April 17, 2008     EL COMERCIO in Quito ran a splendid picture of the current Pope with George Bush- clearly enjoying each other's company- in the White House Oval Office. Even the WASHINGTON POST reported of the Pope, "Something Good this Way Comes," read it here. Rather than the short shrift given to the response by North America to this Pope, which most- if they are honest at all- note as transformational, click on to the video here of the 4-16-08 White House event for the Pope. There has never been anything like this before in the history of the United States. No larger welcoming event for any dignitary has ever been hosted nor the warmth and sincere words more apparent. Contrary to what the AFP reports about the Pope's talk with Bush, there was nothing "diplomatic" in any moment between Bush and the Pope- only straight talk and genuine emotion. Essentially the Pope reminded that the USA has been given much, due to the hard work of its people and their overarching religious commitments, and that as such it bears the burden of giving back to this world in generosity because it has been given much, as is the case for each person alive on earth today.
 
            Something good this way came:



We say this again: no other global leader has been so warmly received by the USA nor handed such high honors. Certainly Hugo Chavez nor Rafael Correa will ever be welcomed inside the White House and will never enjoy a 21 gun salute, will never stand and sing The Battle Hymn of the Republic nor will their words be heard by any because Correa and Chavez do not speak truth to power, are not honest, are not honorable and are never worthy of respect. Unlike Bush's comments that the greatest challenge to our times is the insidiousness of moral relevancy, Correa and Chavez preach moral debauchery. Of course Correa would not be concerned about moral relevancy...he is a sociopath who spews moral relevancy to hide his crimes and promote the regional criminal cartels called neo authoritarianism for the self enriching statist few called Bolivarians. Nor would the Pope's words calling for all to live morally, stand against tyranny and repeat the stirring words from America's founders that ` life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness' comes directly from God almighty and is not derived solely from a selfish adolescent who gives or removes rights if and when he capriciously chooses, denying basic rights on a day to day basis. No- neither Chavez nor Correa will ever be welcome inside the White House unless serious transformative life changes transpire. To date, the self enriching power spawns surrounding Chavez and Correa will never ever let them transform: they are now wholly owned and operated by their own prisoners of manipulation and self enrichment.
 
Pope Benedict's message is essentially one of choice. To each of us is given the choice to live a good life or chose to reject such a life. More importantly is the notable test of any nation - really  the ultimate test of any given land and its faithfulness  is seen in how each of us chooses freedom actively [or not] and what we would reject or do and if we chose to follow honorable lives, what level exists for the fear of persecution.
 
When Something Good Comes this Way, it should shake us all up. This is not diplomacy but a transforming moment that remains a touch stone in the years ahead.

This Pope, who was never once "diplomatic" nor did he state that diplomacy must replace truth telling, clearly acted on his agenda that universities must return to non-Marxist curricula, reject praising totalitarians, and that the Church must cease propagandizing in favor of dishonest self imprisoning neo communist regimes.

The Pope has also stated that pedophilia will not stand. Reread the Pope's comments- he also seems to state that Bush did not lie about Iraq and seemed to appreciate the USA's willingness to stand against tyranny while all around shrink from the call to protect and defend against tyrants and dictators.
 
Courage- bravery- exists when we act on the convictions we hold and never once sell them out to the pressures of la vida manipulativa as instructed by our Madres- no indeed. Courage is derived from bravery to hold to our values. This Pope calls us all to stop our lives filled with manipulation and stand united for lives lived away from the dictatorship of relativism. Dictatorships of relativism grow and spread because we abandon our courage to stop being manipulative.
 
This Pope said God Bless America. He did not say God Bless totalitarians. The Pope did not say God will damm America. No he did not.

The Pope said, and again do click for the full text in English and in Spanish, that, "From the dawn of the Republic, America's quest for freedom has been guided by the conviction that the principles governing political and social life are intimately linked to a moral order based on the dominion of God the Creator. The framers of this nation's founding documents drew upon this conviction when they proclaimed the self-evident truth that all men are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights grounded in the laws of nature and of nature's God.

The course of American history demonstrates the difficulties, the struggles, and the great intellectual and moral resolve which were demanded to shape a society which faithfully embodied these noble principles. In that process, which forged the soul of the nation, religious beliefs were a constant inspiration and driving force, as for example in the struggle against slavery and in the civil rights movement. In our time, too, particularly in moments of crisis, Americans continue to find their strength in a commitment to this patrimony of shared ideas and aspirations."
 
The Pope did not say that we should all bow down to Hugo Chavez and Rafael Correa or any force of tyranny. No he did not. He did not say that the Cuban school curricula which Correa and Chavez are force feeding Andean children teaches moral lives- no....he did not say this. The Pope certainly did not, as wrongly and deceptively reported in EL COMERCIO and even in EL TIEMPO today, tell Bush to act with more diplomacy and less truth telling. Reread his words. Watch the entire event. If one is to lie about the Pope, at least do it on the merits- not propaganda against Bush. Or the Pope. This Pope did not preach the notion that religion is a cult- a tool of the dictatorships and only useful to be manipulated in a dishonest cover up of criminal regimes. This Pope did not preach that diplomacy is a wonderful instrument of lies and propaganda- no, indeed. This Pope did not preach the virtues of "diplomacy" and deal making- no- this Pope did not say this.

And speaking of liars, here is an older photo of the now dead FARC master mind Raul Reyes with former Chavez power broker VP Rangel:



Of these men- Chavez-Correa-Reyes of the FARC, nothing good this way comes. A ridiculously debauched young Mexican woman is received with state honors in Nicaragua by Ortega after she flies from Quito following her celebrations with Raul Reyes on 2-29-08 by the bright moon light. Reyes's last orgy in his multi acre plantation almost cost her...her life for she was consorting with terrorists. She should be arrested but instead is welcome as some New Age Malinche of Mexico- not a traitor but some vestal virgin, fresh from the FARC orgy in Ecuador's border jungles, to translate the New Era of Terror and Criminality for our benefit. Alvaro Uribe was correct on CNN to question the support for the FARC from the now dead Mexicans..."`What were they doing?' Uribe asked. `They were not doing humanitarian work. They were not hostages. So why were they there? They were there as accomplices of this activity. They were there as agents of terrorism.' “And their late night revelries at Reyes's little last supper- his FARC orgy- cost them a lot.

If good is this way to come, it starts with each of us- having and holding not the lives of unending manipulations but the courage to stand for our values.

Who- we ask again- in Ecuador has the courage of his or her convictions?

How would you answer this Pope in this place and in this time when he asks you? This Pope asks you to stand and defend Western Civilization- our morals, our honor and yes, even our faith. If the days are to go down in the West, it is not this day but he warns that the day comes soon if we fail our decency and fail ourselves. Rather than lying about goodness when it comes our way....or ignoring it or manipulating it, far better to be actively with that good when it is with us for it does not pass our way often.

This is not a picture of the Pope lecturing Bush on the necessity of....propaganda or "diplomatic" solutions to truthfulness. This is a picture of a holy person who stands with the courage of his convictions:



President George W. Bush and Pope Benedict XVI meet in the Oval Office Wednesday, April 16, 2008, following the Pope's welcoming ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House. White House photo by Eric Draper
 
Where do you stand?
-Pedro Camargo for ECrisis