The President of the United States has attracted some criticism for, prior to his decision to re-mold the entire fabric of the Middle East, not having read any of the many volumes dedicated to the intricate and intriguing history of the peoples of the region.
There are, of course, a great number of books on the subject, ranging in complexity and point of view; even the memoirs of the president's father (a man who could have occupied Iraq had he made the choice to do so) might have been appropriate.
In light of the president's previous reticence to examine the myriad resources available to him, a recent White House press release has been attended with a fair amount of curiosity.
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President Bush has decided to "re-energize his engagement in the problems of the Middle East." His "new activism" has reportedly been spurred on by his realization that certain knowledge may have been omitted from briefings by certain members of the administration, now departed. For example, the president was specifically astounded to learn that the Middle East was, in fact, West Asia. "It really tried to make me, thinking, um, think," an unidentified source reported the president as saying.
Mr. Bush's newfound curiosity has lead his team to declare him ready to "study up on the situation," including, much to the surprise of many of his detractors, the promise to "read the most profound books ever to address the history, culture and politics of the region."
If true, then it seems possible that an informed policy, complete with a new understanding of the serious, underlying problems affecting the Middle East, might lead to an invigorated attempt at the healing of the open wound that is this region of the world.
A phone call to the White House Press Office revealed the full content of the library the president was about to embrace.
He plans on reading the Bible.
Certainly this title is just one of many "profound books" the president was about to read. Perhaps the Bible was just the first title on the list of books, placed prominently to appease his base of voters?
No.
He plans on reading the Bible.
It was noted, however, that Mr. Bush will study both "the old and the true (sic) testaments of the Bible." And since, technically, each of these volumes contains several books, "it is not just one or two books" the President will read.
A close examination of one Bible indicated, first, that although the book claims to have been "Proudly Published in the USA," this Bible had actually been printed, assembled and packaged by workers in a factory in China; and second, that as a text examining history, this book was conflicted, difficult to read, and disturbing in its resolution. These revelations did not seem to bode well for the future of the troubled Middle East.
Let us hope that the President has the courage to learn selectively from the book(s), embracing the parts about love, peace, truth and helping each other, and discounting the acceptance of slavery, encouragement of intolerance, prohibition of the wearing of garments made of fabric blends, and the especially disturbing and prevalent practice of killing the first-born (or only) sons.