Pres. Bush, speaking at a military installation in Martinsburg, W. VA over the Fourth of July told the reservists' families that the war in Iraq was important in the fight against terrorists. Among the enemy in Iraq were some of the same Al Qaeda people behind the 9-11 Trade Center attack. We're there to spread democracy, as God intended.
The U.S. and God have a problem.
Whether God intended democracy or not is open to question and I don't think George W. has any greater pipeline to the Almighty than you do, or I.
Does God live in the White House?
Or over at the Internal Revenue Service? You know, the God-given duty to pay taxes which created the accounting profession?
See, here's the problem. Every time some tinhorn demagogue wants to do something, like remain in office or promote some war, he claims God as the one who is making him do it, and since no one wants to go against God, well, then, by God, let's do it. God is on our side, just as Hitler had inscribed on Wehrmacht soldiers' belt buckles: "Gott Mit Uns." God is with us.
Let's see, first we had the Divine Right of Kings, over which Charles I lost his head, literally, as well as figuratively.
That was England, our Mother Country, so many of whose diseases we acquired by descent through the vehicle of religious preaching in sermon form. And, oh, yes, it was the Congregational Church (the Puritans) who founded first Harvard and later, in opposition, Yale universities. So many others followed suit. We are the product of our Puritan forebears, like it or not.
Our second problem, after Divine Right of Kings, occurred after we agreed to rely on a document and ourselves to run our government, protect our security at home and abroad, and to preserve our individual rights against our own government and the nosy-neighbors.
We thought we had the right to take everyone else's land...the Indians. This was easier than taking our white neighbors' land because we had to recognize that our neighbors, the white ones that is, were people like us. The Indians, like the blacks (slaves), however, were not quite fully people entitled to rights a white man had any duty to respect. Chief Justice Roger B. Taney said this of blacks in Dred Scott, the decision that greased the ways to the Civil War. Indians, savages, could be wiped out. We relocated them many times and wiped out others who refused to cooperate. Wounded Knee, the Trail of Tears, and so many more.
But this was okay because God told us so. We consulted our own captive God and he did our bidding, as we might have expected, since, after all, we invented Him. In a neat bit of sleight of hand, however, we say he invented us. So now, when we do something truly evil, we say we're only doing God's bidding, just as Muslim suicide bombers claim to be doing the heavenly work of Allah when they blow us up.
This is called "Manifest Destiny," a term coined in the 19th century right here in America to describe how obvious it was that God wanted the white man to proceed West and take the land so his tribe would prosper, and we did.
It is our Manifest Destiny to rule the world, if you believe the religious folk.
I have it on good report that a certain relative believes in "American Exceptionalism." This is another term describing the same delusionary notion that God is somehow involved in running our international affairs, not the cookie-pushing State Department.
American Exceptionalism is traced to 1632 when John Winthrop, aboard the Mayflower, wrote that it was his intention, and that of his fellow immigrants (no visas or green cards here, just flat out border-jumpers, the original wetbacks) who signed what we now call the Mayflower Compact, to govern themselves in such a fashion that they would be seen as a New Jerusalem, a "City on a Hill," for all to admire in shining glory.
That sure is us, ain't it? We're the best. We're tops. Anything and everything we do is right, proper and correct, unlike those Germans, French, and British. We've never lost a war and never will, Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq, to the contrary notwithstanding. Since our intentions are good, God smiles on us, and the rest of the world be damned.
This is American Exceptionalism, Manifest Destiny, and the Divine Right of Nations all rolled into one, the U.S.A.
The problem with such crazy notions is that there are no built in limits, on purpose. Why limit ourselves as long as we've got the might to keep going? Manifest Destiny doesn't stop at the West Coast. How do you think we got the Philippines? In San Francisco's Union Square we have a tall monument to Admiral Dewey who sank the aged Spanish Fleet in Manila Bay in 1898 and grabbed the country for us, instead of giving it to Aguinaldo, the Filipino guerrilla leader who'd been fighting the Spanish conquerors since before we arrived. And we kept the Philippines through WWII. Why? Manifest Destiny. God wanted us to because, after all we were white.
Rudyard Kipling, the poet of empire, mainly British, but in a pinch, us, wrote a poem about this, called "The White Man's Burden." The poem's thrust is that the world is full of blacks, browns, reds, and yellows, but when it comes to projecting power abroad, the world is ruled by whites. Pres. McKinley, Dewey's boss, had a vision he described one, night, in a dream, in which he found out it was right and proper for us to claim the Philippines as ours because then we could Christianize the Filipinos.
