I'm not angry anymore.
By II2aTee
@II2aTee (2559)
United States
August 5, 2009 10:58am CST
There was a time when I hated and loathed George W. Bush. In the honest, literal sense of the word. Four years ago if you told me that my feelings for him would one day thaw, I would have called you crazy. Every day I lived in fear for some aspect of my life (and life on earth in general) because I thought that historys greatest tyrant had seized the reigns of power in my country, and was driving us all down a road to hell.
But today as I think about him I must admit I like him very much as a person. Perhaps that has a lot to do with the fact that he is no longer in charge of the country. Perhaps it’s because like many Americans I suffer from a short term political memory. Or maybe its because I have never been very good at holding a grudge.
I think about George Bush and what he is doing now that he is no longer the most powerful man in the world. He spends his days mostly at his ranch in Dallas, and currently (so I am told) he is focused on his Presidential Memoirs. This quiet life of dignity is well deserved. Despite my personal objections to his action as President, he served his country like an American hero. Granted, when he passed the reigns to Obama I breathed a huge sigh of relief. At some times, while he was in power I thought to myself “This is it! It’s the end of the world. And its all Bush’s fault.”
But it wasn’t. And we survived.
I see now that Obama is President, the people who do not share his ideals t are now in the position I was in a few years ago. They are scarred, and they are angry. They believe that Obama harkens the beginning of the end, just as I thought Bush was doing the same. In hindsight, I swallowed the pretense of the “Black and White Media” hook line and sinker. Bush was in charge… that means we are doomed!
Do you think that this is the nature of American politics? When the person you like is in power, the future seems bright and promising. But if someone who you do not like is in power, it’s time to stock up on canned goods and batteries because that person is the Anti-Christ… all the conspiracy theories are true… they are pure evil?
Why is that? Are politicians so vile and corrupt that they demonize their opposition and try to convince the public that a vote for the “other guy/gal” is a vote for the end of civilization as we know it?
I have admitted that I was wrong in that regard to Bush. The world kept on spinning and life went on. Do you think that the people perpetuating the Obama hysteria will be able to admit the same thing when he is no longer in office?
2 people like this
5 responses
@sblossom (2168)
•
5 Aug 09
to be honest i don't think i totally understand American politics. But when many people complained and mocked with George Bush, i was the few people who think we shoul keep calm and understand him.
so i don't think he should be responsible for the current situations in the world. In fact i think he fellowed his logic and really changed the world. Also his persoanl character is also made him more easy going than today's american president.
american politics is a big book to me. I still have not found my way to understand it.
@II2aTee (2559)
• United States
5 Aug 09
To understand American politics you need a flare for drama, and you need to see see the world as having only two sides. The right side, and the wrong side.
The right side is always your political party. Because frankly everyone who thinks the exact same way you do must be correct.
The wrong side is evil, corrupt and involved in some conspiracy to bring about the downfall of America. It's a plot. And you cant for the life of you understand why anyone could disagree!
I have been on both sides now. And I see all to clearly the absurdity of it all.
@jonakyl (493)
• United States
5 Aug 09
I think this is a rather new phenomenon. I say that because I didn't feel the anxieties that I do now when Clinton was in office. Even if I disagreed with some of his policies, I didn't feel like the nation would collapse under his leadership. I think 9/11 made us feel like we were vulnerable, and this vulnerability was felt even more if you disagreed with the administration's policies. There is still talk of terrorists and terrorist actions around the world, and we as a nation have not forgotten how vulnerable we are.
@II2aTee (2559)
• United States
5 Aug 09
Very good observation. 9/11 was a huge game changer in American politics. It allowed both Democrats and Republicans an event to point to and say "This is what happens if you do not vote for me".
Both parties have used 9/11 to further their ideology. It has been a very effective tool. Fear has an amazing affect on the masses. It both motivates them, and polarizes them. Its the perfect fulcrom to be used by those in power to sway public attention this way and that... keeping us off balance and unable to deal with the real problems at hand.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
6 Aug 09
You are better than I.Once I loath someone,it is forever.I never hated W. I just ignored him like I do every Republican president.I didn't think he was the greatest tyrant.Stalin has that post ,with a honorable mention to Hitler.Once he left office,I haven't thought about him at all.But if I did hate him,I would still wish him ill. I think it is a Capricorn thing. Nixon and I not only have enemies lists but long,long memories.Some say it is a waste of time but I find it very useful.This way I can be nice to others.If I were forced to forgive all the time,I would be mean to everyone.
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
6 Aug 09
Hi Tee, I think that you are right, many people breathed a sigh of relief when George W. Bush left the oval office, but time seems to be the great healer in more ways than one. I have seen it myself here in Canada and even now I can't wait to get the present government out of office, although I'm not as vocal as when I was younger. Looking back though, I'm like you in the sense that I feel quiet differently about those previous leaders now and I expect history will repeat itself lol! With any US president of course, it's quiet different because of the influence they have on the world in general. Although I have great expectations for Obama, I know there are those who are really scared of where he is leading the country. There are of course those stirring up the hysteria for other reasons but in another 8 or so years, many if not most will be able to admit that they were wrong. Blessings.
@LiveLove (443)
• United States
6 Aug 09
I didn't dislike Mr.Bush as president until he went into office. I didn't agree with the number of votes he received but the only people who really know who won are the people who counted the votes. I can't say I agree with many of his policies because many weren't thoroughly thought out and failed. That isn't to say that he didn't have many successes as well, but I don't know of any. I heard about some things that happened in Texas that I definitely didn't agree with and that was when he was just a governor, I believe. I can honestly say that I got to the point where I didn't watch anymore of his speeches because he started to sound more and more like a imbecile. His DUI while running for president didn't help either nor his unruly daughters. Yet that was what the media presented to me, so the dangerous behavior could have or could not have happened or just been over exaggerated. I'm still fairly disappointed with the process for helping Hurricane Katrina victims. But he definitely wasn't the worst president but sometimes it did feel like his strings were being pulled. But presidents do try to make whoever they feel matter pleased. The government system is fairly flawed, IMO,and I don't affiliate with any political party since my views intersect several different parties but not entirely just one. I think the parties of government positions shouldn't be so limited and always restricted to, Republican and Democrats.
