tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post8747983538218845551..comments2023-11-05T00:58:55.352-07:00Comments on A Peculiar Prophet: SAVE ALL YOU CAN, GIVE ALL YOU CANWilliam H. Willimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00002821401928222858noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-48582831957087495252008-10-25T12:40:00.000-07:002008-10-25T12:40:00.000-07:00The idea that Pres. Bush urged people to deal with...The idea that Pres. Bush urged people to deal with their post-9/11 grief by telling them to "Go shopping" is at best revisionist nonsense and at worst a form false witness.<BR/><BR/>On the evening of 9/11/01, he said:<BR/><BR/>"I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us, spoken through the ages in Psalm 23: 'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me.'...<BR/><BR/>"This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace.... None of us will ever forget this day. Yet, we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world."<BR/><BR/>Several days later, in a speech to a Joint Session of Congress, he did reference the economy:<BR/><BR/>"I ask your continued participation and confidence in the American economy. Terrorists attacked a symbol of American prosperity. They did not touch its source. America is successful because of the hard work, and creativity, and enterprise of our people. These were the true strengths of our economy before September 11th, and they are our strengths today."<BR/><BR/>That is far different from just "Go shopping." It was an entreaty to be about the things that <I>strengthen</I> our economy, so that people could continue to earn a living, provide for their families, and, yes, save for the future.<BR/><BR/>To suggest that the intent of his words was a flippant call to excess is simply dishonest, or at least ill-informed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-6237291523840382252008-10-16T22:22:00.000-07:002008-10-16T22:22:00.000-07:00Hmmm, now you have my attention, what other initia...Hmmm, now you have my attention, what other initiative is that?Steve Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10983065678880352975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-68382162111140711772008-10-16T21:17:00.000-07:002008-10-16T21:17:00.000-07:00Bishop,Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I tho...Bishop,<BR/>Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I thought that this story on John Wesley's view of the economy was interesting as well.<BR/><BR/>http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=2433457&ct=6110923<BR/><BR/>Speaking of Tuesday, Oct. 21, I look forward to your "other" intiative that evening. In case you have a seperate entry forthcoming to address it, I won't ruin the surprise. But I wanted to wish you the best of luck and blessings.SRBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12298887150712313632noreply@blogger.com