Homemom, the refererence is to a letter John Page wrote to Thomas Jefferson in 1776. Perhaps Page was referencing a biblical passage. I don't know. Anyway, here's the passage from our Dubya's first Inaugural Address, January 20, 2001 (7 months and 22 days before the terrorist attacks):
After the Declaration of Independence was signed, Virginia statesman John Page wrote to Thomas Jefferson: "We know the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong. Do you not think an angel rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm?"Much time has passed since Jefferson arrived for his inauguration. The years and changes accumulate. But the themes of this day he would know: our nation's grand story of courage and its simple dream of dignity.
We are not this story's author, who fills time and eternity with his purpose. Yet his purpose is achieved in our duty, and our duty is fulfilled in service to one another.
Never tiring, never yielding, never finishing, we renew that purpose today, to make our country more just and generous, to affirm the dignity of our lives and every life.
This work continues. This story goes on. And an angel still rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm.
No passage from any presidential inauguration speech ever touched me like this particular one. I can still hear GWB's voice in my mind's ear as he spoke these lines eight years ago.
All: I have saved links to and passages from all of President Bush's key speeches. If anyone wants the links or passages, just FReemail me.
BTW, after eight turbulent years, I'm not ashamed to say I genuinely love this great man.
Thanks . . . it still gives me goosebumps to read that. It’s eerily premonitional (is that a word? If not I just make it up, LOL!), isn’t it??
I am sad today because for the first time I really realize that what this president does will affect my children . . . and it worries me greatly. GW wasn’t perfect, by any means, but he was willing to make the very difficult calls (many we probably don’t, and never will, know about) to keep our country safe. I don’t have that confidence now.
But on to bigger and better things . . . I heard Laura signed a book contract and did someone say GW mentioned writing a book in his speech today? I look forward to both and will splurge on purchasing them in hardback as soon as they come out. Does anyone know when that might be?
Dear Wolf* include Yourself in prior Host(s)/Hostesses Thanks prior,m’kay.You are not just an All to me. HUGS
:)
I forgot to put Your name on there...The THANK YOU bears on Jonny’s final Dose, piggyback Thread, day...
‘...I genuinely love this great man.’
my sentiments exactly.
My husband and I love GWB, too.
Could you post here or FReepmail me with a link to the full text of his first Inaugural.
We were expecting all hell to break loose during his term (in fact we believed NYC, DC and maybe LA would be bombed), so I took his Inaugural address as a deja vue moment when the words would take on added meaning as history unfolded. Mostly I didn’t know whether GWB would survive, and readily joined other in prayers for his safety.
So, while others are sad he is no longer President, I am absolutely jubilant that he and Laura survived. Thanking our Heavenly Father for this wonder. The joy of having him these last 8 years as our President and the joy of having them alive in Texas now.
I'm not ashamed to say I genuinely love this great man.
My sentiments exactly.