EDITOR’S CORNER
Idon’t write political columns and this isn’t one. But I surprised myself last week by watching the coverage of the funerals, and journeys, of the late 41st President, George H. W. Bush, almost in their entirety.
I guess what struck me hardest is when I realized this is the last “Greatest Generation” president.
From Franklin Roosevelt to GHW Bush every president had some military connection with World War II.
They weren’t all equal, of course. Carter was a student at the Naval Academy, Reagan was in training films. Eisenhower was, well, Eisenhower.
How rare was it that a current, or former, president attended the funeral of a father who was also a current or former president?
As rare as it can be. This is the first time in U.S. history it has happened.
The only other time it could have happened was in 1826 when John Adams died while his son John Quincy Adams was president.
Communications being what they were 192 years ago, John Quincy didn’t find out about John Adams’ death until two days after the funeral.
Obviously viewing the Bush ceremonies as history was a part of why I was so enthralled.
Although it must be said when I looked at George W. Bush I did not see a former president paying homage to a former president.
I saw a guy whose dad had just died.
I know a little bit about funerals. My father was a minister and I can tell when something is sincere and when everyone is just going through the motions.
This was sincere.
It’s pretty rare that in the funeral of a politician the emphasis, from the scripture readings to the remembrance, was about love.
But it’s also pretty rare for a president to make friends with the man who defeated him and the man who imitated him on “Saturday Night Live” and GHW Bush did both of those.
I also liked that the Texas funeral was held in a place where you knew the family had been before. St. Martin’s Episcopal is where the family had worshiped for 50 years.
Do you know Episcopal funerals? Everyone gets the same one, whether you are a president or a postal clerk.
Of course, not everyone gets the Oak Ridge Boys and Reba McEntire to sing at their funerals, but the point is the same. It’s not about how big you are but about your relationship to the infinite.
We can infer a lot about GHW Bush from one line delivered by former Sen. Alan Simpson of Wyoming in the Washington service.
Who praised Bush’s humility and added: “Those who travel the high road of humility in Washington, D.C. are not bothered by heavy traffic.”
The audience, first reacted like they’d been slapped in the face—they had—then roared with laughter.
It was one of those moments, not only of truth but of wisdom.
The past week seemed to contain a lot of those.
RIP, Bush 41.
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