MSM often plays the same chord way too often: the dischord. There are far more stories each day that unfold with regard, and often enough, authentic fondness. A colleague from Texas A&M forwarded me a copy of this letter today, from the former President Bush speaking about welcoming President Obama to a special event on Aggie turf. You’ll probably note a couple pointed words indicating President Bush’s stance on Obama being President.
To My Fellow Members of the Texas A&M Family:
Howdy! As you have probably heard, I have invited the 44th President of
the United States of America to come visit the Bush Library and Texas
A&M, and President Obama has graciously accepted.Along with the administration, faculty, and so many of you, I am honored
that The President, our President, is taking the time and making the
effort to come to College Station on October 16th to talk about an issue
that unites all Americans – namely, community service and its vast
importance to our continued well-being as a Nation. Our country still
faces many tough challenges, and the message that will come out of our
Presidential Forum on Service, I hope, is that every American regardless
of age has an important part to play in helping us overcome the
obstacles to our common progress.This is not about politics. This is about the importance of service to
our communities and our country.It would be hard to imagine a more deserving college campus to host a
Presidential Forum on volunteerism and community service than Texas A&M
– which is, after all, a school steeped in a rich tradition of service.
That’s why I am so proud to have our Bush Library and Museum and Bush
School of Government and Public Service here, and I cannot wait for
President Obama to experience the open, decent and welcoming Aggie
spirit for himself.This will be an important national moment, and a moment for Texas A&M to
shine in the global spotlight as it always does. I sincerely hope and
believe it will serve as a point of Aggie pride for many years to come.Gig ’em!
George Bush (#41)
______
CODA
“Gig ’em”… well, it’s the Aggie cry at sporting events. Being an honorary Aggie myself (having rec’d an award from Texas A & M that was accompanied by a public initiation onstage which included indoctrination about how to bellow ‘gig ’em’ in the precise tone and posture required…
Apparently in the 1930s, the Aggies were going to play a football game against Texas Christian University Horned Frogs. ‘Gig ’em’ is said to refer to hunting frogs with a piercing stick. There is a hand signal that goes with the ‘Gig ’em’ shout too, the exact torque and position of same… also formally required to be mastered by those being added to the Aggie family.