I’m a Jewish-born atheist, not an agnostic, but one very clear in my views, who enjoys a deep dive into the subject with open minded people. I was among the few speakers in my small city that had spoken to change the name of the Holiday parade, held in late November, to the “Christmas Parade.” My presentation contributed to the 3 to 2 vote to revert to the previous name. As the Supreme Court is taking up a case of a 40 foot Latin Cross on public property, it reminds me of my participation in attempting to relocate one of the exact height in San Diego, The Soledad Cross. Here’s a long side trip for those interested.
Although I’m an atheist, I have nothing but affection for those who believe in God, and/or Jesus and wish them all the comfort that they get out of such a belief. But I have a strong antipathy for those who in seeking, or upon achieving, elective office in this country try to impose a belief in a higher being on its citizens, as I quite reasonably believe that faith in a supernatural being who created the world and provides eternal life is the essence of a “religion,” the institution that our first amendment prohibits the establishment thereof.
So, my attendance by proxy at the ceremony yesterday has left me with some thoughts and feelings that I will share with those who may be interested, and who may want to participate in a comment-conversation.
Jon Meacham’s, Bush’s biographer who became his friend, gave a eulogy that I consider as masterful as it was a sincere expression of their friendship. His opening line “The story was almost over before it had began…..” describing his unlikely survival from his being shot down in Japanese waters where he was the only survivor of the three man crew, was all the more poignant because it was true. If you didn’t see it yet, take the 12 minutes to watch it here, as it was a work of great art, but also of awe at the life of the man whose story he would tell.
Meacham included aspects of Poppy’s faith (his casual name that I will use here to avoid confusion with his son) his asking “why God -- did I survive, when the others didn’t -— and that the life he lived was in answer to that question. Meacham, as well as another speaker, Senator Alan Simpson, should be viewed, along with the final speech by his son, George W. Bush.
It turns out that “W”, Bush 43, was the true Evangelical Christian, in contrast with his father who was devout, but was opposed by Pat Robertson , who was a hyper evangelical — yet as described here Poppy turned out to advance the Christian Right movement that was to energize the Republican party to this day. W’s presentation, the final eulogy, was deeply felt — conveying the affection he had for both of his parents.
He ended this presentation , breaking with emotions, with words to the effect, “I’m happy that Dad is now in heaven, hugging his little girl (who died of cancer at 3) and holding Barbara’s hand” Heck, I’m tearing up just writing this! My atheism doesn’t interfere with my empathizing with the comfort and strength that such a belief has given the Bush family, and so many billions of other struggling mortals. My intellect and my feelings on this are in two distinct parts of my mentality, never an impediment to empathizing with one who is comforted a belief I don’t share. Reaching out for succor during fear or great loss is universal; beyond rationality — much less politics.
The final speech after friends and family was by Rev. Dr. Russell J. Levenson, Jr who is the minister at Poppy’s church in Texas. Most clergy-persons on occasion participate in interfaith services. This is a regulation in the military being the requirement that chaplains are to speak in two modalities. The first is specific to their faith, so a Christian certainly extols his/her faith in Christ, as a Muslim would Allah and a Jew, Elohim when the audience is composed of co-religionists. In contrast, when addressing those of diverse or of no faith, no specific “in the name of” one’s deity is used. If there is a homily to be presented to such a diverse audience, there is an acceptable non-sectarian format --in what is still a country with a wall between church and state.
Reverend Levenson, had a TV audience in the tens of millions, on a special day that the President made the decision to be a day of mourning. This has most of the features of a national holiday, such as a day off for the millions of federal employees, postal workers and most non essential persons of the military-— if total cost is calculated on wages paid for not working, that would pay for most of an aircraft carrier. This event was sponsored by everyone’s taxes, not just Christians.
What Rev. Levenson presented was promotion of belief in Jesus Christ, with the name used well over a dozen times. This was not the same as sharing the richness of his faith as part of the disceased’s life such as his son and biographer did, but an evangelical speech, which was“truth” to his co-religionists, while “proselytizing” to others.
This becomes more salient for something I was hesitant to bring up so close to memorializing his life and mourning his death. George G.W. Bush’s public antipathy towards atheists, is confirmed here in words by his personal lawyer who was responding to the report that he had stated: “I don’t know that atheists should be regarded as citizens, nor should they be regarded as patriotic. This is one nation under God.”
Your letter of December 19, 1988, to President Bush has been referred to me for reply. (specifically for affirmation or denial of the above statement — which he did not do) As you are aware, the President is a religious man who neither supports atheism nor believes that atheism should be unnecessarily encouraged or supported by the government. Needless to say, the President supports the Constitution and laws of the United States, and you may rest assured that this Administration will proceed at all times with due regard for the legal rights of atheists, as it will for others with whom the President disagrees.
The current culture wars in this country have metastasized from protecting the right of worship, to allowing a dominant religion of have veto over social policy, as in the Hobby Lobby decision where the mere requirement to check a form to provide insurance for birth control, almost destroyed public sponsored health care, in the ACA. My own empathy with the comfort that Poppy feels in his end of this earthly existence bringing reunification with his beloved wife and infant daughter touches me deeply; while still starkly aware how such a belief systems, when defined by atavistic association among many Americans, is seen as a bulwark against hated atheistic communism- a principle that is willfully distorted to be a principle of American liberalism.
The world and country is right now focusing on the depredations of the current sitting President of the United States. The death of of President George H.W. Bush is an occasion to look back to his life, his political involvement from a time before the vast majority of readers were even born. We are allowed to share his humanity, his rare amazing courage, from his choosing to put his young life at risk when he could have spent the duration safely in University — to decades later as President putting his political career in jeopardy by breaking his word and signing a bill to increase taxes that were needed for the good of his country.
While our current President is sharpening the divisions among us, uncaring of the ultimate risk of such hatred — perhaps excusable in a campaign but not when holding the office— Poppy knew the difference. While he, when asked acknowledged his lack of identity with non believers -— he never defined his political persona by such antipathy. It’s probably safe to say that Donald Trump spews more hatred on his daily tweets before the sun has come up, than George H.W. Bush did in his entire political career. No one had to point this out at the National Cathedral as it was the subtext of the event, that was clear to all who had “eyes to see and ears to hear.”
