Our visit to the George W Bush Presidential Library and Museum

One of the things K and I have been wanting to do is visit the recently opened George W Bush Presidential Library and Museum, and as K has some time off this week, we decided this would be the day to see it.

We purchased tickets online for the 11:30 am admission group.  Parking was somewhat of an issue as the SMU campus, the site of the Library, is very compact, so we opted for valet parking.  A short walk brought us to the front entry....

It is a beautiful, dignified building of a style complimenting the school's existing campus.

There is an impressive 4 story lobby featuring a 360 degree movie screen giving guests something to entertain them until their scheduled admission time.

 On the side walls were glass cases displaying many of the incredible, priceless gifts presented to the Bush's by visiting foreign dignitaries.  I'm assuming these baubles were for the First Lady. (Unless there's something George isn't telling us  ;)

All displays are on one floor, but quite a floor it is.  The organization was impeccable.

After viewing a 12 minute orientation film we proceeded on to the room that told the story of 9/11.

With marble walls engraved with the names of all those killed on that day, the centerpiece was several pieces of World Trade Center steel.

Touching was allowed.  Everyone displayed proper reverence.  

His official Daily Diary entry for that day was on display.  (Sorry for the poor quality photography.  These were all done on an iPhone camera.)

Who could ever forget the President addressing the responders the next day at ground zero through this bullhorn?

The next exhibit was a bit lighter:  An exact replica of the Oval Office.

"Are ya payin' attention, 'cause I'm only gonna say this once?  I want ribs, sausage, a little brisket, and some jalapeno beans....sauce on the side.  Got it?  And tell Putin I'll have to call him back."

Being an admirer of Winston Churchill, I was impressed by this bust GWB kept in the Oval Office, along with the obligatory paintings of Washington, Lincoln, etc.

Next up was an exhibit showing life in the Bush White House.

This was the setting of a State Dinner honoring HRH Queen Elizabeth II.

Even the First Dogs, Barney and Miss Beazley, got a shout out.

Some visiting animal-loving Head of State even remembered the pooches when he brought gifts.

This only scratches the surface of things to see here.  There were also exhibits that talked about Katrina (even admitting his administration's poor response), his education initiatives, his efforts to help end the spread of AIDS in Africa, the financial crisis that blew up right at the end of his second term in office, and lots more.

I was impressed with the fact that it was kept partisan-politics free.  It was very upbeat and inspiring, and ended with a call for all to serve.  Even those who were not great fans of GW Bush could visit and come away impressed.  

From an operational and execution standpoint there was nothing lacking at all, no corners cut.  It's amazing what a quarter of a billion dollars will buy!  It was a remarkably positive experience.  Two thumbs up.

S

The Grand Conundrum

The headline read:  "Romney blames loss on Obama's 'gifts' to minorities and young voters".  

In a conference call with many of his big-money supporters Mitt Romney told them that it was Obamacare (calling it a gift to lower-income Americans, perceived to be primarily minorities), the Dream Act (which prohibited deportation of young illegal immigrants who were brought here by their parents when they were very young), and the forgiveness of a considerable amount of the interest incurred by students (who are relying on student loans to get their education) that was responsible for his defeat.  He said these "gifts" to targeted groups bought Obama enough votes to put him over the top. 

Or to put it another way, the status quo didn't work for the Republicans.  This needs to be their wake-up call.  They need to find a way to embrace these groups and broaden their base of supporters.  Making the recent election an "us vs them" affair is no way for Republicans to turn their fortunes around.

Here's the conundrum:  Yes, we need to cut our budget deficit.  We can't go on indefinitely running up a trillion dollars a year in red ink.  But at the same time, we DO need to expand health care.  Where a decade ago 65% of companies provided health insurance to their employees, today it's roughly 55%.  You see the trend?  An unhealthy, broke workforce is not what we need to compete economically with the rest of the world.

And we DO need a highly trained workforce, which obviously requires a highly educated workforce.  The days of getting a high school diploma and then spending the next 40 years working at the sawmill are over.  Education costs lots of money, money most families don't have.  Government does, except it's all borrowed money.

And we DO need immigrants.  While many developed countries actually have a shrinking population, ours is still growing, thanks to births to recent immigrants.  Without them working and paying in to "the system" we won't be able to honor our commitments to our baby boomers now at or nearing retirement.  We need to find a way to expeditiously, responsibly admit new immigrants.  And legitimize many (but not all) of those here now.

It seems we need to do lots of things to stay on top in the world, but they all cost money.  Money we don't have.  What to do?

S

Slow the bus or leave 'em at the station?

I'm reading the new book by Thomas Friedman, That Used To Be Us, where he makes the case that our educational system is a hollow shell of it's former self, pumping out kids who cannot compete in the global economy.  We have dumbed down education over the years because we don't want to "leave any child behind", so we've just slowed the bus to a crawl.  Now we're getting run over.


So should we ramp things up, demand more of our students (and their parents), push 'em harder and accept that more of them aren't going to finish the marathon?  For those that can thrive under those pressures the sky will be the limit, but for those that can't....or won't....they'll be forever trapped in menial, low paying jobs.  It will create an even faster widening of the "have's" and "have nots" gap.


Here's the rub:  Let's be honest....the vast majority of those who can't or won't succeed in the new educational pressure cooker will be minorities, in numbers far greater than their percentage of the population should suggest.   Can you hear the whine of "racism"?


Since these kids are going to wind up in blue collar jobs anyway, why not acknowledge that trade schools have a valuable place in our society and direct those kids there?  And if they can't make it there, well that's just too bad.  The bus has left the station.  Do we have the collective cojones to do that?


S