[Buddha-l] Props for Bush

[Richard Hayes]

On Wednesday 17 October 2007 11:35, Franz Metcalf wrote:

> It is so rare that I can read a statement by President Bush and not
> cringe, I just had to forward his recent words on HHDL. 

This past weekend I was at the "Enlightening Relationships" shindig in New 
York, NY. When someone there announced that the Dalai Lama was going to be 
receiving a medal from George Bush, the auditorium (some 500 people being 
present) was filled with laughter. Clearly, the gathered Buddhists and 
psychoanalysts took the presentation as a joke. That notwithstanding, I agree 
that the president's remarks about the lama have been pleasant and even 
gracious.

This now brings to two the number of things George Bush has done that have 
pleased me (the first being his attempt to do the right thing about 
immigration from Mexico and points south). I am hoping he will someday do a 
third thing to please me: leave office.

I thought the Dalai Lama's acceptance speech was as courageous as it was 
insightful. It was the best speech I've heard since Evo Morales was on Jon 
Stewart's program. Why is it that in America one hears good speeches only 
from visiting dignitaries?

-- 
Richard Hayes
Department of Philosophy
University of New Mexico