Pres. Bush At UN
When I was younger I thought of certain organizations and individuals as being morally a little better than others. The runup to the Iraq war killed a lot of that naivete. The UN’s votes and human rights chair choices and learning about Annan’s role in Rwanda was enough.
Here is the text of the President’s speech to the UN today. I wish I had been able to see it. I understand it was given to a very hostile audience.
I have much anger to resolve where the U.N., and controlling constituent tyrannies and weasels, is concerned. It is an anger they don’t seem to understand, an anger that is explained by some of the things in this speech.
I spent a year in school arguing with people of a certain mindset who couldn’t comprehend my side of the story, or refused to accept the premises when brought to their conclusion. I am in accord with much of this speech above. If achieving these goals is a lonely path, then so be it.
History will honor the high ideals of this organization. The charter states them with clarity: “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war,” “to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights,” “to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.”
Let history also record that our generation of leaders followed through on these ideals, even in adversity. Let history show that in a decisive decade, members of the United Nations did not grow weary in our duties, or waver in meeting them. I’m confident that this young century will be liberty’s century. I believe we will rise to this moment, because I know the character of so many nations and leaders represented here today. And I have faith in the transforming power of freedom.
4 Responses to “Pres. Bush At UN”
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September 21st, 2004 at 11:23 pm
FWIW, Brit Hume said it’s traditional for the audience to to applaud for any of the speakers regardles of their origin.
September 22nd, 2004 at 6:59 am
By no means was Pres. Bush made welcome, and by the look on peoples faces he was not supported in his words. But it was a wonderful speech, and he did a fantastic job. It’s just not an audience that will appreciate him.
They (the UN) will never approve us who we are are what we did. I heard on Your World, on FOX News this morning a really great way of summing it all up. It was near the end of the program and Neil Cavuto was summing up his OpEd. I’ll quote it here, if you don’t mind!
“They’re [the UN] free to bitch, of course. I just kind of think given their track record, they’re the last ones to judge on any course. They sit on their hands and pretend to feel for the world, while those same hands siphon off billions intended to help the world.”
Well, it sums up my thought pretty well.
September 23rd, 2004 at 10:00 am
I just found your blog via Doc in the Box. This is so cool, thank you! I’ll have to get a cuppa and read … I must say I found your 9-11 post soo true, found myself nodding in agreement all the way through. But could you, umm, expound a little more on the “green water/blue water” bit? Thank you for your service and your blog!
September 27th, 2004 at 9:21 am
Betsy,
Thanks for dropping by!
As for green vs. blue water–It’s a description of how far under the wave you are. “Green water” in this sense is the water that’s way under the surface of a wave, and blue water is the less murky stuff right at the top. If you see a surfing video you see darker, murkier stuff below where the surfer’s doing his thing. That stuff on the bottom is green water, and if you’re looking UP at it you’re about to be in a world of wet…