found on numerous sites on the web:
Thoughts on our President Whether you actually like George W. or not,
this article contains some interesting thoughts...
First, an observation: 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 those of us who serve and have served in
the military see it right away.
Next time pay close attention 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 are not 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. That
is what they did during the previous administration. Our soldiers were
required to obey his orders, but they were not required to respect him.
From their salutes, we can surmise that they did not.
Why is this level of respect afforded to President Bush? 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 September 11th. 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 rarely 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
Soldiers' President.
On "Special Report with Brit Hume," 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 Maine 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 sit right when he
got to the steps. The president pulled on its leash, but the stubborn
Scottie persisted in sitting. 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! This true act of respect for our military people by our
President is quite impressive.
President Bush really does get it. Most any other person of his stature
would have just continued his journey, disregarding the neglected return
salute, but not George W. Bush.
He is earning the respect of the military community, not expecting it.
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, whose mangled
syntax, and speaking missteps became known as "Bushisms,"
came within a hair's breadth of losing the election in November. Then,
one year later on September 11, he was thrust into a position only known
by the likes of Roosevelt, Churchill, Lincoln, and Washington with the
weight of the world was on his shoulders and the responsibility of a
generation on his soul. Three days after two of the most impressive
symbols of American capitalism and prosperity virtually evaporated,
President George W. Bush walked to his seat at the front of the
National Cathedral speak and pray. 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 on that day 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.
In these troubled times, please take a moment after you read this to
pray for our president. 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, of the military, of all the peacemakers.
Pray for yourself, for your family, and for all Americans.
After you have prayed, please send this on to anyone you considered
deserving. Our President needs Christians, Jews, Muslims, and all other
faiths, to be praying for him. As this emails makes its rounds,
eventually there could be millions of people praying for him, and for
our Great Country. |
