thought this so special-especially right now. Bunnie
----- Original Message -----
From: "Heidi German" <fraulein_h(a)hotmail.com>
To: <bunnieg(a)hotmail.com>; <Angelimb(a)aol.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 04, 2003 8:53 PM
Subject: The President
Don't know who wrote this, just passing it along...
THE PRESIDENT
Have you noticed a difference in the salute given by our military men
and women as President Bush walks by? Most folks would not notice
anything, but
military people see it right away. Watch: When President Bush
leaves his helicopter or Air Force One, the honor guards salute and face him
as he disembarks, then turn their faces towards him as he passes by. They
continue to salute his back as he walks away. This kind of salute was not
seen in the previous eight years, though it is customary courtesy to the
Commander-in-Chief. You see, soldiers aren't required to turn and face the
President as they salute. They are not required to salute his back. They are
only required to salute. They can remain face-forward the entire time.
And that is what they did during Bill Clinton's entire presidency. Our
soldiers were forced to obey Clinton's orders, but they were not forced
to respect him. From their salutes, we can surmise that they did not. Why
is such
respect afforded to President Bush? He doesn't even know how to bite
his lower lip and not get teary-eyed whenever he speaks!
The following incident from Major General Van Antwerp may give us an
insight. Gen. Antwerp is president of the Officers' Christian Fellowship.
He
lost nearly all his staff when the Pentagon was attacked Sept. 11. His
executive officer LTC Brian Birdwell was badly burned and in the hospital
when President Bush visited him. Our President spent time and prayed with
Brian. As he was getting ready to leave, he went to the foot of Brian's bed
and saluted. He held his salute until Brian was able to raise his burned and
bandaged arm, ever so slowly, in return. The Commander-in-Chief never
initiates a salute, except in the case of a Congressional Medal of Honor
winner. The injured soldier did not have to return the salute. But he did,
out of respect to his President - a Soldier's President.
Congressman JC Watts (R. Oklahoma) said, "Character is doing the right
thing when nobody is looking." The nation and world learned some of what
our
last President did when nobody was looking. That President was
disbarred -- the worst disgrace (other than imprisonment) to a
lawyer.
CNN will have a difficult time shining his or his wife's tarnished images.
In
this time of war and danger, I am so grateful to have a President whom
the soldiers salute -- fully.
On Special Report with Brit Hume, hosted by Jim Angle, at the close of
the show when they normally have some funny video clip, they showed
President Bush
and the First Lady on their way to Marine One to leave for
Camp David for the weekend. As the video starts, the First Lady is leading
the way into the helicopter with the spaniel dog on the leash, and the
president is right behind her with the Scotty on the leash. As the First
Lady entered the chopper, the Marine at the gangway saluted and held his
salute. The Scottie the President was walking decided it wanted to squat
right when he got to steps. The president pulled on its leash, but the
stubborn Scottie persisted in squatting. The President bent down and scooped
up the pooch and entered Marine One. After he entered, the Marine cut his
salute and returned to the position of attention. Moments later the
President reemerged from the helicopter and out onto the steps. The Marine
was standing at attention, head and eyes straight ahead. The President
leaned over and tapped him on the left arm. The startled Marine turned his
body toward the President and received his returned salute! I was so
impressed by this true act of respect for our military people by our
President! He really does get it. Most any other person of his stature would
have just continued his journey, disregarding the neglected return salute.
Not George W. Bush. He is earning the respect of the military community, not
expecting it --as most have and would.
President George W. Bush -- The man who admitted to having a drinking
problem in younger years, and whose happy-go-lucky lifestyle led him to
mediocre grades in college and an ill-fated oil venture. Who mangled
syntax, and whose speaking missteps became known as "Bushisms." He came
within a hair's breadth of losing the election in November. While votes
were counted and re-counted, Bush quietly but confidently waited at his
ranch. Make no mistake, his orders were carried out, but he stayed in
the background, faithful and confident. Bush named Jesus Christ as Lord of
his life
on public TV. Not an oblique reference to being "born-again" or
having a "life change." He actually said the un-PC-like phrase, "Jesus
Christ!"
On September 11, he was thrust into a position only known by Roosevelt,
Churchill, Lincoln, and Washington. The weight of the world was on his
shoulders, and the responsibility of a generation was on his soul. So
President George W. Bush walked to his seat at the front of the National
Cathedral
just three days after two of the most impressive symbols of
American capitalism and prosperity virtually evaporated. When the history of
this time is written, it will be acknowledged by friend and foe alike that
President George W. Bush came of age in that cathedral and lifted a nation
off its knees. In what was one of the most impressive exhibitions of
self-control in presidential history, President George W. Bush was able to
deliver his remarks without losing his resolve, focus, or confidence. God's
hand, which guided him through that sliver-thin election, now rested fully
on him. As he walked back to his seat, the camera angle was appropriate. He
was virtually alone in the scene, alone in that massive place with God, just
him and the Lord. Back at his seat, George H. Bush reached over and took his
son's hand. In that gesture his father seemed to say, "I wish I could do
this for you, son, but I can't. You have to do this on your own."
President George W. Bush squeezed back and gave him a look of peace that
said,
"I don't have to do it alone, Dad. I've got help." What a blessing to
have a believer in a good God as President. Please take a moment after you
read this to "pray for him". He truly does have the weight of the world on
his shoulders. Pray that God will sustain him and give him wisdom and
discernment in his decisions. Pray for his protection and that of his
family.