Editorial: Bush cannot rely on faith, narrow views of freedom

With a solemn oath and public address, it became official:
George W. Bush is President for four more years, and he is ready to
come out swinging. His inaugural speech roundly defended the last
four years of his presidency, and ominously foreshadowed four more
years of unapologetic neo-conservative leadership.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Bush avoided specifics in his address.
The speech sounded much like a sermon before a battle ““
intended to do little more than rally the spirits of loyal
troops.

Bush never spoke directly of Sept. 11, 2001, but said
“there came a day of fire” which changed everything. In
this new world, Bush sees the global spread of
“freedom” as a vital interest necessary for the
survival of the United States.

Much like his neo-con advisors, Bush sees the good versus evil
struggle as an inevitability. “We are led,” he said,
“by events and common sense … the survival of liberty in
our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other
lands.” It is this same logic that led Bush to invade Iraq
with little more evidence than the belief Saddam Hussein could one
day pose a danger to the United States.

And all of Bush’s rhetoric does not answer the real
question: Is the United States or the world really safer than it
was four years ago? Despite the successful invasions and targeted
strikes, hundreds have died in Spain, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and
elsewhere in horrible bombings and attacks.

There is no reason to think the United States has become immune.
While making Iraq free, Bush may create more enemies than he
destroys. Without investing in the economies of developing nations,
the United States will continue to be seen as little more than the
village bully ““ and there is always a bigger bully waiting in
the shadows. And while Bush spoke at length about spreading
freedom, he also showed how inflexible his personal beliefs are
about right and wrong.

The coming political battles will be about more than just war.
Abortion, civil rights, taxation and education will all be pressing
issues. And just as Bush seeks to impose freedom on Iraq, he has
clear ideas about freedom here in the United States. In a free
nation, he said, “the public interest depends on private
character … on governing of the self … supported by communities
with standards, and sustained in our national life by the truths of
Sinai, the Sermon on he Mount, the words of the Koran, and the
varied faiths of our people.”

But, President Bush, what if those standards are different from
your own? What if a person has no faith? And who should determine
what makes for a good private character? It is disheartening that
the first president of the 21st century turns to faith for all his
answers.

In the end, Bush’s inaugural address leaves as many
questions as it answers. But those who voted for Bush simply
thinking he will lower their taxes might find unpleasant surprises
amid his other domestic and international initiatives. Bush
believes he has a mandate, and he is not afraid to use it.