Remembering President Bush: "Strong But Gentle"

 
Watch the live webcast of the Bush Center Dedication Ceremony this morning at 11 AM Eastern:

http://www.bushcenter.org/live?sf12023438=1

 

I'm so grateful to be seeing President Bush again. I may not have agreed with everything he did, but he led with conviction and compassion and represented a strong, able and generous America on the world stage. I appreciate now more than ever that he was humble, patriotic and good-hearted. And I hope that, above all, he will be remembered for his ardent advocacy and defense of freedom.

 

 

It brings to mind Yehuda Avner's 9th Commandment, to "love peace, but love freedom more."

* * *

Meanwhile, over at Fox NEWS, Dana Perino has shared some of her personal memories of President Bush during her years of service in the White House Press Office. This is my favorite:

Every week he held a secure video conference either with Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki or Afghan President Karzai, and I learned from his strong but gentle guidance of them – always respectful, firm, encouraging and non-condescending. I noted that even behind closed doors, President Bush strongly, ably and graciously defended America.

 

No doubt we will be hearing more stories from "behind the scenes" this morning. It's a reminder that every day we are living through history in the making.

 

Comments

[Joel]

Not a great president by any stretch of the imagination(his referring to Islam as a "religion of peace" was unforgivable and his refusal to fight back demoralized those of us who voted for him), but compared to Obama he was a giant. However - No more Bush's (and that means you Jeb!).