A Culture of Death
By Keith Boykin, in politics
Thursday, June 21 2007, 9:33AM
I have to respond to President Bush's veto yesterday of the stem cell research bill passed by Congress. In announcing the veto in the East Room of the White House, Bush proved himself once again to be a huge hypocrite. "Destroying human life in the hopes of saving human life is not ethical,” he said. According to the president, the United States is “a nation founded on the principle that all human life is sacred.”
That's just baloney. Two of the most defining issues of Bush's public life belie his purported belief in the sanctity of human life. As governor of Texas , George Bush presided over the nation's busiest execution chamber. And as president, Bush launched a war that has killed thousands of innocent civilians. He, of all people, is the last one who needs to lecture anyone about the sacred nature of all human life.
Destroying human life in the hopes of saving human life is exactly what the United States is supposedly doing in Iraq right now. The untold tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians killed in the war are considered little more than "collateral damage," to use the military euphemism. The ends justify the means, to the Bush Administration.
George Bush doesn't care about those people who are dying in Iraq because of his failed policy. He doesn't mourn the loss of innocent Iraqis who have died because of his arrogance and incompetence. I'm sure he would like the war to succeed and the civilian casualties to end, but he can't look at the American public with a straight face and tell us that the U.S. isn't destroying human life in the hopes of saving human life.
As for the president's statement that America was founded on the principle that all human life is sacred, I beg to differ there too. I don't know what history books George Bush has been reading, but I know all too well the history of black slaves and Native Americans in this country. This nation, as much as I love it, was not founded on the principle that all human life is sacred, and just because the president says it was doesn't make it true.
Sadly, the Bush presidency has been defined by a string of empty rhetoric that reveals the shallow level of thought and contemplation of which the president is capable. The terrorists attack us, he says, because "they hate our freedom." Then he tries to takes away the very freedom he says they hate. America is a country founded on the principle that all human life is sacred, he says. Then he leads us into wars that disregard the value of human life here and abroad.
No, Mr. Bush, the truth is far more complicated than you seem willing or able to understand. It's more complex than a continuously repeated talking point or a vacuous homily about American values. If you really cared about destroying human life, then you should never have started the war in Iraq. If you really believed that all human life is sacred, then you should have refused to sign the death warrants for the hundreds of people who were executed in Texas.
And if you really care about the truth and your own integrity, then you'll stop insulting our intelligence with your lies.
Comments conceal
Luther
June 21 2007, 11:20AM
The only life that is "sacred" to him and his cronies in teh GOP is a "white" life or someplace with vast amounts of oil, the lives of those suffering in Darfur and the Congo,and don't get me started about the lives of poor blacks and Hispanics here, mean nothing. More double talk with that fake Texas accent, will this "man" ever tell the truth?
FredinLA
June 21 2007, 2:24PM
Wait a minute, I thought the United States was founded on the principles of the Bible (a lie), now it was founded on the principle that all human life is sacred (did that include 3/5ths humans?)
Kenneth Winfrey
June 21 2007, 2:32PM
When I saw that he vetoed the stem cell bill, I felt exactly the same way.
I also started to ponder the question of life beginning at coneception and realized that embryos don't even have a brain. If we take the words of Descartes, "I think, therefore I am." then it is hard to argue the pro-life position on embyonic stem cells.
Embryonic stem cells occur at only 4-5 days after fertilization. Many pregancies end after that point without the mother even realizing she was ever pregnant anyway...if we are going to argue the right to life of a 4-5 day embryo, then we should do better for animals in the wild and the Earth itself as better stewards of the environment!
FredinLA
June 21 2007, 2:55PM
I agree Kenneth, no cerebral cortex, no "human life"
This man continues to exist in his own world. The majority of the electorate supports stem cell research; according to a poll conducted by one physician, the majority of fertility clinic patients support their unused frozen embryos being used for stem cell research (rather than being destroyed which is what usually happens)
For those who say this just prevents federal funds from being used, and the research can be funded privately, its highly unlikely that significant strides are going to be made solely relying on privately funded research, and why not spend our money on something useful, rather than abstinence only sex education programs that have proven ineffective.
Ostend Street
June 21 2007, 3:07PM
The more this man talks (your president) the more he reminds me of one of the childrens fairy tales called "The Emperor has No Clothes".
Ostend Street
June 21 2007, 3:07PM
The more this man talks (your president) the more he reminds me of one of the childrens fairy tales called "The Emperor has No Clothes".
chicagangel
June 21 2007, 3:42PM
You know its funny.
You have to love to be president!! no matter who is president be it republican or democrat you can still do what you feel by the power of the pin and veto lol.
Dems control congress yet have NO POWER! they have no power to veto anything. so untill the next election non partisan...is the only course.
The republicans still control congress..no matter how to slice it!
Steve
June 22 2007, 12:20AM
Ah yes, the basic underlying hypocrisy of the religious wrong.
America just doesn't get it that this is a war to shore up oil company profits. It's not for some high flying moral purpose. And the business about being anti abortion/pro life is really about subjugation of women, not saving harmless fetuses. And the death penalty is really about teaching the people at the bottom of the economic scale a lesson, as observed by murders like OJ being able to buy their way into a not guilty verdict. Let's face reality folks, think critically and see the hypocrisy.
reina
June 22 2007, 9:49AM
Honestly, I'm at place of feeling emotionally drained by trying to apply logic to this illogical administration. I truly am vexed that our intelligence is consistently insulted. Luckily, I can be in the company of analytical, independent thinkers here!
cward![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.keithboykin.com/blog2/nav-commenters.gif)
June 22 2007, 2:59PM
The only way to be rid of these lies is to VOTE EDWARDS in 2008; to elect anyone else is to be surrounded by more lies and manipulations.
jas
June 24 2007, 7:02AM
yeah i agree completely. the bush administration wouldn't know the sanctity of life if it kicked them in the face.
Tony
July 7 2007, 10:59PM
I share your exact sentiments. Nice essay!
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