Day: August 1, 2005

This morning I wanted to write about President Bush essentially saying, “I don’t need Senate approval,” by installing controversial nominee John Bolton as US ambassador to the UN. Mr. Bush shuffled his nominee through the back door using a “recess appointment,” a little-used option available when Congress is not in session. Mr. Bolton’s fitness for the job has been questioned by both Rebublicans and Democrats for his bullying of staff who differed with his conservative views, and for suggesting several floors of the UN headquarters could be severed without being missed.

I shelved the plan to instead write about a nice day yesterday. Later I was doing some research when I read this: “It is a curiosity of human nature that lack of self-assurance seems to breed an exaggerated sense of power and mission.” It made me think of “Dubya” and I was back on the sneaky Bolton move. The quote, by former Arkansas Senator J. William Fulbright is from his 1966 book, “The Arrogance Of Power,” a criticism of our involvement in Vietnam.

In 1966, Mr. Fullbright’s words chillingly describes the Iraq mess and the self-righteous attitude of the administration and its right-wing Christian base. He wrote, “Power tends to confuse itself with virtue and a great nation is particularly susceptible to the idea that its power is a sign of God’s favor, conferring upon it a special responsibility for other nations — to make them richer and happier and wiser, to remake them, that is, in its own shining image. Power confuses itself with virtue and tends also to take itself for omnipotence. Once imbued with the idea of a mission, a great nation easily assumes that it has the means as well as the duty to do God’s work.”

I fail to see how any God could favor lies, death and destruction.

In addition to being a fine Whiskeytown song from their great 1997 record, “Stranger’s Almanac,” 16 Days is the vacation I’m enjoying through August 14th. It got off to a really nice start yesterday at a department outing. The get-together was held at Dave and Terry’s. I’ve known Dave since he worked with me at NEC developing an IT system to run our service business in 1994, but yesterday was the first time meeting his wonderful family. To me, their family dynamic is full of love, laughter and great communication between all the members. It was a delight to observe.

As we dodged the raindrops and looked at the pool on an unseasonably cool day, everyone seemed content to focus on the emotional Red Sox win and all the great food. Well, everyone except Kyle. In spite of the two dozen lobsters, steak, burgers, dogs, salads, Norm’s chili with “Da Bomb” sauce, Alan’s Key Lime Pie and Shira’s outstanding strawberry shortcake, Kyle didn’t eat a thing. It would be later in the day that I discoverd why Kyle had no appetite…

As I entered the old, historic home, a familiar sound put a smile on my face. Kyle was sitting on the couch, belting out the words to “Maria” with Dave and Terry’s 12 year old daughter, Brett. Brett had put on “The Sound of Music,” made them popcorn and grabbed cans of Coke. It really warmed my heart to see my boy so happy. He talked about Brett and Terry the whole ride home. He also seemed a little sad. I’m not sure why. Maybe he thought he’d never see them again. Maybe it was something more. Nothing breaks my heart more than when Kyle seems aware of his limitations. Hey dude, we all have them. We’ll spend some of the next 14 days overcoming them.