George W. Bush Joins Icons In Effort To Rally The American Spirit


Former President George W. Bush issued a call for unity, courage and compassion in the face of the coronavirus pandemic Saturday as part of a live-streamed project featuring cultural and political icons striving to rally the American spirit.

The video tweeted by Bush praises Americans for their ability to unify during challenging times, and it refrains from partisanship or criticism of President Donald Trump’s handling of the pandemic. Still, Trump, who pointedly eschewed the tradition of calling on past presidents for help during times of national crisis, took to Twitter to express his irritation with the effort Sunday. Bush was far from alone in the quest to rally Americans as the nation confronts one of the biggest health and economic challenges in decades. Former President Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Julia Roberts, Martin Luther King III, Special Olympics Chair Tim Shriver, Quincy Jones, Naomi Judd, Andrew Yang, Aloe Blacc and Sean Combs aired videos in the “The Call to Unite” project.

But it was Bush’s video that caught the current president’s attention.

In the video featuring images of Americans supporting one another, Bush strikes a tone of compassion.

“This is a challenging and solemn time in the life of our nation and world. A remorseless, invisible enemy threatens the elderly and vulnerable among us, a disease that can quickly take breath and life. Medical professionals are risking their own health for the health of others, and we’re deeply grateful. Officials at every level are setting out the requirements of public health that protect us all, and we all need to do our part,” said Bush.

“The disease also threatens broader damage, harm to our sense of safety, security and community. The larger challenge we share is to confront an outbreak of fear and loneliness. And it is frustrating that many of the normal tools of compassion, a hug a touch can bring the opposite of the good we intend. In this case we serve our neighbor by separating from them. We cannot allow physical separation to become emotional isolation. This requires us to be, not only compassionate, but creative in our outreach.”

Bush also reminded Americans that they have risen to such challenges in the past.

Click Here: cheap all stars rugby jersey

“First, let us remember we have faced times of testing before. Following 9/11, I saw a great nation rise as one to honor the brave, to grieve with the grieving and to embrace unavoidable new duties, and I have no doubt, none at all, that this spirit of service and sacrifice is alive and well in America. Second, let us remember that empathy and simple kindness are essential powerful tools of national recovery,” he added.

“Third, let us remember that the suffering we experience as a nation does not fall evenly. In the days to come it will be especially important to care in practical ways for the elderly, the ill and the unemployed. Finally, let us remember how small our differences are in the face of this shared threat. In the final analysis, we are not partisan combatants, we are human beings, equally vulnerable and equally wonderful in the sight of God. We rise or fall together and we are determined to rise.”

Trump took to Twitter to share his thoughts on Bush’s attempt to soothe a worried nation. For Trump, it is apparently too little, too late. He paraphrased “Fox and Friends” host Peter Hegseth in questioning Bush’s loyalty.

“Oh [by] the way, I appreciate the message from former President Bush, but where was he during Impeachment calling for putting partisanship aside,” the president tweeted. “He was nowhere to be found in speaking up against the greatest Hoax in American history!”

Trump has been clear that he doesn’t feel he needs the help of his predecessors despite the tradition of deploying past presidents in times of crisis. Asked at a press briefing in March if he would call on them, he gave a hard ‘no,’ declaring that his administration was doing a tremendous job of dealing with the coronavirus.

“I don’t think I’m going to learn much,”he said. “And, you know, I guess you could say that there’s probably a natural inclination not to call.”

work_outlinePosted in News

Leave a Reply