Comments on: Bush’s Folly: The Presidential Library & Neoconservative Boot Camp/Bordello http://arran.wordpress.com/2007/01/26/bushs-folly-the-library-neoconservative-boot-camp/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:44:44 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Andrew Weaver: A Fighter for Justice Is Dead « Mick Arran http://arran.wordpress.com/2007/01/26/bushs-folly-the-library-neoconservative-boot-camp/#comment-23298 Andrew Weaver: A Fighter for Justice Is Dead « Mick Arran Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:27:12 +0000 http://mickarran.com/2007/01/26/bushs-folly-the-library-neoconservative-boot-camp/#comment-23298 [...] first “met” Rev Weaver when he commented on a post I’d written condemning the Bush Library proposed for the Southern Methodist University campus and reporting on [...] [...] first “met” Rev Weaver when he commented on a post I’d written condemning the Bush Library proposed for the Southern Methodist University campus and reporting on [...]

]]> By: Bush Library Rejected by Methodist Church « Mick Arran http://arran.wordpress.com/2007/01/26/bushs-folly-the-library-neoconservative-boot-camp/#comment-23031 Bush Library Rejected by Methodist Church « Mick Arran Sat, 03 May 2008 21:36:28 +0000 http://mickarran.com/2007/01/26/bushs-folly-the-library-neoconservative-boot-camp/#comment-23031 [...] to what arguments pushed the members to this decision but it’s a not-unreasonable guess that the meritorius objections of its opponents, the standard Bush/Cheney heavy-handed bullying, and the standard Bush corruption scenario [...] [...] to what arguments pushed the members to this decision but it’s a not-unreasonable guess that the meritorius objections of its opponents, the standard Bush/Cheney heavy-handed bullying, and the standard Bush corruption scenario [...]

]]> By: Marilyn Trent http://arran.wordpress.com/2007/01/26/bushs-folly-the-library-neoconservative-boot-camp/#comment-5140 Marilyn Trent Mon, 30 Apr 2007 14:46:41 +0000 http://mickarran.com/2007/01/26/bushs-folly-the-library-neoconservative-boot-camp/#comment-5140 I have returned my diploma to the president of SMU. I hope this protest will encourage other alumni who are disgusted by the idea of a Bush library and "think tank" at our alma mater to follow suit. If those associated with the university who have jobs at stake are brave enough to speak up, all the more should those of us who can't be intimidated be willing to join with them. I have returned my diploma to the president of SMU. I hope this protest will encourage other alumni who are disgusted by the idea of a Bush library and “think tank” at our alma mater to follow suit. If those associated with the university who have jobs at stake are brave enough to speak up, all the more should those of us who can’t be intimidated be willing to join with them.

]]> By: The Bush Library 2: The Price of Prestige « http://arran.wordpress.com/2007/01/26/bushs-folly-the-library-neoconservative-boot-camp/#comment-220 The Bush Library 2: The Price of Prestige « Tue, 13 Mar 2007 17:11:16 +0000 http://mickarran.com/2007/01/26/bushs-folly-the-library-neoconservative-boot-camp/#comment-220 [...] under the press’ radar (but then, one could legitimately wonder, what isn’t?), what I characterized as a “tempest…somewhat larger than a teapot but smaller than a breadbox” last [...] [...] under the press’ radar (but then, one could legitimately wonder, what isn’t?), what I characterized as a “tempest…somewhat larger than a teapot but smaller than a breadbox” last [...]

