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DONALD WILSON BUSH: GENUINE TORCH-BEARER OF PRESIDENT WILSON'S LEGACY
By Appo Jabarian
Appo Jabarian, Column
http://www.armenianlife.com/Home2/?p=124
October 28, 2010
On a warm morning in May, I had a brief telephone conversation with
Donald Wilson Bush, an eighth generation descendant of President
Woodrow Wilson's family. We spoke privately about the latest
developments pertaining to a highly controversial award presentation
honoring the Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu. At issue
was the widespread public outcry against the corporate-controlled
Woodrow Wilson Center's then upcoming presentation of its coveted
Woodrow Wilson Public Service Award scheduled for June 15.
A few days earlier, David Boyajian, an MA-based freelance writer had
released an article titled "An Investigative Report: The Woodrow
Wilson Center Desecrates its Namesake's Legacy and Violates its
Congressional Mandate."
When I asked Donald Wilson Bush about his position on WWC's award
presentation, he categorically condemned it. When asked, if he would
be willing to share his thoughts with the readers of USA Armenian
Life Magazine, his swift answer was "absolutely!"
He wrote his first article on the issue titled "Pawn For The Wrong
President; Lee Hamilton violates his institution's charter by aiding
the White House in appeasing Turkish leaders." That article captured
the attention of a wanting audience and disseminated widely via both
print and electronic versions of USA Armenian Life Magazine. In a
matter of days it attracted even more attention from several other
e-publications, and as a result, was widely re-circulated like wildfire
across the Internet.
Later in June, Wilson Bush wrote a followed-up expose on WWC's
mishandling of the issue. The article was titled "Presidential
Legacy for Sale; Woodrow Wilson Center admits to surrendering higher
principles in exchange for Turkish cash."
In that article, he remarked: "Worse yet, has the Wilsonian ideal of
'saving the world for democracy' been reduced to this - a disingenuous
and skillful manipulation (dare I say "pimping?") of the Woodrow Wilson
legacy on a global scale, in clear violation of the WWC's mission,
to raise money from foreign rich folk without any consideration for
'political agendas, policies, or messages expressed by any individual
honoree, their government, or their country?'"
Amazingly, Donald Wilson Bush's statement mirrored one of the more
passionate messages proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson 98 years
earlier: "The nature of men and of organized society dictates the
maintenance in every field of action of the highest and purest
standards of justice and of right dealing."
This matter of institutional integrity had specific relevance when
Donald Wilson Bush had earlier questioned the motive behind the WWC's
controversial choice for this year's award: "Is it simply a matter of
Mr. Hamilton playing his part in a 'good-old-boy' insider deal between
President Obama's State Department and the WWC?" Bush asked. "That
seems plausible given the fact that as the former chairman of the
House Foreign Affairs Committee, Hamilton promoted the careers of
many staffers now writing Barack Obama's foreign policy- namely:
Obama foreign policy advisor and deputy national security advisor
Denis McDonough, Director for the Middle East Dan Shapiro, Obama
campaign foreign policy speechwriter turned Deputy National Security
Advisor for Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes, among others." [For
more details on that see story by foreign policy reporter Laura Rozen
posted May 3, 2010 on Politico.com]
Later in early July, when Wilson Bush arrived in Los Angeles following
the success of his two articles, I proposed to him that we go on
a pilgrimage to the memorial monument of an Armenian national hero
Soghomon Tehlirian in Fresno. Having already read reports about the
famous Armenian, Bush expressed a deep desire to visit Tehlirian's
hallowed grave. So we did.
Through his words and actions, Donald Wilson Bush has proven time
and again to be a strong advocate for justice and continues to earn
the friendship and solidarity of individuals who are empowered by his
devotion to human causes, and to bringing effective solutions to many
important issues.
A genuine torch-bearer of President Wilson's legacy, Donald Wilson
Bush represents a refreshing source of socio-political energy breezing
through the current American - and for that matter, global - political
landscape.
What kind of future does Donald Wilson Bush have? What kind of promises
does he hold? Where is he coming from, and where is he going?
