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 | | From: | James A. Chamblee | | Subject: | Bush Calls for Freedom: Peaceful Protesters Dragged Away | | Date: | Sun, 23 Jan 2005 03:15:03 GMT |
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 | Thr Brattleboro Reformer, 1/22/05:
http://www.reformer.com/Stories/0,1413,102~8854~2667809,00.html
Did anyone notice the irony during President Bush's inaugural address
on Thursday that as Bush talked about freedom, security personnel were
dragging away peaceful protesters?
Does this mean that the president's words -- "when you stand for your
liberty, we will stand with you" -- do not apply to those who oppose
him?
President Bush used the word "freedom" 27 times in his speech and
"liberty" 15 times.
It's not a surprise that the words "war," "Iraq," "Iran" and "terror"
were not used at all.
Then again, the hallmark of the Bush administration has been
high-minded rhetoric and sordid deeds.
The president said that "it is the policy of the United States to seek
and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in
every nation."
Does this mean we'll see free and fair elections in Saudi Arabia, our
second-largest oil supplier?
Or in China, the country that now is the United States' biggest
creditor?
The president said, "We will widen retirement savings and health
insurance."
Does this mean he will drop his insane idea to privatize Social
Security and perhaps consider universal health care for all Americans?
The president said that he believes in "the durable wisdom of the
Constitution."
Does this mean he will dismantle the Patriot Act and stop appointing
judges who want to roll back our civil liberties?
We know the answers to these questions: He won't.
President Bush has no intention of living up to his rhetoric.
He won't "make our society more just and equal" -- not when he just
spent more than $40 million on an opulent inauguration.
He won't use America's influence "competently in freedom's cause."
Not when our nation's blood and treasure is being sucked away by a
needless war in Iraq.
As for his noble words that "life is fragile, and evil is real, and
courage triumphs," we know that our nation has been fed a steady diet
of fear and paranoia.
If courage really triumphs, the president wouldn't have to hide behind
phalanxes of soldiers, cops and Secret Service agents and our capitol
would not have to be transformed into an armed camp.
No, Thursday's inaugural address was just the latest in a long line of
empty words coming from the lips of an empty man.
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Harry
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