]]> By: Mick http://arran.wordpress.com/2007/01/26/bushs-folly-the-library-neoconservative-boot-camp/#comment-123 Mick Wed, 14 Feb 2007 14:59:27 +0000 http://mickarran.com/2007/01/26/bushs-folly-the-library-neoconservative-boot-camp/#comment-123 There speaks the voice of the Bush People: 5th grade schoolyard sentiments expressed in 5th grade language free from fact but heavy on the name-calling. Well, pal, if you don't mind that a great university will have its reputation destroyed by having yet another neocon propaganda unit dominating its campus, if it doesn't bother you that an institution supposedly dedicated to fact and learning is going to be turned into a haven for lies, misdirection, manipulation, distortion, and the wholesale re-writing of history to make one spoiled brat look good, then it's no skin off my nose. I don't live in Texas - you couldn't make me no matter what you offered - I'm not an SMU alumnus, and I don't really give a rat's ass if Bush adds one more hysterical neocon anti-think tank to the US landscape. It's already littered with them thanks to Richard Mellon Scaife, Joseph Coors, Exxon/Mobile and dozens of other oligarchs (you can look that word up). One more isn't going to make all that much difference. But I should think the faculty would care. And the students, present and future. And Methodists - who, as Andrew points out, generally disapprove of torture and pre-emptive wars and corruption and stuff like that as a matter of both faith and principle. But never mind. I realize that's all too complicated for you to grasp, and Bush Babies like you hate complicated stuff. You're all about knuckling under to authority because then you don't have to <i>think</i>, just obey, which is a lot easier and which in your case is probably just as well because "thinking" is clearly something for which you are not equipped. PS I have a job. So do all those other people listed above. I suspect that if anyone named on this page isn't working, it's you. Get a new brain. The one you have doesn't work very well. There speaks the voice of the Bush People: 5th grade schoolyard sentiments expressed in 5th grade language free from fact but heavy on the name-calling.

Well, pal, if you don’t mind that a great university will have its reputation destroyed by having yet another neocon propaganda unit dominating its campus, if it doesn’t bother you that an institution supposedly dedicated to fact and learning is going to be turned into a haven for lies, misdirection, manipulation, distortion, and the wholesale re-writing of history to make one spoiled brat look good, then it’s no skin off my nose. I don’t live in Texas – you couldn’t make me no matter what you offered – I’m not an SMU alumnus, and I don’t really give a rat’s ass if Bush adds one more hysterical neocon anti-think tank to the US landscape. It’s already littered with them thanks to Richard Mellon Scaife, Joseph Coors, Exxon/Mobile and dozens of other oligarchs (you can look that word up). One more isn’t going to make all that much difference.

But I should think the faculty would care. And the students, present and future. And Methodists – who, as Andrew points out, generally disapprove of torture and pre-emptive wars and corruption and stuff like that as a matter of both faith and principle.

But never mind. I realize that’s all too complicated for you to grasp, and Bush Babies like you hate complicated stuff. You’re all about knuckling under to authority because then you don’t have to think, just obey, which is a lot easier and which in your case is probably just as well because “thinking” is clearly something for which you are not equipped.

PS I have a job. So do all those other people listed above. I suspect that if anyone named on this page isn’t working, it’s you.

Get a new brain. The one you have doesn’t work very well.

]]> By: jeff http://arran.wordpress.com/2007/01/26/bushs-folly-the-library-neoconservative-boot-camp/#comment-121 jeff Wed, 14 Feb 2007 05:56:50 +0000 http://mickarran.com/2007/01/26/bushs-folly-the-library-neoconservative-boot-camp/#comment-121 Get a life. All of you are a bunch of losers. Do something with your life, like GET A JOB. The Bush library and Bush public policy center are coming to SMU, like it or not. It will be built and there will be a neo con policy center. All your protests are worthless. So get a job losers. Thank God the top people at SMU are smart enough to open the Bush library and wont listen to losers and unimportant people who do not matter like you people. Get a life. All of you are a bunch of losers. Do something with your life, like GET A JOB. The Bush library and Bush public policy center are coming to SMU, like it or not. It will be built and there will be a neo con policy center. All your protests are worthless. So get a job losers.
Thank God the top people at SMU are smart enough to open the Bush library and wont listen to losers and unimportant people who do not matter like you people.

]]> By: Mick http://arran.wordpress.com/2007/01/26/bushs-folly-the-library-neoconservative-boot-camp/#comment-110 Mick Sun, 04 Feb 2007 08:14:12 +0000 http://mickarran.com/2007/01/26/bushs-folly-the-library-neoconservative-boot-camp/#comment-110 Thanks for adding this, Andrew. It does seem that the Bush Gang doesn't have much of a shame reflex, don't it? Thanks for adding this, Andrew. It does seem that the Bush Gang doesn’t have much of a shame reflex, don’t it?

