A new level of disbelief

Two articles from today’s New York Times online edition so provoked my levels of disbeliefs that I had to start up the blog again, as before, if for no other reason than to get things off my chest.

The first article was “In Shift, Bush Emerges as a Budget Warrior,” and says that the president is now going to portray himself as a fiscal conservative. The article goes on to report: “Mr. Bush is headed into a spending battle with Congressional Democrats with the two branches of government as divided on the issue as they have been since the federal shutdown of 1995. The president has threatened to veto 10 of the 11 appropriations bills that have passed the House, as well as legislation expanding a popular children’s health care program. On Monday, he will step up the fight with a speech accusing Democrats of fiscal irresponsibility.”

In the remainder of the article there is much discussion of why Bush would suddenly turn into a champion of fiscal responsibility, when his record so far has been quite the opposite.

One reason that was not discussed, but which I will offer for consideration is that George Bush is a petulant brat who is bound and determined to get his own way! He has lost (as in his Social Security agenda) or is losing (as in his Iraq War policies) any credibility. Which, being a massively insecure under-achiever, is simply intolerable to him. So his threats to veto spending bills proposed and passed by Democrats --- never mind the massive irony that not once did he veto a spending bill proposed and passed by his Republican buddies! --- are nothing but a childish hissy fit. It is his way of folding his arms, sticking out his tongue, stamping his feet and refusing to play nice.

The second article was “The World Comes to Georgia, and an Old Church Adapts.” In general it is a very hopeful article on how a traditionally white Southern Baptist church in Georgia adapted to diversity, learning to embrace worshippers from more than a dozen different ethnic backgrounds. I have no doubt the Times meant it to serve as a microcosm for the kind of positive outcomes adopting to --- rather than fighting against --- diversity can bring.

The article focuses on a long-time church member, a Mr. Perrin, who admits he grew up as a bigoted southern white in the community, but recounts an incident when he served in Vietnam that turned around his attitudes on race. It was Mr. Perrin, the article says, who was a key leader in the church’s transformation, basing his efforts on his understanding of Jesus’ teachings of tolerance and inclusiveness.

But then the article goes on to say, “While an outspoken advocate for diversity within his church, Mr. Perrin is quick to point out that he is no liberal. He voted twice for President Bush. Mr. Perrin said he advocated for an international church because the Bible told him to.” And my level of disbelief took off like a rocket.

But then I remembered just how many times in the past and in variety of contexts I have said to myself and to others, “The ability of human being to hold contradictory beliefs and yet not be in any way uncomfortable with the dichotomy is utterly amazing.”

Mr. Bush and Mr. Perrin are living examples.