George W. Bush Back in Salt Lake

Former President George W. Bush came to Salt Lake City yesterday on his book signing tour. Well over a thousand people lined up to get a signed copy of the book and meet the former president. Some even camped out overnight as to ensure entrance to the 1:00 – 3:00pm book signing at a local Costco store. The line wrapped around the building, but no one seemed to mind the long wait.

As people came out of the store with their autographed copy of the just released book, many were beaming with excitement over their encounter with President Bush. His down to earth personality, wittiness, and ability to connect with everyday people endeared him to their hearts. Even in a brief encounter, one is able to see the sincerity of this man.

A group of about six protesters held their position across the parking lot. One protester held a sign stating Bush killed more people in Iraq than Saddam Hussein did. Being the mother of Marine killed in Iraq, and having just returned from Iraq myself, I nearly had to be restrained. I wanted to jump into the middle of that group of protesters and put them in their place. Having heard first hand accounts of the evil and brutality of Saddam Hussein, the executions, and his barbaric savagery from the people that lived under his reign, I could hardly contain myself. I recalled conversation with Iraqis about Al Qaeda training camps there how Saddam had worked so closely with them. My visit to the city where thousands were gassed by Saddam Hussein’s men, and having stood before mass graves which contained the remains of hundreds of people he had killed, was still fresh in my mind. And somehow Bush is the bad guy.

Rocky Anderson mayor of Salt Lake City from 2000 – 2008 once again held an anti-Bush rally. This time his defiant crowd numbered less than twenty people. Anderson never passed up an opportunity to protest President Bush and even had the audacity to lead an anti-Bush/anti-war protest in his official capacity as mayor, as my son’s funeral was underway in August of 2006.

The decency of George W. Bush, his integrity, depth of character and his ability to lead in tough times, is what I will always admire and respect about him. One on one time President Bush spent with our family the day after we buried our son, revealed a sincere and courageous man, and one who had been able to make the difficult decisions, knowing the consequences those decisions would have on families like mine. As a father himself, he clearly recognized our pain and reached out to love and comfort us.

I miss George Bush the man and George Bush the president. He was the right man at the right time in history. Thank you President Bush, for having the courage and integrity to lead our nation. It was nice to have you back in Salt Lake City.