]]> By: andrew weaver http://arran.wordpress.com/2007/01/26/bushs-folly-the-library-neoconservative-boot-camp/#comment-109 andrew weaver Sun, 04 Feb 2007 07:21:14 +0000 http://mickarran.com/2007/01/26/bushs-folly-the-library-neoconservative-boot-camp/#comment-109 February 2, 2007 Bishops speak out against Bush Library, Think Tank at SMU and Vow to Push Forward Today the organizers of a United Methodist Church petition urging Southern Methodist University (SMU) not to house the George W. Bush Presidential Library, Museum, and Institute released early results of their petition drive and vowed to continue with the drive. “We now have as signatories fourteen Bishops in the United Methodist Church, the past President of the Methodist Church of New Zealand, two Superintendents in the British Methodist Church, over 600 United Methodist clergy, and more than nine thousand members of churches from across the United States and Canada,” said the Reverend Andrew Weaver, the SMU alum who organized the petition. The petition, www.protectSMU.org, has been online for less than two weeks. Its organizers argue that Bush’s legacy is incompatible with the values of Methodism and thus that his Library, Museum, and Institute should not be housed on SMU’s campus. Bishop C. Joseph Sprague condemned the administration, stating that. “Bush violated United Methodist teachings when he initiated a pre-emptive, first- strike war, contrary to Just War criteria, when he pursued policies that reward the rich, while punishing the poor and he further sneered at church teaching by condoning the torture of prisoners. Add to these callous and arrogant acts the fact that he presided over more capital punishment executions (state-sanctioned murder is condemned by our church) than any governor in this nation's history, and it becomes abundantly clear why a G.W. Bush Library should not be housed on United Methodist Church property. The United Methodist Church's Social Principles call all United Methodists to social holiness. This petition reflects our church's tradition that all United Methodists are to be held accountable for our personal and institutional behavior.” Southern Methodist University is one of 123 educational institutions that are related to The United Methodist Church. Petition organizers believe that association with this president through his proposed $500 million library, museum, and institute will reflect poorly upon Methodism worldwide. They invite all people of faith who honor the good name of Methodism and our Christian heritage to sign our petition at www.protectSMU.org. “The placement of the George W. Bush Library and the establishment of an Institute to promote the policies of this president at Southern Methodist University would be a tragedy.” said Bishop William Boyd Grove. “The policies of the Bush administration are in direct conflict with the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church on issues of war and peace, civil liberties and human rights, care for the environment and health care. SMU is a university of the church, and is home to one of our outstanding theological seminaries. Its Methodist identity and its moral authority would be seriously compromised were it to be identified with the policies of George W. Bush in this way”. “We’ve had an outpouring of support so far,” said Rev. Weaver, “from those who don’t wish to have their beloved church associated with a man who has authorized torture and a lie-based war of aggression against the people of Iraq. The comments on the petition are a modern epistle to the church and the 45 million Methodists worldwide, pleading for justice.” Contacts: Bishop Joseph C. Sprague 740-845-0518 cjosephsprague@sbcglobal.net Bishop William Boyd Grove, 304-344-1384 wboydgrove@aol.com Bishop Susan Murch Morrison 302-227-4097 ogn509@aol.com Bishop C. Dale White 401-847-3419 cdwhite12@cox.net Rev. Andrew J. Weaver 212-920-9296 Aweaver747@aol.com ------------------------------------------------------------------- Highlights from the comments on www.protectSMU.org: 5977 Elizabeth Cote As a great granddaughter of Bishop A. Frank Smith, and a daughter of an SMU graduate, I oppose allowing a George W. Bush library at the Southern Methodist University campus. The mission and standards of SMU are in complete opposition to the motives and ethics of his presidency, and as such, a library honoring his tenure leading the country has no place at Southern Methodist University. + + + + + + + + + + 6762 KATHRYN PROTHRO Great-granddaughter and Granddaughter of Perkins-Prothro family, Wichita Falls, Texas. Member of Methodist church since confirmation in 1971. Current membership at FUMC, Ft. Worth TX, but inactive. Attending St. Andrews Methodist and Custer Road in Plano, Texas [Perkins family of Perkins school of theology gave 30 producing oil wells to found the seminary at SMU] + + + + + + + + + + 7544 Gania Demaree Trotter 4th generation Methodist. Great, great grandfather was know as the Mountain Bishop of Kentucky,(George Daniel Demaree); my grandparents were Methodist missionaries to Japan.1897 to 1936. Rev. T.W.B. Demaree and his wife Gania Holland Demaree. My son-in-law is a United Methodist Minister at First United Methodist, Burbank California. I am married to a Methodist minister, Dr. F. Thomas Trotter, former General Secretary of the Board of Higher Education. I have served as Director of Development at Claremont School of Theology and Alaska Pacific University, during my husband's tenure as President of those institutions. Prior to that I served as Minister of Music at Anaheim, and Claremont Methodist Churches. + + + + + + + + + + 7692 Louise M. Tate Both my parents graduated from SMU. Both my father's brother (Willis Tate) and my mother's grandfather (Bishop Boaz) are past Presidents of SMU. I am very glad to see and sign this petition. + + + + + + + + + + 7903 Laurence Wareing President Bush showed little interest in engaging with his denomination when embarking on the war with the war Iraq. Speaking as a British Methodist and allumnus of SMU, I believe that it would be insulting to worldwide Methodism for his name to be commemorated by a United Methodist foundation now. + + + + + + + + + + 7909 Rev Judith I Maizel-Long Presbyter of the British Methodist Church I protest the implied approval of the policies and actions of the Bush Presidency on the world stage, which would be a reasonable deduction from establishing a Bush Presidential Library at the Southern Methodist University. The arrogant actions of the US government in the irregular detentions of prisoners at Guantanamo, torturing suspects in secret prisons outside US territory is contrary to key clauses of the US Constitution and Christian understandings of the proper treatment of prisoners. US policy in Iraq has made life untenable for Christian Communities across the Middle East, from Turkey to Pakistan. In many cases these Christian communities go back nearly 2000 years, far predating the USA and indeed the UK as political entities. The policies of the Bush Presidency are contradictory to Wesleyan theology and the teachings of the Wesleys about human dignity and the purposes of human life. February 2, 2007