In order to help the readers to get to know Donald Wilson Bush better,
USA Armenian Life held a brief conversation with him.
When asked to comment on what made Woodrow Wilson stand out in history,
Wilson Bush had this to say, "Woodrow Wilson was probably the first
U.S. President to understand foreign policy from the foreigner's
perspective," Donald Wilson Bush said. "He identified with the underdog
because he himself was an underdog."
"I want to stand up for the little guy too, just like Woodrow Wilson
did," Bush continued. "I want to advocate for all the minor nations
with major grievances against powerful corporate and international
forces that bully them around. It's the corporate controlled bigger
nations against all the traditional smaller nations. This global
bullying has got to stop!"
USA Armenian Life Magazine: Philosophically, where is Donald Wilson
Bush coming from, and where is he going?
Donald Wilson Bush: Philosophically, I am a combination of
two traditions- one European and the other American. I am very
much in the American philosophical tradition called Pragmatism,
but as a Protestant Presbyterian Christian like Woodrow Wilson I
was also influenced by the German school of Idealism. In this way,
I believe in applying practical solutions of moderation and balance
that can give people a firm foundation for collaborative creativity
and experimentation in an environment of responsible freedom. This
is important for inspiring people to do their best in service to
themselves and to others without sacrificing individuality.
Philosophically, I am expanding my vision to include a global
perspective for helping people. As a small town boy grown large I am
going more and more toward finding common sense local solutions that
can be applied to problems effecting people all over the world. Living
through numerous wars and three major economic recessions, I am
aware of the need for people to temper their idealism with day-to-day
practicality without losing the power to dream big dreams.
USA ALM: Professionally, where is Donald Wilson Bush coming from,
and where is he going?
DWB: Professionally, I am a pioneer in distance learning and have broad
experience consulting in education, politics, interfaith ministry,
and entertainment. With a strong sense of individual freedom and self
reliance, I have learned, over the years, to think like an entrepreneur
in each of these areas. I am currently involved with efforts to link
children's adaptive learning styles with the production of cutting-edge
children's television programming. In the last thirty years I have
traveled far and read widely on a variety of interests in technology,
education and the arts, concentrating my attention on improving the
lives of children.
Professionally, I have been slowly making the transition to Track II
diplomatic peace-making initiatives. Differing from Track I diplomacy
(which is defined by the official and strict guidelines imposed
upon career diplomats by a nation's government), Track II diplomacy
is defined by the efforts of common, ordinary citizens who utilize
trusted relationships among friends in foreign nations to bring about
peaceful resolutions to international conflicts.
USA ALM: Socially, where is Donald Wilson Bush coming from, and where
is he going?
DWB: In social terms, I was raised in a conservative, small town,
Southern, Christian family with strong patriotic values and a deep
commitment to fairness, truth, and justice for everyone in the world-
especially for the disadvantaged and the underdog. I believe strongly
in respecting everyone's culture as a first step toward building
relationships that will afford anyone the freedom to influence others
for good.
Socially, I am becoming an advocate for global justice as it relates
to the high principles of constitutional freedoms that are meant
to be applied to all people everywhere, not just to those people
fortunate enough to live in countries with the largest armies and
most vibrant economies.
USA ALM: Politically, where is Donald Wilson Bush coming from, and
where is he going?
DWB: Politically, I am a pragmatic conservative who believes that
constitutional freedoms must be available to all the people all the
time in a well-balanced, regulated free-market economic system that
clearly defines the duties and obligations citizens owe to their
government and to each other. I believe no one who's capable should
get a free ride and I strongly advocate strengthening and supporting
the institutions of civil society (like families, houses of worship,
schools, theatres, etc.,) that inspire individual freedom and ingenuity
that creates substance and value in changing cultures.
Politically, I am leaning toward greater accountability in telling
the truth about the way big people, big companies and big countries
have been treating (and continue to treat!) smaller people and weaker
countries to the detriment of families and communities living without
the necessary means to protect themselves. I am convinced that American
history is proof that constitutional freedoms work to the benefit
of all people in any land as long as the participants are respected
and given the necessary tools and economic resources to reconstruct
their lives.
