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Making the case Once More, with Less FeelingBy Rick Horowitz
The quest for self-improvement: among mankind's noblest urges. Without it, civilization as we know it would be poorer indeed -- lacking, as it surely would, such significant advances as the public-education system, the personal trainer and the itty bitty book light. For some, the quest for self-improvement is all-consuming, and brings them unceasing happiness. Yet for others... Consider the curious case of George W. George W., the chief executive of a prominent global superpower, was a man without pretensions. Though born into a world of privilege, he walked among the common people with an ease of manner and a simplicity of style. The language of the common people was his language, too. Indeed, those who were inclined to criticize George W. (and there were such people, for even the chief executive of a prominent global superpower has his critics) often fastened upon his use of language -- the words he used and the way he handled them. Nor was this criticism entirely without merit. George W., it seems, was a man of so many talents of so many different sorts that the gift for public speaking had never even cracked the top ten. Did this shortcoming bother him? Not in his earlier years. But as his responsibilities grew larger and more serious, he surely recognized his need to speak more effectively on the world stage. The chief executive of any prominent global superpower -- and at that particular moment, George W.'s superpower was the only game in town -- often finds himself called upon to explain, to announce, to lead. These tasks are not for the rhetorically challenged. George W. strove to improve, and he did improve. He might never be a great speaker, but in ways large and small, he was getting better all the time. Now, at the time in question, George W.'s responsibilities had grown quite large and quite serious, and they included dealing with a man called Saddam H. The chief executive of a restless -- some would say lawless -- regional superpower, Saddam H. was the sort of man who engendered strong feelings in other leaders, and even in former leaders. (One of these had gone so far as to call Saddam H. "a brute," but that, sadly, is a story for another day.) George W. took it as his duty to get rid of Saddam H. This he would have been glad to do all by himself. He considered Saddam H. a mortal threat to the world's security, a man of malevolent intentions who could not be trusted. George W. was perfectly willing to take action against him, to remove this threat once and for all. Briefly, though, he stayed his hand. Instead of going to war, he would give a speech. A prominent global superpower can do almost anything it wants, and do it all by itself -- but there can be consequences. Better, some suggested, that George W. first make his case against Saddam H. before the world. Better, some advised, that he offer Saddam H. an alternative to war -- a series of demands that Saddam H. had long rejected and would surely reject once again. Such a result, truth be told, would suit George W. just fine. He was ready to fight, and this speech was no more than a nod to the rest of the world before the bombs started falling. If they wanted him to make his case, he would make his case. He would set forth his demands. Then he could get down to business. So he went before the world and delivered his speech -- and the strangest thing happened: George W. delivered such a forceful speech, delivered it with such polish and such passion, that those who heard it were moved to acknowledge that he was right, and that he was serious. They were also moved to send word to Saddam H.: You'd better do something. And so he did -- Saddam H. agreed to George W.'s demands! An excellent outcome, said the rest of the world. There's no cause for war. Let's chat about the details. Self-improvement is a noble urge. But George W. was too good for his own good. Posted 9/19/02. Improve
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Rick Horowitz
