Lying under the Bush

This February, President Bush gave his first interview to the BBC in almost seven years when he sat down to discuss Africa and his legacy.\nWatching the president’s grayed hair and hearing his worn voice, I almost began to feel sympathy for a man so trampled by his own presidency. I’ll even go so far as to say Bush’s message detailing his desire to help people who are suffering from “disease and hunger and hopelessness” appealed to me. Unfortunately, not everything Bush advocated was characterized as the “mission of mercy” he described.\nAs the interview progressed, it became apparent that the president’s message resembled his accent more than his changing hair color; underneath feeble attempts to appeal to listeners’ emotions, it was still unpleasant sounding and in constant denial of the facts.\nA particularly ironic, and my personal favorite, moment arose when the president dramatically asked, “Who wants to join an ideology that says women don’t have rights, you can’t express yourself freely ... the only religious beliefs you can hold is the one we tell you.” The irony is that Mr. Bush seems to revel in this notion as he has presided over a nation drifting toward the unenlightened existence described. \nFirst, it seems Bush isn’t too concerned with women’s rights, at least if the woman is in the workplace. In 2007, he cut the budget and staff of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which oversees equal hiring and pay practices in the workplace. At a time when women make only 77 cents to every dollar men earn and concern about the glass ceiling is on the rise, it hardly seems right to reduce equality efforts.\nSecond, with respect to freedom of speech, Bush diligently trampled Americans’ First Amendment rights throughout his administration. However, one could say his stance on the media is refreshing when contrasted with the other rights he has snatched away perhaps more quickly. Nonetheless, the president had to ask, “What’s in the newspapers worth worrying about?” back in 2003. Aside from seemingly remaining ignorant of key events, Bush disturbingly insinuates that our right to free speech and of press could be revoked without significant loss. Worse yet, the Secret Service now marks off “free speech zones” when the president gives a speech, funny considering the nation at large is a free speech zone.\nThroughout his presidency, Bush has failed to recognize that he doesn’t govern on religious authority. More strikingly arrogant than his recent declaration to the BBC regarding his choice to send marines into Liberia, “I just made the decision I made,” Bush attempted to amend the Constitution to “protect” marriage from gays in 2004, a move seemingly based on his own relationship ideals obtained from religion rather than democratic principles such as equality.\nIn response to your question, Mr. President, no semi-conscientious person does aspire to live under such an ideology. That’s why we’re counting down to Jan 20, 2009, to be free of it.