I guess Bush had a feeling of guilt over the White House cards saying “Happy
Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” so he decided to make it up today in his
radio address:
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. On this Christmas Eve, Laura and I send our
best wishes to families across America as you gather in your homes to
celebrate the holiday. Christmas is a time of joy and peace, and we hope the
holiday season brings all of you happy reunions with families and friends,
and time to rest and reflect as you look forward to a new year.At Christmas, we give thanks for the gift of the birth of Christ, and for
the blessings that surround us every day of the year. In this great and
prosperous land, we have so much to be thankful for, and Christmas reminds
us of our obligation to share these blessings with others. There are many
among us who are hurting and require a helping hand. In the new year, I hope
Americans will look for ways to volunteer your time and talents where they
are needed most. By reaching out to a neighbor in need, we make our nation a
more just and compassionate place.This Christmas, we remember our fellow citizens who suffered from the
hurricanes and other disasters that struck our nation this past year. We
pray for their strength as they continue to recover and rebuild their lives
and their communities. During the holiday season and throughout the year, we
think with pride of the men and women of our Armed Forces, who are keeping
our nation safe and defending freedom around the world. In Iraq,
Afghanistan, and elsewhere, they are protecting our liberty by spreading
liberty to others, and all Americans are grateful to our troops for their
courage and commitment.We’re also grateful to their families. Staying behind when a family
member goes to war is a heavy burden — and it’s particularly hard at
Christmas. We pray for our military families; we ask Almighty God to bestow
His protection and care on their loved ones as they protect our nation from
grave dangers. We also remember the heroic men and women who have made the
ultimate sacrifice for our nation’s freedom. We pray that God will comfort
the loved ones they left behind. The sacrifices of these brave troops have
rescued millions from lives of tyranny and sorrow, and made America more
secure. We will always cherish the memory of each of our fallen servicemen
and women, and count it a privilege to be citizens of the country they
served. The times we live in have brought many challenges to our country.
And at such times, the story of Christmas brings special comfort and
confidence. Christmas reminds us that we can trust in God’s promise of peace
on Earth and goodwill toward men. On a night more than 2,000 years ago, an
angel of the Lord brought good tidings of great joy: the God of Heaven had
come to Earth, and He would be with us always.
I have heard sermons with less references to God and prayer than that. This
is truly amazing.