MR. BUSH'S NEIGHBORHOOD:

George W. Bush: Compassionate War President (Terry Eastland, BeliefNet)

The centrality of compassion, or "neighbor-love," to this presidency was indicated in Bush’s inaugural address when the president referred to the parable of the Good Samaritan, which Jesus related in response to a question based on the second great commandment. That question was, "Who is my neighbor?" As he took office, Bush pledged the nation to a goal that "when we see that wounded traveler on the road to Jericho, we will not pass to the other side."

At the time Bush seemed to be commending neighbor--love within these United States. His presidency, after all, was expected to be concerned mostly with domestic matters. And in the first months of his term, Bush introduced the policy most commonly identified with compassion—-his faith-based initiative. Aiming to enlist religious charities in the fight against poverty, Bush described it as "good public policy based on the willingness of our citizens to love a neighbor just like you’d like to be loved yourself." Bush also invoked compassion in contending for another big domestic policy initiative of his early presidency—-his No Child Left Behind legislation. These and other "compassionate" policies have been vigorously debated—-Democrats charge the president with "underfunding" the No Child Left Behind bill--and doubtless will be until Election Day.

But, as we all know, the world changed on September 11, and so did the Bush presidency. [...]

In fighting the war on terrorism, Bush has invoked not only justice as a reason for his actions—-but also compassion. For example, Bush explained the military effort in Afghanistan to a Connecticut audience by saying that the United States liberated an innocent people oppressed by a barbaric regime. "We’re compassionate," he said. "We care deeply about our fellow citizens in this world." Though Bush has not cited Augustine, he would seem to be tracking what that just-war theorist argued, namely that love does not foreclose "a war of mercy." Indeed, for Bush it appears to demand war if it’s necessary to protect an innocent third party from oppression.

As Bush has explained his rationale for the war in Iraq and his plans for that nation’s rebirth, he’s made it clear that compassion doesn’t stop with liberation but includes efforts to establish institutions in which "the rights of every person"—-including religious liberty, "the first freedom of the human soul"--can be protected. Compassion envisions democracy.

Asked last summer by Christianity Today to describe Bush’s foreign policy, Commerce Secretary Donald Evans, the president’s long-time friend, said, "It’s love your neighbor like yourself. The neighbor happens to be everyone on the planet."

That's why libertarians and paleocons--who think indifference is a value--hate him.

MORE:
Improve oneself or society?: What the Bible expects of us individually and collectively (Rabbi Berel Wein, Sept. 3, 2004, Jewish World Review)

One of the salient points of Judaism is that it treats and deals with individuals and their behavior while at the same time it sponsors a program for the national entity, as well.

In Judaism, the individual is responsible not only for personal behavior but for society as a whole. The Talmud long ago reminded that we are all guarantors one for another.

Personal piety, if not extended into the social improvement of the society as a whole, will be found wanting on the scale of Eternal judgment. Personal piety is easier to achieve than is its exportation into societal behavior. There is a Yiddish phrase that describes this shortcoming graphically: ah tzadik in peltz — a self-righteous person wrapped in his own fur coat to protect himself from the cold. Judaism searched for those who would light a fire to warm all by its heat and not for fur coat wearers, no matter how personally pious they may be in their private lives. [...]

The month of Elul, in which we now find ourselves, has traditionally been the time for self-introspection and renewed commitment in Jewish life. Our society faces many difficult social and moral problems. But if charity begins at home, so does societal improvement. Being better people, inculcating Jewish values and outlook into our personal lives, will accomplish more for curing our society's ills than the best intentioned piece of legislation can do. Being kinder and gentler at home will eventually make us kinder and gentler on our roads, in our markets and malls and in our public discourse.

This is a goal well worth pursuing for in its achievement lies the ability to have the fairer, more equitable, democratic society that we so crave.

Posted by Orrin Judd at September 3, 2004 7:37 AM