http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/opinion/15collins.html?_r=1&bl&ex=1232341200&en=4096f0e7da13a6ef&ei=5087%0A
By Gail Collins
Alright, even for a non-political follower, right a way I knew that from the title it was going to be about President Bush. Whether you like President Bush or not, the way Gail Collins criticizes him is without a doubt completely unnecessary.
I guess, in what I'm about to say is going to defend Bush in his actions as President, but I am defending him by the hateful words used in this article.
If you have ever played on a sports team, been on a cast for a play, or any situation where you have second guessed someone, well then you know it is very easy to second guess anyone on a decision they have made. In this op-ed article Collins uses the words, "entire nation" and "everyone" frequently. Well, even though it is her own opinion when your writing about a topic as serious or important as this one you should think that not everyone agrees with your opinion. Bush did not win the 2000 election or 2004 election by just one vote. The American people voted him in, and America thought he was the best candidate at that time.
“Just seemed like yesterday,' he said(President Bush). I think I speak for the entire nation when I say that the way this transition has been dragging on, even yesterday does not seem like yesterday. And the last time George W. Bush did not factor into our lives feels like around 1066."
For some people, but not all when you read an article you can tell the tone the way the writer has written the article. From this article I get the tone sarcastic and hate. No love. Right now he is still our President, and we must respect that.
On the way this op-ed was written. Well if you are not a fan of President Bush most likely the reader got a great laugh out of the article and agreed with Collins and walked away from the computer. Collins mentioned things about President Bush from the Iraqi War to Hurricane Katrina. Her ending not only entertained the reader(which any writer wants to) but disrespected our President on so many levels. Here is Collins ending ...
“My fellow Americans, before I leave you next week I want you to know that ...
A) “Although things have gone very wrong, I take comfort in the realization that Dick Cheney was actually in control from the get-go. Honest, I never even knew half the people in the cabinet.”
B) “Laura and I have come to realize that all things considered, retirement to a mansion in Texas is just totally inappropriate. And so we take our leave to begin a new life as missionaries at a small rescue station in the Gobi desert ...”
C) “Surprise! This has all actually been a bad dream. It’s really still November of 2000 and tomorrow Al Gore is going to be elected president.”
Otherwise, the best possible approach for a farewell address might be for Bush to follow his father’s lead and just not give one."
But you know, maybe I am just over reacting to this article and Collins is dead-on with everything she said. But when I fininished reading this article I got that gut feeling that it was wrong. And the saying goes "go with your gut feeling."
2 comments:
I agree with your defense of President Bush- the American people voted him into office and he still deserves our respect. Although Bush has made mistakes during his presidency, at one point Americans trusted him enough to elect him to lead our country. How could those feelings of trust so quickly turn to anger and hate? Although I can understand he has made some mistakes that undoubtedly displeased many within our nation, he is subject to very harsh criticism by citizens, such as Gail Collins. Many people are past the point of simply disagreeing with his beliefs as they attack everything about him from his personality and his speaking. Therefore, I think he is still entitled to respect for the rest of his time in office, even if Americans are looking forward to Obama leading our country to change.
I found the op-ed cynical and to some extent harsh, though no more so than any political parodies of the President Bush. Seeing as this is an op-ed, the writer is entitled to such a cutting opinion. However, I do agree with you Kate, that the American public appears to have a selective memory. With the bad economy and the the war in Iraq, people have quickly forgotten that Bush did at one time have high approval ratings. They certainly weren't complaining about him in the aftermath of September 11th.
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