Aug 11 2008
Bush Interview with Costas: The Matter of Respect
Last night NBC anchor Bob Costas interviewed President Bush. It is evident that Bush was prepared to stay on his original message regarding the importance of China to U.S. economic interests. It is evident that “original talking points” remained unchanged: The U.S. must remain engaged with the Chinese. Okay, I got it. Then, I got more…Two seminal moments where President Bush’s words jumped through my screen and seemed to yell at me, “Pay attention—this is what I am really talking about and it is important!”
Costas: This past week, you restated America’s fundamental differences with China. But given China’s growing strength and America’s own problems, realistically how much leverage and influence does the U.S. have here?
Bush: First of all I don’t see America having problems. I see America as a nation that is a world leader that has got great values. Leverage is as, I don’t think you should look at the relationship as one of leverage I think you oughta look at the relationship of one of constructive engagement where you can find common areas like North Korea and Iran but also be in a position where they respect you enough to listen to your views on religious freedom and political liberty.
“I don’t see America having problems”… I thought my head would explode. How much money have we borrowed from the Chinese, the Russians, and many other governments around the globe to finance the nebulous “War on Terror”? Costas was right to ask the question; but again, the President of the United States answers by denying reality in some vague likeness of “If you build it, they will come”.
Then we hear ‘the values mantra’ which to my mind is nothing more than code-speak for what has become a 21st Century replay of The Crusades.
Costas: If these Olympics are as successful as they are shaping up to be, most people believe this only further legitimizes the ruling party in the minds of most Chinese citizens and even absent true liberty as we understand it, the lives of hundreds of millions of Chinese people are much better than they once were. Therefore, what’s the party’s incentive to reform?
Bush: Well first of all, if you are a religious person, you understand that once religion takes hold in society, it can’t be stopped.
Are we to believe President Bush does not know the Chinese people have thousands of years behind them, grounded in religious belief? Obviously, not the preferred religious belief of George Bush… This alone would not be so startling if President Bush had not followed up this thought with what felt like a strong message to U.S. Citizens concerning “Respect”.
Bush: “…Coming here is a sign of respect for the Chinese people–This is a big, important nation. We’ll have our differences and we’ll have our agreements but in order to find common ground and to move the world toward peace, it is important for this country to show respect for the people of the country.”
I would like President Bush to clarify what is meant by “Respect” and what merits “Respect”. Why are the Chinese people more deserving of respect than say, the Iranian people, or the North Koreans? Surely it has nothing to do with monetary interests or gain; after all, respect is a human right is it not? Surely “Respect” has nothing to do with being the citizen of a “big important nation”…
Transcription of Bush/Costas Interview 08/10/2008 E.D. T. by K.H. Lindsey linked from: http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/player.html?assetid=0811_hd_mul_au_l1629
The key to world peace is found in economics…What is going on in China is wonderful, along with India, Vietnam and many other countries. As the world becomes more economically involved, the chances of wars are reduced….As a peace loving person (most people are) I am thrilled at China’s economic rise, not too mention they are already buying more and more American products and services.
Other than the 10% massively devoted, is there anyone who isn’t aware that Bush is at best a mediocre president, at worst a disaster, and therefore probably somewhere in the middle at just plain bad? But the guy is still the President, and it wouldn’t kill us to show a TINY tad of respect for the office. I saw that interview and I thought it was excellent all around. Good questions. So-so answers. A positive attitude about America is what I want from a President. Here is a clue: a President that talks about how bad things are going does enormous harm to the country. Carter’s “malaise” speech did enormous damage to our economy almost instantaneously. There are plenty of people out there reporting on the problems we face, and I am glad we have them. We don’t need our own President piling on. President’s speak in terms of the overall picture. In the grand scheme of things, America doesn’t have “problems.” The country is in great shape. But on a micro scale, and looking forward, we obviously have some serious issues we have to resolve or we will falter. But having the President trash the USA does nothing to help.
-Cambios
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