Since Catholic Spain had occupied the Philippines for over 300 years, all the Filipinos who wanted had already become Christian. They didn't need us. But this made McKinley, a professed Christian, feel better over the outright theft of an entire nation from its rightful owners. The U.S. Navy felt better about the takeover, too, as it got the naval base at Subic Bay.
God is on the Navy's side as well. We should write "Gott Mitt Uns" on our ships in large, easy-to-read at sea letters, too.
On our missiles, too.
As long as Gott is Mit Uns, we can do whatever we like, just as Hitler could break his pact with the USSR and invade Russia, as well, having learned nothing from Napoleon.
Next time you see the president proclaiming that it is our God-given right to spread democracy to people who don't seem to want it, remember that you are watching American Exceptionalism at work, with its handmaidens, the Divine Right of Kings and Manifest Destiny, prancing gaily alongside, as at a joyous wedding.
There's a difference, however.
If Iraq were a wedding it would have been annulled on grounds of false pretenses a long time ago.
Below is a brief report of part of what Sri George W said.
Note what he says:
"We believe in the freedom for people to worship [God]."
Goddit. That's why we're losing men and women in Iraq. So they don't
stop us from worshiping God in Kansas City, or wherever else they
worship God in the U.S.
How 'bout the freedom not to worship God. We do have that, as a
matter of Constitutional law. Barnette v. W. VA (interesting
coincidence) proclaims that in this country there is no official
orthodoxy and that no government official, high or low, may prescribe
how a citizen like me must believe in matters relating to religion,
politics, or anything else, for that matter.
George W seems to be flogging religion for political ends, to rally the
citizenry to support his failing war in Iraq. Remember, we have three
wars currently and a fourth on the horizon:
- Afghanistan, to wipe out Al Qaeda, capture Osama bin Laden, and destroy the Taliban, a belief system as much as a defined group of people. These really are the people who attacked on 9-11. This may be the only legitimate war we're currently fighting abroad with troops.
- Iraq. When a war is entered on false premises and then goes South, how do you extricate yourself? Maybe you don't. Maybe you find other reasons for continuing to fight and hang on until you can declare victory and sell that idea. Bush has nothing yet to sell that the American people are likely to buy, although bringing home the troops and stopping the slaughter may be reason enough to applaud the move, were it to happen.
- GWOT; the Global War on Terror. This is a wonderful way to keep the military-industrial-political complex humming along in high gear for as long as people around the world don't like us. The way we're going we should be able to insure a steady supply of people who don't like us. We'll have Talibans coming out the ears.
- Iran. We haven't liked Iran for a long time and now they're
building a nuclear capability. When Iraq did that Israel flew in and
took out the Osirak reactor in an air strike. I guess one of us is
going to have to do that with Iran, as well. Iran is supplying the
insurgency in Iraq, so we have our reasons for going after them.
In a Fourth of July speech to West Virginia National Guard troops and their families, the president said one of the liberties Americans celebrate is freedom of worship.
"We believe in an Almighty, we believe in the freedom for people to worship that Almighty. They don't," Bush said.
The president said America is fighting enemies who "believe the only way you should worship is the way they choose," and who "will do anything they can to spread that ideology."
[Emphasis added]
Here's the full presidential speech justifying the Iraq war, from the White House site:
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 4, 2007
President Bush Celebrates Independence Day With West Virginia Air National Guard
167th Airlift Wing
C-5 Maintenance Hangar
Martinsburg, West Virginia
9:21 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Thanks for the warm welcome. Happy 4th of July. I'm thrilled to be here in Martinsburg. This is the fourth Independence Day that I have spent in the great state of West Virginia since I've been your President. (Applause.) I appreciate General Tackett's introduction. Thank you, sir -- you read it just like I wrote it. (Laughter.)
I love coming to your state because it's a state full of decent, hardworking, patriotic Americans. And I can't think of a better way to celebrate the 4th of July than to spend it with some of what we call the Mountain State's bravest and most dedicated citizens -- the men and women of the West Virginia Air National Guard. (Applause.)
I am proud to stand with the 167th Airlift Wing. (Applause.) I like your slogan: "Mountaineer Pride, Worldwide." (Applause.) I'm also honored to be with West Virginia's great military families. Some of you have loved ones deployed overseas this 4th of July. I know that. And I know it may be hard to enjoy the fireworks and the picnics and the other celebrations while they're away on dangerous duty in a faraway land. And so I've come today to express our affection -- the affection of the United States of America for the military families who stand strong in the face of the difficult struggle we face to secure the United States of America. We're blessed to have our military families in the United States and I'm blessed to be here with you. Thanks for letting me come by. (Applause.)
