President Bush channels the Blues Brothers...
Following up the BBC story quoted in yesterday's NIT and Trying to Follow.
In a talk with Palestinian leaders in 2003 President Bush said: 'I'm driven with a mission from God. God would tell me, "George, go and fight those terrorists in Afghanistan." And I did, and then God would tell me, "George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq …" And I did. And now, again, I feel God's words coming to me, "Go get the Palestinians their state and get the Israelis their security, and get peace in the Middle East." And by God I'm gonna do it.'"
Apparently, God doesn't think much about social security reform and didn't give the Prez much advice when it came to reorganizing FEMA. Perhaps the 'heckuva job' statement regarding 'Brownie' had more than idiomatic meaning.
I seem to recall that Jesus admonished the Pharisees who made a practice of praying and talking to God in public, so that others would see them and be cognizant of their godliness. He told his followers to pray in 'their closets' (King James talk for bedrooms..in other words, privately).
I always get nervous when people start talking about God talking to them, no matter who the conduit is - the Revs Jackson and Sharpton or Pat Robertson. Didn't God tell Pat to run for the Presidency a few years ago? Perhaps it was an unsuccessful attempt to teach the man some humility.
Considering that some god told 16 men to fly planes into twin towers and to attempt to crash the White House, I'm thinking that it's pretty easy to make our own decisions and then attempt to apply the rubric of God's will to our own devices.
But, I guess it must be nice for war plans to be endorsed by God..it sure makes demonizing the opposition not only easier, but also divinely logical.
Today's hymn comes from the early works of Fleetwood Mac:
In a talk with Palestinian leaders in 2003 President Bush said: 'I'm driven with a mission from God. God would tell me, "George, go and fight those terrorists in Afghanistan." And I did, and then God would tell me, "George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq …" And I did. And now, again, I feel God's words coming to me, "Go get the Palestinians their state and get the Israelis their security, and get peace in the Middle East." And by God I'm gonna do it.'"
Apparently, God doesn't think much about social security reform and didn't give the Prez much advice when it came to reorganizing FEMA. Perhaps the 'heckuva job' statement regarding 'Brownie' had more than idiomatic meaning.
I seem to recall that Jesus admonished the Pharisees who made a practice of praying and talking to God in public, so that others would see them and be cognizant of their godliness. He told his followers to pray in 'their closets' (King James talk for bedrooms..in other words, privately).
I always get nervous when people start talking about God talking to them, no matter who the conduit is - the Revs Jackson and Sharpton or Pat Robertson. Didn't God tell Pat to run for the Presidency a few years ago? Perhaps it was an unsuccessful attempt to teach the man some humility.
Considering that some god told 16 men to fly planes into twin towers and to attempt to crash the White House, I'm thinking that it's pretty easy to make our own decisions and then attempt to apply the rubric of God's will to our own devices.
But, I guess it must be nice for war plans to be endorsed by God..it sure makes demonizing the opposition not only easier, but also divinely logical.
Today's hymn comes from the early works of Fleetwood Mac:
'Now when I talk to God, I knew he'd understand.
He said stick by me and I'll be your guiding hand.
But don't ask me what I think of you.
I might not give you answers that you want me to.'
