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Show THE ZEPHYR/ APRIL-MAY 2007 “Well,” Bush thought a moment. “It means that if we believe you're the Son of God, we're going to Heaven?” He answered the question with a question like a student in class, unsure of his answer, might reply. “No,” said Jesus. “If you believe in me, you must believe what I say. It’s what I have said that matters. You cannot ignore the words I gave to you. In the months ahead, you will kill thousands of innocent people—children, helpless civilians who merely wanted to live their lives in peace. You cannot justify this killing in any way, Mr. President, and possibly think I would approve of it.” Bush glared at Jesus with unmistakable contempt. “I just don’t get you at all. Why the economic benefits alone Bush nodded knowingly at Cheney.” I was hoping, at the beginning of our In my world there are no ‘Christian Soldiers,’ there is no killing in my name, and it would be wrong to suggest otherwise. No, Mr. President...I cannot remain silent. I must go out and talk to the people. That ultimately is why I am here. I had feared our conversation might end like this.” Bush said, “It’s not over yet. Jesus, can you back off just a minute? Dick and I need to talk, Just sit back down there on the sofa and we'll be with you in a moment.” e two men conferred quietly for several minutes. The VP walked to the Rosé Garden door again and, to his surprise, it opened easily. He summoned the Secret Service agent and the young man came immediately. He saw Jesus, sitting on the couch and said, “How in the hell did he get in here? Who is he?” The agent called into his lapel mike, “We have a Code One in the Oval Office. Code ONE! I need backup now!” make this war worth it.” “What if we just killed Saddam Hussein and his family?” “NO!” Jesus exclaimed. “You cannot selectively kill the people you think are evil without becoming the very thing you despise.” Bush glared at Jesus with unmistakable contempt. “I just don’t get you at all. Why the economic benefits alone make this war worth it. Look at the opportunities that a successful resolution of this Saddam Hussein thing will bring to the people. Think of all the wealth and products that will be available to Iraqis after this is over.” Jesus stared icily at Bush. “You will win no argument with me Mr. President, trying to sell the idea of war on economic grounds. You might recall my encounter with the money changers in the temple. I have no tolerance for greed. It is an evil and destructive force... perhaps the most catastrophic aspect of the human condition.” The President shrugged. The VP had said nothing but had listened intently from across the room. Finally he cleared his voice and said, “What about World War II?” way it is.” little chat, that you might see things our way. But obviously we don’t see eye-to-eye on this subject. So ’m assuming our little chat here will remain private...just between the two of us. Or three of us...excuse me, Dick.” Jesus walked toward Bush and Cheney with a determination that made both men uncomfortable. “Listen to me closely. I cannot allow you to misrepresent me in this fashion. : E ; ' The President turned to Jesus, who now rose from the sofa. “Jesus, I believe in free speech as much as the next guy. But sometimes national security just has to come first. We're not goin’ to be able to let you go out there and be a rabble rouser and whatever. Stirring up the people with this kind of radical talk. Not right now. It’s not good for America, it’s not good for our war on terror and it sure as hell wouldn’t be good for this administration...pardon my language” “T...1 don’t understand,” Jesus:said. Bush looked skeptically at Jesus: “Of course you do.” The President motioned to the agent. “Plain and simple, you're goin’ to need to cool off a bit. And we’re gonna take you someplace where you can do just that. A little spot for you to be alone with your thoughts, as they say. Maybe a little self-reflection will be good for you. And then, after a while, if you start to see reason, maybe we can talk again. Until then, enjoy your little...vacation.”