Speaking about Laura -- speaking about families, Laura sends her love. She would be with me, but I told her to fire up the grill. (Laughter.) Don't tell her I said that. (Laughter.) I thank Brigadier General Terry Butler, Commander, West Virginia Air National Guard, and his wife, Susan. I want to thank Eric Vollmecke, he's the 167th Wing Commander, and his wife, Sigrid.
I appreciate being here today with a really fine United States Congresswoman, Shelly Moore Capito, and her husband, Charlie. (Applause.) You don't have to worry about her supporting the military. When we've got somebody in harm's way, she understands what I understand: that that military person and his or her family deserve the very strongest support from the federal government at all times. (Applause.)
I enjoyed reciting the Pledge of Allegiance with some of the children from our military families. I thought they handled their task quite well. I appreciate Major Dave Reynolds, Chaplain, for giving the blessing. I thank the 249th Army Band of the West Virginia Army National Guard for playing here today. (Applause.)
But most importantly, thank you all for coming. Thanks for being here. The 4th of July is a day for celebration and a day for gratitude. Across America, our citizens are going to come together for parades and pyrotechnic displays, and readings from our Declaration of Independence. It's a grand celebration. It's a great day to be an American.
And when we carry on these festivities, it's important you know we're carrying on a grand tradition. This isn't the first time our country has celebrated the 4th of July. As a matter of fact, I would like to read a couple of paragraphs from a 1777 newspaper. And here's what it said on the first anniversary of the Declaration, as it described the scene in Philadelphia:
"The 4th of July was celebrated with joy and festivity, fine performances, a number of toasts, followed by a discharge of artillery and small arms" -- don't do that today. (Laughter.) "And at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks and the city was beautifully illuminated." This newspaper article from Philadelphia in 1777 went on to say: "Thus may that glorious and memorable day be celebrated through America by the sons of freedom, from age to age till time shall be no more." We're still celebrating, and rightly so.
Our first Independence Day celebration took place in a midst of a war -- a bloody and difficult struggle that would not end for six more years before America finally secured her freedom. More than two decades [sic] later, it is hard to imagine the Revolutionary War coming out any other way -- but at the time, America's victory was far from certain. In other words, when we celebrated the first 4th of July celebration, our struggle for independence was far from certain. Citizens had to struggle for six more years to finally determine the outcome of the Revolutionary War.
We were a small band of freedom-loving patriots taking on the most powerful empire in the world. And one of those patriots was the founder of Martinsburg, West Virginia -- Major General Adam Stephen. Of course, it wasn't West Virginia then, but it was Martinsburg. (Laughter.) He crossed the Delaware with Washington. He helped secure America's victory at the Battle of Trenton -- and he later went -- and later, when our liberty was won, delivered stirring remarks in the Virginia House of Delegates that helped secure ratification of our Constitution.
On Independence Day we give thanks, we give thanks for our Founders, we give thanks for all the brave citizen-soldiers of our Continental Army who dropped pitchforks and took up muskets to fight for our freedom and liberty and independence.
You're the successors of those brave men. Those who wear the uniform are the successors of those who dropped their pitchforks and picked up their muskets to fight for liberty. Like those early patriots, you're fighting a new and unprecedented war -- pledging your lives and honor to defend our freedom and way of life. In this war, the weapons have changed, and so have our enemies, but one thing remains the same: The men and women of the Guard stand ready to put on the uniform and fight for America. (Applause.)
In this war against radicals and extremists, in this war on terror, you're showing that the courage which won our independence more than two centuries ago is alive and well here in West Virginia. Since the attacks of September the 11th, 2001, every operational unit of the West Virginia National Guard has been deployed -- and some are on their second and third deployments.
One member of the 167th Airlift Wing, Master Sergeant Richard Howland, has deployed seven times since the 9/11 attacks -- and this good man just volunteered to go to Baghdad for an eighth deployment in September. (Applause.) Our fellow citizens should listen to what Richard has said, what this volunteer has said. He said: "It is my patriotic duty to do whatever I can do to help." It feels "good that I'm keeping a lot of people safe." We're an incredible nation that has produced men like Richard Howland and you, who in the face of danger wear the uniform of the United States of America and step forward in freedom's defense. And I thank you for that. (Applause.)
