President George W. Bush’s Speech at the Dallas Police Memorial Service
While many of us have been critical of George W. Bush’s policies, there is no denying that this man surely knows how to lead our nation through a time of crisis. He certainly did not disappoint yesterday at the Dallas Police Memorial Service honoring five fallen officers.
The video below includes his remarks:
https://youtu.be/Dnzv3TjXPh0
Bush stated:
“At times, it seems like the forces pulling us apart are stronger than the forces binding us together. Argument turns too easily into animosity. Disagreement escalates too quickly into dehumanization. Too often we judge other groups by their worst examples, while judging ourselves by our best intentions. (Applause.) And this has strained our bonds of understanding and common purpose.
But Americans, I think, have a great advantage. To renew our unity, we only need to remember our values. We have never been held together by blood or background. We are bound by things of the spirit – by shared commitments to common ideals.
At our best, we practice empathy, imagining ourselves in the lives and circumstances of others. This is the bridge across our nation’s deepest divisions. And it is not merely a matter of tolerance, but of learning from the struggles and stories of our fellow citizens, and finding our better selves in the process.
At our best, we honor the image of God we see in one another. We recognize that we are brothers and sisters, sharing the same brief moment on earth, and owing each other the loyalty of our shared humanity.
At our best, we know we have one country, one future, one destiny. We do not want the unity of grief. Nor do we want the unity of fear. We want the unity of hope, affection, and high purpose.”
At a time when our nation seems to be so full of discontent and divisiveness, Bush’s speech was absolutely refreshing. Quite frankly, we are all tired of being lectured, berated, and brow-beaten (by the current administration) every time there is a crisis.
We are all hurting. We need to unite and mourn as a people for a change.
