| Bush's Mysticism There are many factors that led to the war against Iraq: economic (oil), political (world hegemony), ideological (to do globalization following Northamerican molds) and others. One, I believe, is like the tread of a collar that sustains all the others. It is the mystical vision of President Bush and of his closest advisors. That vision is sustained by two cornerstones of the Northamerican cultural tradition: manifest destiny and civil religion. Manifest Destiny is a phrase coined in 1845 by journalist John O'Sullivan to justify the annexation of Mexico and Northamerican imperialism. In 1900, Indiana Senator Albert Beveridge explained: "God selected the Northamerican people as the chosen nation to begin the regeneration of the world." That ideology has always lived in the Northamerican right wing and was often honored by George Bush, father and son. The line, "Our moral superiority," is often used by Northamerican power holders to justify their politico-military invasions throughout the world. Civil religion attempts to lend a Christian aura to manifest destiny in the form of entrenched traditionalism and religious fundamentalism. Fundamentalists take the Bible literally and turn it into a guide to understand history. Thus, millions, whether they live on the periphery, or are professional workers, even in centers of high technology, think that we are in the last days of history; days marked by the confrontation between good and evil, by devastating wars and by the works of the Antichrist. The second coming of Christ will happen soon, bringing about the perfect age, preparing his definitive coming, when the faithful (receiving a body of glory) will be taken away to heaven. Then, a new heaven and Earth will appear. Curiously, Northamerican Hebrew fundamentalists see in the creation of the state of Israel part of the process of redemption of the world. When the Temple is rebuilt, the Messiah will come, bringing redemption to all. Margot Paterson, in "Will Fundamentalist Christians and Jews Ignite Apocalypse?," in the well known weekly, The National Catholic Reporter, 10/11/02, showed the existing collaboration between these two forms of fundamentalism, each one with its own objectives, but joined in the belief of the end of history. The fundamentalist religiosity of Bush and his advisors is well known, as Newsweek revealed in a cover story. They have the deep conviction that God has chosen the United States to save the world. They feel they are instruments for that divine mission. Bush wakes up early to read the Bible and to say his prayers every day. Before making decisions, the group prays that God enables them to fulfill their mission appropriately. We can now connect the dots: Bush has a mission. He does not need the approval of the Security Council. He has God. It is imperative to oust Saddam Hussein because he is one expression of the Antichrist. Bush takes over Iraq's oil because it will supply the material base for the fulfillment of the mission. Gobalization must be modeled on Northamerican values, because only Northamericans are the beloved of God. The rest of humanity is not called upon to build the new world. |