The Measure of a Man

A New Zealand woman said on Wednesday she was willing to be crucified by President Bush if he pledges not to attack Iraq….

But the deal has a catch–Bush would have to personally hammer in the nails.

“I don’t think he would have the courage to do it quite frankly, but that is the measure of a man,” she told Radio New Zealand. [Reuters, 3/5/03]

The mind boggles at this kind of corruption. The evasion of the threat posed by Iraq is wholesale dishonesty. The implicit accusation that George Bush is simply interested in causing pain and suffering, and so would be satisfied by crucifying someone, is monstrously unjust. Even to pretend to be willing to sacrifice oneself to such an evil act is the height of irrational self-hatred. And then there is the adoption of the mantle of Christ for the purpose of manipulating the weak-minded by moral intimidation, a vicious power-lust if ever there was one.

Of course, if George Bush were the kind of person who would accept such an offer, he would also be the kind of person to then go ahead and attack Iraq anyway–which shows just how impotent those who hold such a “moral” code are.