Image courtesy of Esther Flickr page - george-hw-and-bush-sr-and-wife-barbara-bush: https://www.flickr.com/photos/47730426@N04/4373243790/in/photolist-7Es221-5DE4K3-5DE8vq-dQvBUq-5iNsnK-55KX7e-55KXPH-55KXKM-6MUzk3-4zCdAa-4zCdyP-m6Rbkg-HdupRh-nHECXh-q5hgcQ-oYxB4A-53U5J6-4zCdxn-nrETUw-mU7d3s-nQsYiU-nWkz2j-mgLsKF-o4eApz-ohGGWp-oG6aEU-o2gAkv-p5RMdn-oFLmRV-odEAQm-p5NVRm-o5YywD-p4exjX-pKLpfc-pgiCxG-oafpvg-npqF1Z-oK7oHc-pod3Ay-ogJ9Xq-oXw9Er-oofudU-psuKC4-pjs1UM-oFfKix-pvqP1N-oK3PWh-o7EoPv-jkkNy-o5VehG
This is the first time since I started "The Charbor Chronicles" that a former American president has died.
My feelings about George H. W. Bush were a bit complicated. At the time, being significantly younger (I turned 18 just in time to vote against the elder Bush in the 1992 election), I felt that it was difficult, if not impossible, to relate to him. My family was not a big fan of the Republicans, and leaned far more heavily in favor of the Democrats. But by the time that Bush Senior was in office, the Republicans had owned the White House for three straight elections. That was 12 long years of Republican rule at the very top, and I was itching to see a Democrat get in.
These days, however, Bush Sr. looks just so much better, and classier, than what we presently have. He was a man who thought it classless to talk about himself, which is obviously so much different than what we see in Washington today. Bush presided over some amazing times, with the events in China during the Tienanmen Square protests and subsequent massacre, and the incredible tensions of the Cold War suddenly easing, and then the Cold War ending quite suddenly, with the Berlin Wall coming down, and then the dissolution of the Soviet Union itself. Namibia became a new country, and then South Africa itself began to dismantle the racist apartheid system of white supremacy that had existed there for half a century.
Indeed, looking back, it seemed like there were just some incredible changes going on all around the world, and many of them looked and felt downright inspiring, making the world feel like a much more hopeful place.
Again, it is hard not to make comparisons between that and the present day, when things feel decidedly more hopeless, and when there is talk of a new Cold War brewing. Now, nations are increasingly viewing what passes for leadership in the White House as extremely suspect, irresponsible, and untrustworthy, and there seems to be more effort to work around the United States, instead of with the United States.
Very different times, reflecting the vastly different approaches. To his credit, Bush Sr. was a diplomat, and almost everything he did, he tried to do by cooperating with the larger world community, which was remarkably different than the approach taken by some who have followed, including his own son.
President George H. W. Bush will always likely be most remembered for his handling of the first Persian Gulf War, following the invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein's Iraq. There was Operation Desert Shield, placing western (mostly American) troops in close proximity to Kuwait, before it converted to Operation Desert Storm, the active war that ultimately removed Saddam and Iraqi forces from Kuwait.
I will admit to feeling that that war felt a bit made up and overly convenient, with Americans showing a hunger to erase memories of Vietnam by getting a clear-cut victory. That can be a dangerous mindset, and I believe that the dangers were made apparent once Bush's son came into the Oval Office, and imposed a war against Iraq which, this time, so much of the world was opposed to.
It seemed quite ironic that people would long for the liberal old days of George H. W. Bush, when compared to his own son's administration, let alone what we have in office these days.
In any case, George H. W. Bush was considerably more civil than what we see in American politics these days. My mom was mentioning earlier today that they were a lot more civil back then, and that his generation - those who fought in World War II and are often referred to as "The Greatest Generation" - had quite a bit more class and dignity, which I feel it is fair to give Bush Senior for.
We could use a bit more of that now.
Yes, the elder Bush actually not only fought in the Pacific during World War II, but had his plane shot down. Incredibly, there is actually video footage of the incident. He would later enter into the field of politics, losing elections but getting the notice of President Richard Nixon, and become an ambassador to China when Nixon was trying to open relations there. He later was head of the Republican Party while Watergate was going on, although he himself was not charged with anything, before becoming Director of the CIA. Eventually, he would run for the White House in 1980, but would fall short to Reagan. Nevertheless, Reagan would choose him for his Vice-President, and he became Reagan's heir apparent, eventually succeeding him to become the 41st President of the United States.
It seemed quite ironic that people would long for the liberal old days of George H. W. Bush, when compared to his own son's administration, let alone what we have in office these days.
In any case, George H. W. Bush was considerably more civil than what we see in American politics these days. My mom was mentioning earlier today that they were a lot more civil back then, and that his generation - those who fought in World War II and are often referred to as "The Greatest Generation" - had quite a bit more class and dignity, which I feel it is fair to give Bush Senior for.
We could use a bit more of that now.
Yes, the elder Bush actually not only fought in the Pacific during World War II, but had his plane shot down. Incredibly, there is actually video footage of the incident. He would later enter into the field of politics, losing elections but getting the notice of President Richard Nixon, and become an ambassador to China when Nixon was trying to open relations there. He later was head of the Republican Party while Watergate was going on, although he himself was not charged with anything, before becoming Director of the CIA. Eventually, he would run for the White House in 1980, but would fall short to Reagan. Nevertheless, Reagan would choose him for his Vice-President, and he became Reagan's heir apparent, eventually succeeding him to become the 41st President of the United States.
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