“I am proud of my country always; and I am proud of my government only when it is deserving,” Mark Twain once wrote on government. As a strong believer in the Bill of Rights and an active member of the MSU chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, I proudly exercised my First Amendment right to free speech two weekends ago during President Bush’s inauguration. The ridiculous policies I have witnessed both preceding and following that event have reinforced my position on his selection: “Not my president.”

I would first like to draw attention to a portion of Bush’s acceptance speech in which he spoke of “unifying our divided nation.” That speech almost made me accept the fact that issues I care about won’t be on the presidential agenda for four years.

Then came this issue of John Ashcroft’s appointment to attorney general. Ashcroft’s personal position on abortion is very conservative, even for most pro-lifers. The thought that he might actually be making decisions that affect abortion policy in the United States is scary. No matter what political party you affiliate yourself with, and whether Bush cared that his recommendation would create a political bloodbath in the Senate, it is fair to say this was a bad call.

Likewise, I see no compromise or unity in Bush’s decision to cut debt relief programs to developing countries under the false guise that he cut this funding to make a statement of his beliefs on abortion. To me, this is absolutely sickening. These countries will suffer desperately in the next four years because of Bush’s icy, conservative touch.

Furthermore, I would like to draw attention to the implied division of church and state existing in our constitution. Bush has recently said he “will favor” faith-based programs that request government funding. While many high-quality programs, such as Refugee Services in Lansing, are funded by religious groups, the wall between church and state should never be crossed - no exceptions.

At the protest, thousands of Americans, who care deeply about their civil rights, as well as the civil rights of others, expressed their views in a strong and resounding fashion. Actions speak louder than words, and while this one letter to the editor of our beloved State News will probably not reach President Bush’s respective scope, perhaps other people who feel as I do will be motivated to speak out against our “accidental president.”

Jonathan Teasdale
interdisciplinary studies in human resources and
society junior