Transcript: President Bush addresses prayer service (Second thread)

cnn.com ^ | September 14, 2001 | President Bush

[Charles Henrickson]

We are here in the middle hour of our grief. So many have suffered so great a loss, and today we express our nation's sorrow. We come before God to pray for the missing and the dead, and for those who loved them.

[Charles Henrickson]

I know this transcript was posted earlier in the day, but that was quite a while ago and the thread was getting very long. I didn't want this excellent speech to get lost from those who may not have seen or heard it earlier.

[gov_bean_ counter]

I stated it before at the topic of a thread, and I'll continue as long as I breath. President George Bush, you were created for such a time as this.

[Charles Henrickson]

Earlier thread:

Bush's Speech at the National Cathedral

[Charles Henrickson]

President Bush's address was just right for the occasion, striking the right balance of grief, remembrance, reliance on God, and national resolve. It was heartfelt, moving, inspiring. The speech worked as a whole, a whole that was greater than the sum of its parts.

Yet there were memorable sentences and phrases:

The commitment of our fathers is now the calling of our time.

This conflict was begun on the timing and terms of others; it will end in a way and at an hour of our choosing.

We are here in the middle hour of our grief.

This nation is peaceful, but fierce when stirred to anger.

. . . American flags, which are displayed in pride and waved in defiance.

Our unity is a kinship of grief and a steadfast resolve to prevail against our enemies.

I heard the speech on the radio. I was on my way to a prayer service and had parked the car, but I couldn't get out till he finished. It choked me up listening to it.

President Bush is doing a great job preparing us for what lies ahead.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Thank you for posting this. Does anyone know when this service will be replayed? I want to tape it in full. Thank you again.

[goldstategop]

I am struck by the references the President made to names. In Judaism remembrance of names is an important way of ensuring the continuity of the righteous. It is no accident the great book of the Torah, Exodus begins with a list of names. Today in the Jewish ritual for the Jewish New Year, Jews ask G-d to inscribe them in the Book Of Life for another year which is the book of names G-d keeps in heaven. And there's a passage in the later part of Exodus after the Golden Calf episode where G-d explicitly refers to the Book in which the name of every living person is kept. So the President told us all to remember in our grief and sorrow that G-d remembers our loved ones names and that they aren't forgotten and they're still alive up there with Him. I am absolutely convinced as transitory as our mortal lives are there is eternal life and it is a reward for all those who fear Him.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Yes, President Bush's mention of the fact that we are learning the names and stories of those who died. The speech at the service was exactly what we needed to hear and God inspired whoever helped write it. God keep and bless and protect our President!

[ELS]

C-Span will be replaying it tomorrow (Sunday) along with the services in London and Canada. I tried checking the TV schedule section of their Web site, but they appear to be having some problems with their database.

[ELS]

What I mentioned in my previous reply I saw in one of C-Span's announcements between shows. Even then, they didn't say exactly what time they would be airing the shows.