CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY APRIL 18, 2018
THESE DAYS IN WASHINGTON AND IN POLITICS GENERALLY IT’S EASY TO FORGET WHAT DECENCY, INTEGRITY AND KINDNESS LOOK LIKE. BARBARA BUSH, THE FORMER FIRST LADY AND MOTHER OF A PRESIDENT, EMBODIED THESE QUALITIES.
HER LITERACY PROJECT CHANGED MANY LIVES. SOME MAY RECALL WASHINGTON REDSKINS PLAYER DEXTER MANLY. BARBARA BUSH’S EMPHASIS ON LITERACY GAVE HIM THE COURAGE TO COME FORWARD AND ACKNOWLEDGE HIS INABILITY TO READ. HE LEARNED AND INSPIRED OTHERS STRUGLING WITH LITERACY TO LEARN TO READ AS WELL.
KAREN TUMULTY OF THE WASHINGTON POST WROTE THAT BARBARA BUSH WAS AS REAL AS HER PEARLS WERE FAKE. A NEW YORK TIMES STORY SAID “SHE AVOIDED CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES WHILE IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND BECAME KNOWN FOR JER STRAIGHT TALK, LACK OF PRETENSION AND SELF-DEPRECATING HUMOR.” I HOPE I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO THINKS WE COULD USE MORE OF ALL THREE OF THOSE CHARACTER QUALITIES IN THIS BITTER POLITICAL CULTURE.
IT’S TOO BAD DECENCY ISN’T CONTAGIOUS. BARBARA BUSH WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY TO “INFECT” SOME CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL LEADERS. I’M CAL THOMAS IN WASHINGTON.
