The Pastor's Ponderables

Since former President George H. W. Bush died last week, tributes have come pouring in.  And so have the condemnations. I come neither to beatify nor demonize the man, but he is an interesting study in how complex we are.  let me examine him for a moment looking at a few of the accomplishments he can boast that make many say he was a great man. First, he was a war hero.  No doubt about it, the son of a Senator, he was the second youngest navy fighter pilot and was shot down in the line of duty, requiring that he be fished out of the drink by a submarine crew.  Love him or hate him, that required bravery and commitment to the country. Second — and I jump ahead to his time as president for the sake of economy — he oversaw the end of the Cold War.  As the German television station ZDF noted, it was a delicate time especially in Germany, and he proved himself to be a capable friend of the process while refusing to vilify former enemies.  His gentle but ...