From: A. Papazian
By Appo Jabarian
Appo Jabarian, Column
http://www.armenianlife.com/Home2/?p=124
October 28, 2010
On a warm morning in May, I had a brief telephone conversation with
Donald Wilson Bush, an eighth generation descendant of President
Woodrow Wilson's family. We spoke privately about the latest
developments pertaining to a highly controversial award presentation
honoring the Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu. At issue
was the widespread public outcry against the corporate-controlled
Woodrow Wilson Center's then upcoming presentation of its coveted
Woodrow Wilson Public Service Award scheduled for June 15.
A few days earlier, David Boyajian, an MA-based freelance writer had
released an article titled "An Investigative Report: The Woodrow
Wilson Center Desecrates its Namesake's Legacy and Violates its
Congressional Mandate."
When I asked Donald Wilson Bush about his position on WWC's award
presentation, he categorically condemned it. When asked, if he would
be willing to share his thoughts with the readers of USA Armenian
Life Magazine, his swift answer was "absolutely!"
He wrote his first article on the issue titled "Pawn For The Wrong
President; Lee Hamilton violates his institution's charter by aiding
the White House in appeasing Turkish leaders." That article captured
the attention of a wanting audience and disseminated widely via both
print and electronic versions of USA Armenian Life Magazine. In a
matter of days it attracted even more attention from several other
e-publications, and as a result, was widely re-circulated like wildfire
across the Internet.
Later in June, Wilson Bush wrote a followed-up expose on WWC's
mishandling of the issue. The article was titled "Presidential
Legacy for Sale; Woodrow Wilson Center admits to surrendering higher
principles in exchange for Turkish cash."
In that article, he remarked: "Worse yet, has the Wilsonian ideal of
'saving the world for democracy' been reduced to this - a disingenuous
and skillful manipulation (dare I say "pimping?") of the Woodrow Wilson
legacy on a global scale, in clear violation of the WWC's mission,
to raise money from foreign rich folk without any consideration for
'political agendas, policies, or messages expressed by any individual
honoree, their government, or their country?'"
Amazingly, Donald Wilson Bush's statement mirrored one of the more
passionate messages proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson 98 years
earlier: "The nature of men and of organized society dictates the
maintenance in every field of action of the highest and purest
standards of justice and of right dealing."
This matter of institutional integrity had specific relevance when
Donald Wilson Bush had earlier questioned the motive behind the WWC's
controversial choice for this year's award: "Is it simply a matter of
Mr. Hamilton playing his part in a 'good-old-boy' insider deal between
President Obama's State Department and the WWC?" Bush asked. "That
seems plausible given the fact that as the former chairman of the
House Foreign Affairs Committee, Hamilton promoted the careers of
many staffers now writing Barack Obama's foreign policy- namely:
Obama foreign policy advisor and deputy national security advisor
Denis McDonough, Director for the Middle East Dan Shapiro, Obama
campaign foreign policy speechwriter turned Deputy National Security
Advisor for Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes, among others." [For
more details on that see story by foreign policy reporter Laura Rozen
posted May 3, 2010 on Politico.com]
Later in early July, when Wilson Bush arrived in Los Angeles following
the success of his two articles, I proposed to him that we go on
a pilgrimage to the memorial monument of an Armenian national hero
Soghomon Tehlirian in Fresno. Having already read reports about the
famous Armenian, Bush expressed a deep desire to visit Tehlirian's
hallowed grave. So we did.
Through his words and actions, Donald Wilson Bush has proven time
and again to be a strong advocate for justice and continues to earn
the friendship and solidarity of individuals who are empowered by his
devotion to human causes, and to bringing effective solutions to many
important issues.
A genuine torch-bearer of President Wilson's legacy, Donald Wilson
Bush represents a refreshing source of socio-political energy breezing
through the current American - and for that matter, global - political
landscape.
What kind of future does Donald Wilson Bush have? What kind of promises
does he hold? Where is he coming from, and where is he going?
In order to help the readers to get to know Donald Wilson Bush better,
USA Armenian Life held a brief conversation with him.