Since September the 11th, members of the West Virginia Air National Guard have earned seven Bronze stars and four Purple Hearts. Two of those Purple Hearts were awarded to Staff Sergeants Brad Runkles and Derek Brown. They're here today. (Applause.) You're not related to them, are you? (Laughter.)
Brad and Derek are childhood friends; they grew up right here in Martinsburg and they signed up together to serve in the West Virginia Guard. In 2004, they were driving together in the lead gun truck of a convoy in Iraq when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb. Brad and Derek made it out, but they suffered burns on their hands and faces. They recovered from their wounds -- and in May of last year, they both re-enlisted. (Applause.)
Today is the day to celebrate courage in the face of adversity. I want you to hear what Derek says. He said: "This war is something that has to be done -- either over there or here. And I think it's best we fight it over there," he said. (Applause.) "I'm proud to serve my country like those before me -- for the cause of freedom." America is proud to have citizens like Derek and Brad, that we call neighbors and friends and defenders of the peace. (Applause.)
And your service is needed. We need for people to volunteer to defend America. Because in this war, we face dangerous enemies who have attacked us here at home. Oh, I know the passage of time has convinced some -- maybe convinced some that danger doesn't exist. But that's not how I see it, and that's not how many of you see it. These people want to strike us again. We learned on September the 11th that in the age of terror, the best way to do our duty, which is to protect the American people, is to go on the offense and stay on the offense. And that's exactly what we've been doing against these radicals and extremists. (Applause.)
It is best that we take the fight to where the enemy lives, so we don't have to face them where we live. And so since 9/11, that's precisely the strategy we have followed. In Afghanistan -- where I know some of you have been deployed and some of you are deployed -- we removed a regime that gave sanctuary and support to al Qaeda as they planned the 9/11 attacks which killed nearly 3,000 citizens. They found safe haven. That's what they like. They like a place where they can plot and plan in relatively -- in security, all aiming to come and harm the citizens of the greatest face for liberty in the world.
Today, because we acted, the terrorist camps in Afghanistan have been shut down, 25 million people have been liberated, and the Afghan people have elected a government that is fighting terrorists, instead of harboring terrorists. (Applause.) This enemy of ours -- they have got an ideology. They believe in something. In other words, the attacks are just a tactic to enable them to spread their dark vision of the world. Perhaps one way to differentiate between our thoughts is just think about religion. In the great country of the United States, we believe that you should be able to worship any way you see fit; that you're equally American, regardless of your religious beliefs. They believe that if you don't worship the way they see it, then they're going to bring you harm.
We believe in an Almighty, we believe in the freedom for people to worship that Almighty. They don't. They don't believe you should worship the way you choose. They believe the only way you should worship is the way they choose. And, therefore -- and, therefore, they will do anything they can to spread that ideology. And it's our charge, it's our calling to keep the pressure on these people, to defend America and to spread an ideology of hope and an ideology of peace so that the kids who came up here to give the Pledge of Allegiance will be able to live in peace and security. (Applause.)
There's more than one front in this war against these radicals and extremists. And, obviously, the toughest threat of all is in Iraq. In that country, we removed a cruel dictator who harbored terrorists, paid the families of Palestinian suicide bombers, invaded his neighbors, defied the United Nations Security Council, pursued and used weapons of mass destruction. The world is better off without Saddam Hussein in power. (Applause.) And today, U.S. and coalition troops are standing with the Iraqi troops and the nearly 12 million Iraqis who voted for a future of peace. We're opposing ruthless enemies who want to bring down Iraq's democracy and turn that nation into a terrorist safe haven.
Earlier this year, I announced a new strategy in Iraq, under the leadership of General David Petraeus, and new Ambassador, Ryan Crocker. Our goal is to help the Iraqi government protect their population, so they can make progress toward reconciliation and build a free nation that respects the rights of its people, and upholds the rule of law, and is an ally against these extremists and terrorists and killers. And so we sent reinforcements to help the Iraqis secure their neighborhoods, and go after the terrorists and insurgents and militias that are inciting sectarian violence, and help get the capital under control.
It's a tough fight, but I wouldn't have asked those troops to go into harm's way if the fight was not essential to the security of the United States of America. (Applause.) Many of the spectacular car bombings and killings you see are as a result of al Qaeda -- the very same folks that attacked us on September the 11th. A major enemy in Iraq is the same enemy that dared attack the United States on that fateful day.
