President Bush is a danger for the world, said US theologian

Carlos Ramos, QUITO, Ecuador, October 2, 2003

US President George Bush represents a danger for his nation and the world. Hopefully he Taxi Heathrow Airport will not be re-elected or his arrogance will have no limits, affirmed US theologian Juan Stam.

During a monthly breakfast sponsored by the Christian Political Reflection Forum, held September 29 in Quito, Stam, who has a recognized trajectory in Latin America, mentioned that he recently wrote, at the request of a group of students, about the US  president’s political thinking.

 His research involved an in-depth study of Bush’ discourses from his electoral campaign and later as president. According to Stam, there is a common denomination, something he summarized as the “three Ms”: Manicheism, messianism and manipulation.

“I did not touch on Mr. Bush’s personal relationship with God, that is between him and God. My analysis is related to the public discourse and its religious implications as Mr. Bush says he is a man of faith, an Evangelical and a Methodist,” said Stam.

Bush’s manicheism is expressed in statements about the fact that the struggle in today’s world is between absolute good and absolute evil: the United States represents the good and Muslims the evil. The good are called to struggle and put an end to evil and evildoers.

It is also expressed when he says, “Those who are not with us are against us. Those who do not support the President’s policy are on the side of the terrorists. The mission of the United States is to liberate the world from evil and the perversity of the terrorists.”

His Messianism is manifested in his conviction that he was elected to free the oppressed from authoritarian regimes and bring them to the light of American democracy. Under this perspective, US soldiers represent the best of the United States and are called to liberate the captives from totalitarianism and announce the good news of Western society, he said.

This certainty that he has been chosen for such a transcendental mission lead Bush to disregard Pope John Paul II’s request, to place little importance on former President Carter’s opinion or the opinion of European allies and the United Nations. He also paid little mind to Methodist Bishops who have not been received by one of their most distinguished faithful. If he is so certain that he is on the right path, the opinion of those who disagree cannot detain the march,” said Stam.

The use of photographs of Bush praying, the fact that prior to announcing the attack on Iraq he requested a little time to be alone, prayer chains for American soldiers, the president and his team during the conflict and the fact that the victims of the war were completely overlooked in these prayers are examples of manipulating faith for political ends, said Stam.

The conclusion one could reach is that Bush is ignorant on religious issues or this is heresy. In either case he places God on the side of war and aggression and we Evangelicals know that God proclaims peace, reconciliation, pardon and repentance for our sins, love and fraternity among people, said Stam.

Finally, the theologian pointed out that currently it is said that in the United States there are two powers: the White House and public opinion. Public opinion is formed to a great extent by this recent miracle of Internet and electronic mail. It is up to us to create opinion, that is our task, he said.