Today I finished reading the book, "The Faith of George W. Bush," by Stephen Mansfield. Prior to reading the book, I had been a supporter of George W. Bush. Part of that was because of his character. If President Bush says he will do something, he will do it. The other part is because of his deep-rooted faith in Jesus Christ.
After finishing the book, I have found a greater respect for President Bush. It is true that he once was a heavy drinker and used a lot of foul language. Once he even swore at a columnist for the Washington Post in front of the man's wife and child. But, in the 1980's he saw the need to quit his drinking and swearing habit. He also saw the need to get right with God in 1984 and became a Christian. In his words, he says, "my faith frees me." His autobiography is entitled, "A Charge to Keep," after his favorite Methodist hymn. To this day, he has not had a drop of alcohol since the mid-1980's. Ten years after President Bush verbally attacked the columnist for the Washington Post, he found out he offended the man. He then proceeded to apologize to the man because he regretted making the comments.
While Governor of Texas, President Bush saw the need for the government to support faith-based organizations because of their ability to transform social problems. He then transferred control of a Texas state prison to Chuck Colson's prison ministry (if you do not know, Chuck Colson is a highly regarded evangelist). After a period of time, Texas found that the prisoners being released from the prison Chuck Colson led were 12% less likely to return to prison compared to other state prisons. In 2002, at the White House Correspondent's dinner, President Bush invited a thin man, with long, black hair to the dinner. This man is known for substance abuse and recording songs like, "Bloodbath in Paradise." The man was Ozzy Osborne. Many people were appalled that President Bush would invite Ozzy to the dinner. Would you have the courage to invite someone so disliked to your own dinner, let alone one of the most important dinners of your life? I believe President Bush was trying to set an example just as Jesus invited Zaccheus, the tax collector to eat with him.
Yet, many people, both conservatives and liberals, news anchors and columnists, feel the need to criticize President Bush. Thousands of American citizens criticize him everyday and even mock him through drawings. One comic I have seen even called him the anti-Christ. People criticize his war policy, claiming the war in Iraq is a failure. Talk show hosts like David Letterman make fun of President Bush for not being articulate in speech and call him unintelligent. Letterman also loves poking fun at Vice President Dick Cheney for his heart problems. Everyone is quick to criticize others for their mistakes or make character misjudgements. Britney Spears recently was widely criticized by the media for her lack of skill as a mother.
Unlike many critics, President Bush believes he can rid the Middle East of dictators and oppressors and one day bring peace to the region. That is exactly what he is trying to do today. Letterman completely ignores the fact that President Bush is an Ivy League graduate, a former owner of an MLB team, a successful businessman, and a former two-term governor of Texas. In making fun of Vice President Cheney, he completely ignores the fact that he too had to have heart surgery a few years ago. In an upcoming interview on NBC, Britney Spears was brought to tears because of the criticism she has received as a mother and exclaimed, "We're human too." Yet everyone loves criticizing others for being human.
Although most Americans regard George Washington as the greatest president, they do not know that he was not a great military strategist, not the most articulate, or the most educated. He was even embarrassed because he had badly crooked teeth. Yet people respected him for his faith, his character, his leadership and firmly believed he had God's hand on him. In a battle with Native Americans before the Revolutionary War, one tribal leader believed George Washington was protected by a great spirit because his sharp-shooters could not shoot him down. When the Americans won the Revolutionary War, they wanted him to become king. But, he declined to rule as a king and instead accepted a role as president.
Whether you respect President Bush already or highly disregard him, you should read this book. It will help you better understand our president's character, thinking and most important, faith. I know now that I better understand President Bush and how his leadership and faith can be an example for others. By far, President Washington and President Bush are the two presidents I respect more than any other.
One of the greatest mistakes we can make (and I am guilty of this too) is to criticize someone when we do not even understand their background or their beliefs.