Al Qaeda hasn't given up its objectives inside Iraq. And that is to cause enough chaos and confusion so America would leave, and they would be able to establish their safe haven from which to do two things: to further spread their ideology; and to plan and plot attacks against the United States. If we were to quit Iraq before the job is done, the terrorists we are fighting would not declare victory and lay down their arms -- they would follow us here, home.
If we were to allow them to gain control of Iraq, they would have control of a nation with massive oil reserves -- which they could use to fund new attacks and exhort economic blackmail on those who didn't kowtow to their wishes. However difficult the fight is in Iraq, we must win it -- we must succeed for our own sake; for the security of our citizens, we must support our troops, we must support the Iraqi government, and we must defeat al Qaeda in Iraq. (Applause.)
Victory in this struggle will require more patience, more courage, and more sacrifice. And we've lost some good men and women in this fight. And so on this 4th of July, we pause to remember the fallen -- and the grieving families they have left behind. We hold them in our hearts, we lift them up in our prayers, and we pledge to honor their memory by finishing the work for which they have given their life.
Here at the Martinsburg Air National Guard Base, you're living in a wonderful and caring community. Over the course of this struggle, you've looked out for each other and you've given strength to each other in difficult moments. One of the community leaders making a difference on this base is Joy Enders. A couple of you -- (applause.)
In case you haven't ever heard of Joy, she's the President of the 167th Airlift Wing Family Readiness Group. She and the other members of the group make it their mission to care for the families of our deployed Guardsmen and women. Before one recent deployment, they took pictures of all the deploying airmen, and created iron-on transfers to place on pillowcases for the children of the deploying troops. It's a simple act, but it's an act of love and compassion that gave the children a sense that their moms and dads were nearby -- even though they were deployed a thousand miles away.
Our military families miss their moms and dads, and husbands and wives, and sons and daughters. And they look forward to welcoming their loved ones home. And we all long for the day when there are far fewer American servicemen and women in Iraq. The time will come when Iraq has a stable, self-sustaining government that is an ally against these extremists and killers. That time will come when the Iraqi people will not need the help of 159,000 American troops in their country. Yet, withdrawing our troops prematurely based on politics, not on the advice and recommendation of our military commanders, would not be in our national interest. It would hand the enemy a victory and put America's security at risk -- and that's something we're not going to do.
Our troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and other fronts in the war on terror are serving in a cause that is vital and just. And on this 4th of July, I ask every American to find a way to thank the men and women who are defending our freedom -- and the families that support them. (Applause.) There are many ways to show your gratitude. There are many ways for our fellow citizens to say thanks to the men and women who wear the uniform and their families. You can send a care package. You can reach out to a military family in your neighborhood with a mom or dad on the front lines; you can ask somebody, "What can I do to help you? What do you need?" You can car pool. You can be on bended knee and pray for a soldier and their families. To help you find ways to help, the Department of Defense has set up a website -- I would hope our fellow citizens all across the United States would call up AmericaSupportsYou.mil. At this website, AmericaSupportsYou.mil, you can learn about efforts in your own community as to how you can support our troops.
As we celebrate our independence this 4th, we can have confidence in the enduring principles of our founding. The words of our Declaration hold a promise for all mankind -- and those ideals continue to inspire millions across the world.
Recently, I traveled to Prague, the Czech Republic, where I spoke to a conference of dissidents and democratic activists from 17 nations on five continents. I was proud to represent our country at that historic meeting. I was proud to tell those brave souls that America stands with them in their struggle for liberty, because we believe in the universality of liberty. I personally believe that freedom is a gift from an Almighty to every man, woman and child on the face of the Earth.
I looked out in that audience and I saw men and women who believe in the power of freedom to transform their countries and to remake the world. And I saw that those who live in tyranny and yearn for freedom still place their hopes in the United States of America.
For the past six and a half years, it's been a privilege to be the President of such a good and decent nation that inspires and holds out hope to people all across the world. It's an awesome experience, and a humbling experience to hold a powerful office like President. It brings with it the great honor of being the Commander-in-Chief of the finest military the world has ever known. (Applause.) Because of the service of our military men and women, because our nation has got a military full of the bravest and most decent people that I've ever met, America remains a beacon of hope for all around the world; America remains the place where peace has the best chance to be encouraged.
We're doing the hard work now so generations of American kids can grow up in peace. It's necessary work, it's important work, and I thank you for your sacrifices. (Applause.)
May God bless you, and may God bless America. (Applause.)
END 9:49 A.M. EDT
[Emphasis added]
Return to this article at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/07/20070704.html
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