Bush's new mission

Reading Nathan Carleton’s column on the presidential election, headlined “Mission Accomplished,” I am reminded of the last time I saw that phrase. It was May 1, 2003, on a banner aboard an aircraft carrier behind the flight suit-clad President George W. Bush. Today, American troops are engaged in a large-scale invasion of Falluja that is part of the increasingly violent and hopelessly unplanned attempt to win the “peace” in Iraq.

The President used personal attacks and vague appeals to “moral values” during this campaign the way he used bombs and soldiers during the initial invasion of Iraq. I only pray that he has a better plan to win this peace.

Bush has a legitimate electoral mandate now and the power to be the moral leader so many Americans say that he is. He could unite the country and strive toward common goals founded on our common moral values of love, liberty, tolerance and humanity. He could work toward bipartisan policy to reduce the number of medically unnecessary abortions in America. He could support a definition of an American Family as one that is founded on love and commitment, free from legal discrimination. He could support his own education policy.

So far, the President has not led the country in this way. Instead, he has led from the values of division, fear, hate and intolerance. He has turned his back on liberty. American citizenship is a hard road. It demands leaders who create unity, not just conformity. It demands that we not only fight for Liberty abroad but that we practice it at home. It’s not too late for this President to become a moral leader and I sincerely hope that he does. Red America, you have won the initial battle, and it is time to win the peace. You can lead the country forward as a beacon of liberty or you can oppress and divide your way to comfortable conformity. The ball is in your court.

Catherine Cullen

Trinity ’06