Hail to the Chief: All men created equal under God

Since Friday, we have been learning more about President George Herbert Walker Bush.  The real deal.  The statesman, the public servant, the hero, the visionary, the hand-written letter writer.  I have heard so much about his quiet approach to diplomacy and leadership.  But, watching his funeral today, I was taken back almost 26 years ago to my father's funeral.  And, it took me back to a funeral that I attended last summer of the father of a friend of mine.  All three funerals were so similar.  They had lots of tears because they were loved by so many, but they also had a lot of laughs.  It is so true.  The human experience is universal.

Of course, the President's funeral was the largest attended and had millions watching across the world.

Like any funeral, it had its share of behind the scenes drama.  Three former Presidents and First Ladies sat in the front row.  President  Carter and Rosalynn sat stoic and only talked to each other.  They have been so focused on servitude their entire lives, they do not know how to do anything else.  President Clinton and Hillary radiated.  Hillary looked the best she has in years.  The best revenge is living well and all that.  Bill was there, not just as a former President but as one of George's dear friends.  President Obama and Michelle were also there as supporters.  There was a sense that even if they weren't the former President and First Lady, they still would come.  They were in the Church half an hour early enjoying each other's company and saying hello to others in attendance while the casket was being transported to the Cathedral.  At the last moment, President Trump and Melania arrived.  You could have heard a pin drop.  The Obamas shaked Melania's hand and smiled and awkwardly shaked Donald's hand and didn't smile.  The Clinton's happened to be looking the other way when the Trumps arrived.

And, then the funeral service began.  It is a unique situation to be a President of United States that you plan your funeral down to the slightest detail.  George Bush's personal stamp of approval was all over it.  We spent so much of last week learning about him as President, it was wonderful learning about him as a person. 

He was a humble man with a great sense of humour.  There were lots of jokes, mostly at his expense.  It also spoke how the human experience is so universal.  Even though he was the President of United States, his Secretary of State ended up smuggling in Grey Goose Vodka into the hospital for him.  His son said one of his favorite things to do in his last years was to watch cop show reruns, with the volume on high, while holding Barbara's hand.  (This struck such a personal cord because that is what my sweetie and I do as well.  But, volume not quite on high.) 

His biographer talked that the President's biggest accomplishment was that his children still chose to visit and that his biggest achievement was getting Barbara Pierce to marry him. 

He came from white privilege yet chose to abandon that to make a life for himself in Texas.  For the first few years, he and Barbara and George Jr. lived in a duplex.  They shared the bathroom with the occupants of the other side of the duplex.  It didn't matter to them that the other occupants were prostitudes. 

All the speakers except one talked from up in the Church pulpit.  One speaker, the only speaker who wasn't American, Prime Minister Mulroney set up his podium about three feet away from Donald Trump and looked him right in the eye while speaking.  He talked about the great achievements of the North American Free Trade Agreement as the biggest and best free trade agreement in the world that benefited all three countries.  He also talked about the Environmental Protection Act while glaring at Trump.  He also talked about President Bush's commitment to people who faced challenges through no fault of their own by bringing the Person with Disabilities Act.  Mulroney talked about he and Mila traditionally spending Labour Day weekend with the Bush's in Kennebunkport.  He said the two men would often sit on the dock and share a beverage and watch the ships.  Bush, being a formal naval officer, knew a lot about ships and was happy to share his knowledge but he also said the most important ships are friendships. 

The younger Bush also said that his father never talked about his service during the War until he was forced to talk about it while running for President.  The human experience is universal.  Most children of veterans say that their parents would rarely talk of their service. 

So much laughter.  So many tears.  So many friends.  So much zeal for life.  Such an amazing life.  So much to be proud of and he was most proud to be a husband, father, grand-father, and great-grandpa. 

Every day, they showed the Presidents, you could see the wheels turning in their minds.  They were reflective.  They were already wondering how their funerals would compare.  Only one looked uncomfortable.  Only one was squirming and demonstrated this by not following the service program and participate in the hymns or recite The Apostle's Creed.  That was the one person who doesn't believe that all men (and women) are created equal under God.  It was the only one who couldn't relate to President 41.  The one void of humility.