Abstract:

George Bush, 43, leans on the Hebrew Bible’s fierce criticism, not only of ancient Israel’s external enemies, but also of its perceived enemies within. The language of righteous empire, of God being on our side and our having this divine mission, has carried the Bush Presidency through torture, carnage, and slaughter. Like the kings against whom the prophets Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Ezekiel speak out, Bush has epitomized the dark side of power, a landscape where death abounds. Further, one wonders about the identity of the Jesus that Bush invokes. In my opinion, the gospel words have been rubbed away, leaving only the gold and glitter, revealing Jesus as an icon of royal power and triumph.

Author: Alice Bach