusade that may take generations to resolve in a peaceful manner. Already the repercussions of our folly caused by invading Iraq are creating a U.S. nation split and tarnished. Almost completely we are living under a corporate/military oligarchic government. Currently our leaders are contemplating another Holy Crusade into Iran. Our Constitution is in jeopardy and our leadership is evolving rapidly – or, according to the "theory" of Intelligent Design, "emerging" into a Despotic Monarchy. Our King George, as did many monarchs before him, has embarked on a tragic path. It will fail as assuredly as did the Crusades many years ago.
American voters would do well to learn their history lessons quickly, before the democratic government they have long held in esteem has gone the way of the dinosaur. We do not want generations of American children learning about our lost democratic heritage via word-of-mouth from community storytellers.
April 22, 2006
