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Jeb Bush Honored as `Friend of Armenians'
13:20 - 15.05.13
As the son and brother to two US presidents, and a two-term governor
of Florida, John Ellis `Jeb' Bush is one of the most influential
figures in America today. He's viewed as a trailblazer on the national
scene, an innovator in policy and governance, and a voice of wise
counsel on issues facing our country and the world, reports the
Armenian Weekly.
But it was thought to be a tender act of compassion in a time of
desperate need that drew Jeb Bush into the hearts of the Armenian
people, in America and Armenia. It was in the earliest days after the
Armenian earthquake - mere weeks after the cataclysm of December
1988 - Jeb Bush announced he had volunteered to travel to the stricken
country to deliver supplies to the victims. He would make the trip in
the company of his 12-year-old son, George.
The fact that the son of the president-elect at the time would travel
on such a mission to a Soviet republic drew international headlines.
But Jeb Bush's response was that it was merely an example of the
`thousand points of light' his father had spoken about during the
recent presidential campaign.
Even so, the reality that greeted the Bushes on the ground in Armenia
was even more desperate than they had expected. `Just about every
structure was off of its foundation,' a family member said. `There
were people literally walking through the street with very little
clothes on and starving.' In a television interview, Jeb Bush
described a hospital visit to children injured in the tragedy as
`something that'll be with me and my son for the rest of our lives.'
A newspaper account painted a touching portrait of the trip. `With
tears in his eyes, the son of President-elect George Bush presented
food and gifts today to brighten the Christmas of children injured in
Armenia's earthquake,' it read. And then the article added this
poignant quote from Bush himself: `This is probably the greatest
Christmas gift I could give myself or my own son.'
In later years, President George H. W. Bush would say how his son's
act of compassion had even larger repercussions; he recalled Soviet
Premier Mikhail Gorbachev `telling me afterwards that when Jeb went to
church in Armenia and shed a tear there, it did more for the
U.S.-Russia relationship than anything I could possibly imagine.'
That theme of the power of outreach at a time of need would later
drive Jeb Bush's approach to executive governance. During his eight
years as governor, from 1999 to 2007, he was widely applauded for
leading improvements in Florida's economy, environment, and
healthcare, as well as for reforming its education system.
And his experience among the Armenian people, viewing their suffering
as well as their will to survive, likewise left a strong impression - as
shown in his proclamations designating April 24 as Armenian Martyrs
Day. Jeb Bush has called on `the people of the United States to
observe [the date] as a day of remembrance for all the victims of
genocide, especially those of Armenian ancestry,' in the conviction
that `recognition of this tragedy [would] educate people about
genocide and may prevent future occurrences of genocides.'
In choosing Jeb Bush as the `Friend of the Armenians' for 2013, the
Diocese cited his impressive tenure as the governor of Florida, and
also recalled with great fondness that trip to Armenia after the
earthquake. `Your expressions of compassion at that time - and the
images of you and your son standing side-by-side with the Armenian
people - truly fortified the friendship between America and what would
shortly become the free Republic of Armenia.'
Marta Batmasian, a member of the FAR Board of Directors, accepted the
award on behalf of Governor Bush at the Grand Banquet of the 111th
Diocesan Assembly in Boca Raton, Fla., on Fri., May 3.
Armenian News - Tert.am
From: Baghdasarian
13:20 - 15.05.13
As the son and brother to two US presidents, and a two-term governor
of Florida, John Ellis `Jeb' Bush is one of the most influential
figures in America today. He's viewed as a trailblazer on the national
scene, an innovator in policy and governance, and a voice of wise
counsel on issues facing our country and the world, reports the
Armenian Weekly.
But it was thought to be a tender act of compassion in a time of
desperate need that drew Jeb Bush into the hearts of the Armenian
people, in America and Armenia. It was in the earliest days after the
Armenian earthquake - mere weeks after the cataclysm of December
1988 - Jeb Bush announced he had volunteered to travel to the stricken
country to deliver supplies to the victims. He would make the trip in
the company of his 12-year-old son, George.
The fact that the son of the president-elect at the time would travel
on such a mission to a Soviet republic drew international headlines.
But Jeb Bush's response was that it was merely an example of the
`thousand points of light' his father had spoken about during the
recent presidential campaign.
Even so, the reality that greeted the Bushes on the ground in Armenia
was even more desperate than they had expected. `Just about every
structure was off of its foundation,' a family member said. `There
were people literally walking through the street with very little
clothes on and starving.' In a television interview, Jeb Bush
described a hospital visit to children injured in the tragedy as
`something that'll be with me and my son for the rest of our lives.'
A newspaper account painted a touching portrait of the trip. `With
tears in his eyes, the son of President-elect George Bush presented
food and gifts today to brighten the Christmas of children injured in
Armenia's earthquake,' it read. And then the article added this
poignant quote from Bush himself: `This is probably the greatest
Christmas gift I could give myself or my own son.'
In later years, President George H. W. Bush would say how his son's
act of compassion had even larger repercussions; he recalled Soviet
Premier Mikhail Gorbachev `telling me afterwards that when Jeb went to
church in Armenia and shed a tear there, it did more for the
U.S.-Russia relationship than anything I could possibly imagine.'
That theme of the power of outreach at a time of need would later
drive Jeb Bush's approach to executive governance. During his eight
years as governor, from 1999 to 2007, he was widely applauded for
leading improvements in Florida's economy, environment, and
healthcare, as well as for reforming its education system.
And his experience among the Armenian people, viewing their suffering
as well as their will to survive, likewise left a strong impression - as
shown in his proclamations designating April 24 as Armenian Martyrs
Day. Jeb Bush has called on `the people of the United States to
observe [the date] as a day of remembrance for all the victims of
genocide, especially those of Armenian ancestry,' in the conviction
that `recognition of this tragedy [would] educate people about
genocide and may prevent future occurrences of genocides.'
In choosing Jeb Bush as the `Friend of the Armenians' for 2013, the
Diocese cited his impressive tenure as the governor of Florida, and
also recalled with great fondness that trip to Armenia after the
earthquake. `Your expressions of compassion at that time - and the
images of you and your son standing side-by-side with the Armenian
people - truly fortified the friendship between America and what would
shortly become the free Republic of Armenia.'
Marta Batmasian, a member of the FAR Board of Directors, accepted the
award on behalf of Governor Bush at the Grand Banquet of the 111th
Diocesan Assembly in Boca Raton, Fla., on Fri., May 3.
Armenian News - Tert.am
From: Baghdasarian