Thanksgiving Pilgrimage: Mensch in cowboy boots merits praise

Dallas Morning News ^ | November 28, 2003 | Staff

[Maria S]

A Fox News correspondent in Iraq said that when he told soldiers the commander in chief had been in Iraq for a Thanksgiving visit hours earlier, all the troops could say was, "Wow!" We know how they feel.

President Bush's secret pilgrimage to the front took the entire world by surprise, even members of his own staff. He sneaked out of the White House in the dead of night, leaving in an unmarked car, and slipping onto Air Force One through the back door. Mr. Bush flew 13 hours to Iraq, landing under cover of darkness, with all the lights of the plane out, to make it less of a target for terrorist missiles.

That is, frankly, incredible. As the nation saw, Mr. Bush received an uproarious welcome from 600 shocked and awed soldiers. The troops cheered so forcefully they nearly brought the most powerful man in the world to tears. "I was just looking for a warm meal somewhere," the president drawled. "Thanks for inviting me to dinner." He went on to serve the Thanksgiving meal to Americans under arms far, far from home. This was a spectacular move by the president, whose visit was a tremendous morale booster for our troops, and sent a powerful message to the world that the United States is committed to finishing the job we started in Iraq.

Mr. Bush's critics will inevitably complain that his surprise visit was a stunt designed to counteract poll numbers showing falling confidence in the way his administration is handling the Iraqi occupation. Granted, Mr. Bush will probably get a political boost out of this lightning trip, but those who reduce his gallant and courageous gesture to mere politics only diminish themselves. Any commander in chief, Republican or Democrat, who took this kind of risk to show solidarity with our soldiers on Thanksgiving would deserve unreserved praise and admiration.

There is a Yiddish expression to describe a man who acts this way: mensch. Leo Rosten defined it as "someone of substance, someone to emulate, someone of noble character." George W. Bush of Texas showed yesterday what a mensch looks like in cowboy boots.

[Maria S]

I ran thru search and found nothing.

[cars for sale]

screw the mench analogy....JOHN WAYNE woyld do it too

[cars for sale]

oops..would

[CubaDemocratica]

Great post. Tks

[ex-Texan]

Mensch Bump!

[catonsville]

Mensch means to act like a man should, to do the right thing.
It applies to men and women alike.

In a world where many of us just do not care, it is a very high compliment.

[McGavin999]

Nice editorial, good to see that some realize what a great thing our president did. I would love to have followed the line as the story spread to all the troops in Iraq. THAT would make for a great book all by itself.

[Maria S]

Yer welcome. I WAS sorta surprised to see it in the Dallas newspaper; they tend to tilt a little liberal. On the other hand, it WAS an editorial, so I reckon there are a few Bush appreciaters.

[Cicero]

Yes, Mensch is the right word for it.

The guy has a gift for getting along with men, and with people in general, as you can readily see. Just look at some of those pictures of Bush and the Little Leaguers, with all the smiling faces. By contrast, Hillary looks stiff and aloof in a crowd, and clintbilly looks puffed up and posed for the camera.

[Maria S]

"By contrast, Hillary looks stiff and aloof in a crowd..."

The evening news showed a brief clip of her in Baghdad with the troops. She stood somewhat stiffly and shook hands as some of them approached her...my first thought was how much she reminded me of Queen Elizabeth! I believe you're supposed to wait until SHE extends her hand before you shake. Hillary is NOT a hugger, either, that's for sure. Of course, Bush just hauls off and hugs, pats, smiles, etc., as naturally as he breathes.

[CaliGirlGodHelpMe]

No doubt about it, we've got a President who, among many other qualities, is a "stand-up guy".

[Scipio]

Watching the president in Iraq, I was impressed how much of a "man's man" he is. I was discussing with the "men" after turkey and dressing who are true southerners and have voted democrat most of their lives. Their reaction to Bush is that he is a "ranger', a Texas Ranger as in the "Lonesome Dove" book and movie. This is high praise indeed and leads me to believe that Bush should do well next year, especially in the heart of Dixie.

[PoisedWoman]

...my first thought was how much she reminded me of Queen Elizabeth! I believe you're supposed to wait until SHE extends her hand before you shake. Hillary is NOT a hugger, either, that's for sure

Oh dear, I'd never compare Hitlery with QEII. For one thing, the queen is a real lady, comfortable with traditional manners, and I believe she actually loves her country and her church. A stout-hearted lady through and through. .God save the Queen.

Hitlery has no inner grace or elegance, she has only a thin veneer of phony propriety over an inner core of hatred, revenge, blind ambition, disloyalty, and other nasty things roiling together like frothing sewage.

Queenie wouldn't hug you because it just wouldn't be proper, Hitlery wouldn't because she hates you.

[enuu]

Good point about Hillary, and I think she comes across that way because she really does not care about most people. It's a photo-op for her and she is a cold person. On the other hand, Pres. Bush is clearly bursting with pride and genuine affection for our troops.

[dixiechick2000]

Very nice article!

Thank you for the new tagline. ;o)

[little jeremiah]

Hitlery has no inner grace or elegance, she has only a thin veneer of phony propriety over an inner core of hatred, revenge, blind ambition, disloyalty, and other nasty things roiling together like frothing sewage.

Queenie wouldn't hug you because it just wouldn't be proper, Hitlery wouldn't because she hates you.

I can't believe the things FReepers say! Truly great insight and poetic too!

[VOA]

screw the mench analogy....JOHN WAYNE woyld do it too

Hey, "mensch" is HIGH praise.
As a Gentile, I'll venture to say a picture of John Wayne might appear next to
the "Mensch" entry in a Yiddish (?) dictionary.

[VOA]

I WAS sorta surprised to see it in the Dallas newspaper; they tend to
tilt a little liberal.

Agreed.
But my guess is that Dallas (and the major Texas cities) have more Jewish heritage
than a lot of us flyover-country Gentiles know.
A few years back the DMN had a web-based presentation about Dallas history; it reported that
the first organized public grade school in Dallas was held in one of the few
major building in the young city...the synagogue.

And occassionally conservative Jewish radio-show host Dennis Prager will mention that
he has recently visited Dallas to give a series of lectures at Jewish and secular
gatherings; he mentions how much he likes the area and the general values of the region.

[VOA]

a ping, the short article is of interest

[Right_in_Virginia]

...those who reduce his gallant and courageous gesture to mere politics only diminish themselves.

BTTT!