Monday, March 10, 2003

Mixed message

As the world lurches toward a crazy conflagration fueled by crazy people, fractures in common sense are everywhere.  Take, for example, today’s NY Times report from Texas, written by Peter T. Kilborn, which shows that even Dubya’s near-neighbors in the Permian Basin town of Andrews are conflicted and confused.

One of the Andrews resident interviewed for the story is quoted thusly:

But Jonnie Miller, 56, a hardy, crew-cut preacher and owner of L & M Backhoe, which specializes in cleaning up spills in the oil fields, worries about war and a loss of lives. “The Scripture says God placed President Bush in office to take care of us,” he said, “and my job is to pray for those in power to make godly decisions.

Wow!?! 

Now, I don’t profess to be an expert in Biblical scholarship, but I think it’s a pretty safe bet that there are no references to George Walker Bush in either the Old or New Testament.  Nor is there anything in Scripture that particularly addresses the “job” of Americans in regard to their relationship with governmental decision-making.

Mr. Miller continues, still combining valuable insights with, ummm, unusual concepts:

"But who over there,” Mr. Miller asked, “wants us doing what we’re doing except us and Kuwait? All life is precious to me. I don’t want to see one Iraqi killed. I don’t want to see Charles Manson killed."

I say again… Wow!?!  What mental process could possibly have introduced Charlie Manson into Mr. Miller’s statement?  What on earth is he talking about?

In toto, there are more pro-war than anti-war Andrewsians quoted in the article.  Which is, I think, fair reporting in a West Texas oil town.  Of the anti-war residents quoted, however, none were quoted as extensively as Jonnie Miller.