by Matthew Hay Brown
President Bush takes a break from the issues of the day this morning to talk about mothers. His mother, his daughters' mother, new mothers, adoptive mothers, the mothers of U.S. troops, your mother.
"I wish every mother listening this morning a blessed Mother's Day, including my own," Bush says in his weekly radio address. "And I have a message for every son and daughter listening this morning: Remember to tell mom the first thing tomorrow how much you love her."
The complete address follows.
"Good morning. Today is my daughter Jenna's wedding day. This is a joyous occasion for our family, as we celebrate the happy life ahead of her and her husband Henry. It's also a special time for Laura, who this Mother's Day weekend will watch a young woman we raised together walk down the aisle.
"Mother's Day is a special time for mothers all across America. On this holiday, we pause to celebrate the love and compassion of the women who have raised us, and to thank them for the many years of patience and selflessness. Throughout our lives, mothers are there with an encouraging word, a sympathetic ear, and a tender heart. They set our direction in life, and from time to time they have been known to correct our course.
"Like many of you, my life has been blessed by a mother who is a source of unconditional love. Those of us who have been so fortunate are forever in debt to these caring women. So on this holiday weekend, we celebrate all those mothers who help make our country a better place.
"On this Mother's Day weekend, we think of the mothers who are celebrating this holiday for the very first time. Few blessings can compare to starting a new family. And few bonds are stronger than those between a mother and her newborn baby. This is also a special time for new adoptive mothers, who have welcomed their children into their homes with open arms and an open heart. We wish all these new parents many happy Mother's Days to come.
"On this Mother's Day weekend, we think of the many mothers who raised the brave men and women serving our country in uniform. And to those mothers, I offer the thanks of a grateful Nation. Your sons and daughters are defending our freedom with dignity and honor. And America appreciates the sacrifices that your families make in the name of duty.
"On this Mother's Day weekend, we remember the mothers grieving a son or daughter lost in the service to their country, as well as the children who have lost a mother in uniform. We share their pride in these wonderful Americans who have given everything to protect our people from harm. Nothing we say can ever make up for their loss. But on this special day, we hold them in our hearts and we lift them in our prayers.
"I wish every mother listening this morning a blessed Mother's Day, including my own. And I have a message for every son and daughter listening this morning: Remember to tell mom the first thing tomorrow how much you love her.
"Thank you for listening."
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Comments
A wonderful message. Those who are fortunate to have their mothers still with them should take it to heart and thank their mothers and give them their love. For those, like me, whose mothers are gone, we can reflect on just how much sacrifice they made for us, first in giving birth to us and then nurturing us for so long and so wisely. Thank you, President Bush, for such a warm reminder of what is important in life.
Posted by: Harrison | May 10, 2008 9:34 AM
A wonderful message. Those who are fortunate to have their mothers still with them should take it to heart and thank their mothers and give them their love. For those, like me, whose mothers are gone, we can reflect on just how much sacrifice they made for us, first in giving birth to us and then nurturing us for so long and so wisely. Thank you, President Bush, for such a warm reminder of what is important in life.
Posted by: Harrison | May 10, 2008 9:34 AM
Oh, Shrub--
Tell ALL the moms of America and the Middleast YOU love THEM by ENDING this senseless war on humanity for you and 'your base' friends' oil profits.
It's a PACIFIST'S HOLIDAY, you dope!
READ the proclamation from Julia Ward Howe--and then go back up and click on her amazing life.
http://www25.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/juliawardhowe.html
(WHAT WAS THAT? Oh. I forgot.
Well, then, go back to My Pet Goat.)
Mother's Day Proclamation - 1870
by Julia Ward Howe
Arise then...women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts!
Whether your baptism be of water or of tears!
Say firmly:
"We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country,
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."
From the voice of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says: "Disarm! Disarm!
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."
Blood does not wipe our dishonor,
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil
At the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace...
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God -
In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality,
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.
Posted by: Golden Oldie | May 10, 2008 10:06 AM
Yea, George. Too bad more than 4000 of America's finest can't do that because of your stupidity.
Posted by: Rick/Sneads Ferry, NC | May 10, 2008 4:29 PM