An Anniversary Forgotten

So, Bush, yesterday passed without a mention of the fact that it was the first day of the second year of The Bush Diaries. Yes, I forgot. Forgive me. I had fully intended to celebrate in some way, if only to pass on greetings, but I got so busy with the house that it completely slipped my mind. Here’s my intention, though: very soon—as soon as I can clear my head a bit from all this nonsense--I plan to explore ways to put out a printed, book version of the “best of” our first year. Meantime, I’d like just to take a moment to congratulate ourselves on the accomplishment. I started out, remember, with the vow to write something every day. Well, I admit I haven’t quite fulfilled that promise to myself—and you. But darn near, Bush. Pretty damn close. I hope you’ve been enjoying the process as much as I have.

One of our artist groups met last night, and we got into a heated discussion on a subject dear to your heart: church and state. One of our number expressed dismay at the news of that Episcopal church in Pasadena, now under investigation by the IRS for having the temerity to allow a guest minister to sermonize against your war in the Middle East during last year’s election campaign. They are threatening to remove its tax-exempt status for having used their pulpit for political purposes, even though their guest speaker refrained from asking parishioners to vote for either candidate—you or Kerry. He simply asked them to wonder whose side Jesus might be on.

Well, Bush, another of our members responded, passionately, saying—I hope I’m not misrepresenting her in my paraphrase—that she thought it was not such a bad idea, that it might set a healthy precedent for action to discourage religious organizations of all kinds from indulging in political action. She was angered by the fact that the Catholic church, for example, had gotten away with its open attack on Kerry for his stance on abortion, and by the undisguised support you yourself received from the evangelical right. This action against one church, she thought, might prove the exemplary case that would lead to others.

Would that it were so, Bush. I fear greatly, though, that this is just another example of your people’s tactics of petty revenge against anyone who dares to question their wisdom or your leadership. As with Valerie Plame, my instinct tells me that they chose to attack this particular church to put the fear of God—excuse me, Bush, for taking His name in vain—into those with liberal religious leanings. Still, let me honor our dissenting friend with this challenge: that you immediately instruct the IRS to conduct a similar investigation of the Catholic church in America, including especially those whose bishops or pastors spoke out against John Kerry; and of every evangelical church whose minister urged his flock to vote for you. Then, Bush, and only then, would I begin to see some good in this stupid, spiteful action.