from mcsweeney: daily reasons to dispatch bush and you can even suggest your own reason...
from alternet: is bush the anti-buddha? link courtesy of karen
michael moore's fahrenheit 9/11 wins top prize at cannes
the anti-buddha article really hit home. i have to say, as someone deeply touched by the buddhist teachings of compassion, bush labelling himself as a compassionate conservative really rankles me - as i have not seen an ounce of compassion in the man. in fact, i don't find bush as particularly conservative either - in the true sense of the word... i am touched by the author's buddhist beliefs prevents him from hating bush, despite vehemently disareeing with him:
The consistent unskillfulness of the Bush government makes it tempting to confuse evil and ignorance. Buddhism observes that people are not inherently evil - even if their behavior has that appearance.
Mindful that the real source of American power does not come from its superior war machine but from its constitution, its leadership in the global community, its democracy and its history of respect for human rights, George Bush has seriously weakened America. For this he deserves no praise, only reproach. But my practice has helped me prevent any grim imaginings in his regard. When I'm stricken with unskillful thoughts about the President, I immediately focus on the words of the Buddha: "Hatred can never put an end to hatred, love alone can. This is the unalterable law."
if i *hate* bush because i disagree with the war and find him not compassionate, that doesn't say much about my own level of compassion and commitment to non-violence - does it? that being said, those same beliefs certainly are a call to action to do what can be done to defeat him in november's election...
Posted by Mike at May 23, 2004 08:17 PM