Bishops speak out against Bush Library, Think Tank at SMU and Vow to Push Forward

Today the organizers of a United Methodist Church petition urging Southern Methodist University (SMU) not to house the George W. Bush Presidential Library, Museum, and Institute released early results of their petition drive and vowed to continue with the drive.

“We now have as signatories fourteen Bishops in the United Methodist Church, the past President of the Methodist Church of New Zealand, two Superintendents in the British Methodist Church, over 600 United Methodist clergy, and more than nine thousand members of churches from across the United States and Canada,” said the Reverend Andrew Weaver, the SMU alum who organized the petition.

The petition, http://www.protectSMU.org, has been online for less than two weeks. Its organizers argue that Bush’s legacy is incompatible with the values of Methodism and thus that his Library, Museum, and Institute should not be housed on SMU’s campus. Bishop C. Joseph Sprague condemned the administration, stating that. “Bush violated United Methodist teachings when he initiated a pre-emptive, first- strike war, contrary to Just War criteria, when he pursued policies that reward the rich, while punishing the poor and he further sneered at church teaching by condoning the torture of prisoners. Add to these callous and arrogant acts the fact that he presided over more capital punishment executions (state-sanctioned murder is condemned by our church) than any governor in this nation’s history, and it becomes abundantly clear why a G.W. Bush Library should not be housed on United Methodist Church property. The United Methodist Church’s Social Principles call all United Methodists to social holiness. This petition reflects our church’s tradition that all United Methodists are to be held accountable for our personal and institutional behavior.”

Southern Methodist University is one of 123 educational institutions that are related to The United Methodist Church. Petition organizers believe that association with this president through his proposed $500 million library, museum, and institute will reflect poorly upon Methodism worldwide. They invite all people of faith who honor the good name of Methodism and our Christian heritage to sign our petition at http://www.protectSMU.org.

