Story by Judith Bakkensen

Where is the support for President Bush?

I have met two remarkable people in the last month.  The first person is an elderly man who inadvertently attended a women's studies book club meeting at New Woman Books.  He was sitting off to the side of our circle as his niece attended the meeting.  We were deep into ranting about the latest way Bush was trying to eradicate all living things from the planet.  The elderly man must have only been half listening as he blurted out, "President Bush needs to bomb Iraq off the face of the planet.  That's what they deserve for what they did." 

There was a shocked silence.  We gingerly stepped up out of the bomb crater and onto safer ground.  We mumbled protests about killing people.  He quieted down and we returned to our book discussion.

Upon reflection, one book club member, Juno, experienced a WWII veteran who believes in our country, right or wrong.  I experienced the first live person I've met in the past year who supports President Bush's war on Iraq. 

As for the elder, he told his niece he had never experienced women getting together and talking like we were. She explored what he meant.  He had never experienced women having an intellectual conversation.

I heard the second remarkable person at a Verve Salon meeting in Kent.  She pointed out that President Bush (frat boy, shrub, mental midget, etc.) is too easy a target for our distain.  We need to pray for the miracle of his enlightenment. 

Another silence.  More reflection.