When asked to comment on what made Woodrow Wilson stand out in history,
Wilson Bush had this to say, "Woodrow Wilson was probably the first
U.S. President to understand foreign policy from the foreigner's
perspective," Donald Wilson Bush said. "He identified with the underdog
because he himself was an underdog."
"I want to stand up for the little guy too, just like Woodrow Wilson
did," Bush continued. "I want to advocate for all the minor nations
with major grievances against powerful corporate and international
forces that bully them around. It's the corporate controlled bigger
nations against all the traditional smaller nations. This global
bullying has got to stop!"
USA Armenian Life Magazine: Philosophically, where is Donald Wilson
Bush coming from, and where is he going?
Donald Wilson Bush: Philosophically, I am a combination of
two traditions- one European and the other American. I am very
much in the American philosophical tradition called Pragmatism,
but as a Protestant Presbyterian Christian like Woodrow Wilson I
was also influenced by the German school of Idealism. In this way,
I believe in applying practical solutions of moderation and balance
that can give people a firm foundation for collaborative creativity
and experimentation in an environment of responsible freedom. This
is important for inspiring people to do their best in service to
themselves and to others without sacrificing individuality.
Philosophically, I am expanding my vision to include a global
perspective for helping people. As a small town boy grown large I am
going more and more toward finding common sense local solutions that
can be applied to problems effecting people all over the world. Living
through numerous wars and three major economic recessions, I am
aware of the need for people to temper their idealism with day-to-day
practicality without losing the power to dream big dreams.
USA ALM: Professionally, where is Donald Wilson Bush coming from,
and where is he going?
DWB: Professionally, I am a pioneer in distance learning and have broad
experience consulting in education, politics, interfaith ministry,
and entertainment. With a strong sense of individual freedom and self
reliance, I have learned, over the years, to think like an entrepreneur
in each of these areas. I am currently involved with efforts to link
children's adaptive learning styles with the production of cutting-edge
children's television programming. In the last thirty years I have
traveled far and read widely on a variety of interests in technology,
education and the arts, concentrating my attention on improving the
lives of children.
Professionally, I have been slowly making the transition to Track II
diplomatic peace-making initiatives. Differing from Track I diplomacy
(which is defined by the official and strict guidelines imposed
upon career diplomats by a nation's government), Track II diplomacy
is defined by the efforts of common, ordinary citizens who utilize
trusted relationships among friends in foreign nations to bring about
peaceful resolutions to international conflicts.
USA ALM: Socially, where is Donald Wilson Bush coming from, and where
is he going?
DWB: In social terms, I was raised in a conservative, small town,
Southern, Christian family with strong patriotic values and a deep
commitment to fairness, truth, and justice for everyone in the world-
especially for the disadvantaged and the underdog. I believe strongly
in respecting everyone's culture as a first step toward building
relationships that will afford anyone the freedom to influence others
for good.
Socially, I am becoming an advocate for global justice as it relates
to the high principles of constitutional freedoms that are meant
to be applied to all people everywhere, not just to those people
fortunate enough to live in countries with the largest armies and
most vibrant economies.
USA ALM: Politically, where is Donald Wilson Bush coming from, and
where is he going?
DWB: Politically, I am a pragmatic conservative who believes that
constitutional freedoms must be available to all the people all the
time in a well-balanced, regulated free-market economic system that
clearly defines the duties and obligations citizens owe to their
government and to each other. I believe no one who's capable should
get a free ride and I strongly advocate strengthening and supporting
the institutions of civil society (like families, houses of worship,
schools, theatres, etc.,) that inspire individual freedom and ingenuity
that creates substance and value in changing cultures.
Politically, I am leaning toward greater accountability in telling
the truth about the way big people, big companies and big countries
have been treating (and continue to treat!) smaller people and weaker
countries to the detriment of families and communities living without
the necessary means to protect themselves. I am convinced that American
history is proof that constitutional freedoms work to the benefit
of all people in any land as long as the participants are respected
and given the necessary tools and economic resources to reconstruct
their lives.
From: A. Papazian