“The placement of the George W. Bush Library and the establishment of an Institute to promote the policies of this president at Southern Methodist University would be a tragedy.” said Bishop William Boyd Grove. “The policies of the Bush administration are in direct conflict with the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church on issues of war and peace, civil liberties and human rights, care for the environment and health care. SMU is a university of the church, and is home to one of our outstanding theological seminaries. Its Methodist identity and its moral authority would be seriously compromised were it to be identified with the policies of George W. Bush in this way”.

“We’ve had an outpouring of support so far,” said Rev. Weaver, “from those who don’t wish to have their beloved church associated with a man who has authorized torture and a lie-based war of aggression against the people of Iraq. The comments on the petition are a modern epistle to the church and the 45 million Methodists worldwide, pleading for justice.”

Contacts:

Bishop Joseph C. Sprague

740-845-0518

cjosephsprague@sbcglobal.net

Bishop William Boyd Grove,

304-344-1384

wboydgrove@aol.com

Bishop Susan Murch Morrison

302-227-4097

ogn509@aol.com

Bishop C. Dale White

401-847-3419

cdwhite12@cox.net

Rev. Andrew J. Weaver

212-920-9296

Aweaver747@aol.com

——————————————————————-

Highlights from the comments on http://www.protectSMU.org:

5977
Elizabeth Cote
As a great granddaughter of Bishop A. Frank Smith, and a daughter of an SMU graduate, I oppose allowing a George W. Bush library at the Southern Methodist University campus. The mission and standards of SMU are in complete opposition to the motives and ethics of his presidency, and as such, a library honoring his tenure leading the country has no place at Southern Methodist University.

+ + + + + + + + + +

6762
KATHRYN PROTHRO
Great-granddaughter and Granddaughter of Perkins-Prothro family, Wichita Falls, Texas. Member of Methodist church since confirmation in 1971. Current membership at FUMC, Ft. Worth TX, but inactive. Attending St. Andrews Methodist and Custer Road in Plano, Texas [Perkins family of Perkins school of theology gave 30 producing oil wells to found the seminary at SMU]

+ + + + + + + + + +

7544
Gania Demaree Trotter
4th generation Methodist. Great, great grandfather was know as the Mountain Bishop of Kentucky,(George Daniel Demaree); my grandparents were Methodist missionaries to Japan.1897 to 1936. Rev. T.W.B. Demaree and his wife Gania Holland Demaree. My son-in-law is a United Methodist Minister at First United Methodist, Burbank California. I am married to a Methodist minister, Dr. F. Thomas Trotter, former General Secretary of the Board of Higher Education. I have served as Director of Development at Claremont School of Theology and Alaska Pacific University, during my husband’s tenure as President of those institutions. Prior to that I served as Minister of Music at Anaheim, and Claremont Methodist Churches.

+ + + + + + + + + +

7692
Louise M. Tate
Both my parents graduated from SMU. Both my father’s brother (Willis Tate) and my mother’s grandfather (Bishop Boaz) are past Presidents of SMU. I am very glad to see and sign this petition.

+ + + + + + + + + +

7903
Laurence Wareing
President Bush showed little interest in engaging with his denomination when embarking on the war with the war Iraq. Speaking as a British Methodist and allumnus of SMU, I believe that it would be insulting to worldwide Methodism for his name to be commemorated by a United Methodist foundation now.

+ + + + + + + + + +

7909
Rev Judith I Maizel-Long
Presbyter of the British Methodist Church I protest the implied approval of the policies and actions of the Bush Presidency on the world stage, which would be a reasonable deduction from establishing a Bush Presidential Library at the Southern Methodist University. The arrogant actions of the US government in the irregular detentions of prisoners at Guantanamo, torturing suspects in secret prisons outside US territory is contrary to key clauses of the US Constitution and Christian understandings of the proper treatment of prisoners. US policy in Iraq has made life untenable for Christian Communities across the Middle East, from Turkey to Pakistan. In many cases these Christian communities go back nearly 2000 years, far predating the USA and indeed the UK as political entities. The policies of the Bush Presidency are contradictory to Wesleyan theology and the teachings of the Wesleys about human dignity and the purposes of human life.

]]>