. The President started to walk away, but Jesus caught his coat sleeve. “This ‘place’ you mention...where is it?” a “A tropical paradise some say. Palm trees. A pleasant climate: Near the sea. We call it : Guantanamo Bay.” Jesus turned on the sofa to see Cheney. Briefly, Bush looked confused by the question. “What's that Dick?” Four days later, on March 21, the United States invaded Iraq. Four years-Jater, as many as 600,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed by Coalition air and ground attacks and the Civil War that the invasion triggered. Sadam Hussein was captured and executed, mob. -style, in 2006. Three tt d American soldiers have died. : s “World War II,” Cheney repeated himself. “Adolf Hitler. Benito Mussolini. The Holo- caust. The closest we’ve ever come to global domination by Forces of Evil in the history of the world. Are you saying that we should have done nothing? Just let Hitler and his henchmen rule the world?” ee “YES! Of course!” Bush chanted. “What about that, Jesus? Surely you didn’t expect us to just let Hitler have his way.” : é Jesus rose from the sofa and moved across the Oval Office and turned so he could address both men. “Tell me Mr. President, do you believe people are basically good? Do you think that good will overcome evil eventually?” “Well...yes, I guess so.” “And do you think that all the German people and all the Italian people and all the The whereabouts of Jesus are unknown. Japanese people in the Second World War were as evil as the men who led them?" _ “Bush thought briefly. “No...’d say those people just didn’t have enough information to know how bad their leaders were’! y= Sec) SAY B! “Exactly,” replied Jesus. “So imagine this..Imagine that as Hitler’s armies swept across Europe; the Allies had simply refused to fight. As the Nazis charged, the young soldiers had laid down their weapons...” ; Les “Tt would have been a blood:bath,” Bush answered quickly. “Perhaps, but by showing they could love their enemy and turn the other cheek, these men assured themselves a place with me. Does that sound so bad?” Bush said nothing. ; FRAMED IMAGE : “You know, Jesus,” Bush finally said, “You have a good heart and you make some excellent points. 59 E CENTER ST., SIEB MOAB, UT 435.259.4446 (down the alley East of Parriott’s Hair Salon) And in a perfect world, what you're sayin’ might work. But this isn’t a perfect world.” “And what if the killing continued? POTENTIAL OUT-OF-TOWN ADVERTISERS! Don't let a little thing like distance come between us. Be the first in your distant city or town to advertise in a publication that is hundreds or thousands of miles away What if, day after day, week after week, thou- sands and thousands more died, refusing to fight. How do you think this might have ’ affected the common German soldiers, for example? In fact...let me ask you this. Had you been a German soldier, and you had seen these soldiers from ‘the other side,’ laying down their weapons and refusing to fight you, how would it have affected you? Would you have been able to keep up your enthusiasm for killing? For the slaughter of those young men?” “Well no!,” replied Bush. “ I don’t think any of us could keep killing like that. That cozephyr@frontiernet.net would have been like a massacre.” “That's right. You have made my point for me, Mr. President. I believe that eventually, the horrors of war would have been realized more fully by everyone. I believe that the Axis soldiers would have been so tortured and shamed by their own deeds that they would have denounced the evil actions of their leaders and would have eventually em- BLACKHAT HUMANE SOCIETY Serving the Navajo Nation PO Box 2716 braced their enemies. That would have changed the world.” “But millions might have died, refusing to fight!” Bush argued. “Fifty million humans did die, Mr. President. And they died fighting. Much of th planet was bombed and burned to a cinder. And for what. Was peace the result of World War II? Has there been peace since then? Is there peace now? ” Visit the Navajo Nation, enjoy the scenery & take home a pet with you Jesus looked at both men who now stood beside each other near the fireplace. Bush BLACKHAT HUMANE SOCIETY takes in dogs, cats (even sheep & horses) and fosters picked up the iron poker and stirred the coals. Jesus sighed, “There’s really nothing else for me to say.” An awkward silence lingered in the Oval Office. “You know, Jesus,” Bush finally said. “You have a good heart and you make some excellent points. And in a perfect world, what you're sayin’ might work. But this isn't a perfect world.” “Tt could be,” Jesus said softly. His eyes glistened in the glow of the dying embers. “Yes. Yes, of course,” said the President. Window Rock, AZ 86515 928.337.2828 email: ambrwiHfS!@yahoo.com them in loving homes until they are ready fo be adopted. All animals are in good health, current on vaccinations and are spayed/neutered....100% of donations go to the animals---spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, food... Check out our website: www.rezdog.petfinder.org “It could be but it isn’t. And that’s just the 21 |