What do you think of Pres. Bush’s decision to give up golf as a war-time sacrifice? Some people consider this perhaps the most appalling of all the appalling things he’s said. Top 10, for sure, but not the most. This is from a recent interview:

For the first time, Bush revealed a personal way in which he has tried to acknowledge the sacrifice of soldiers and their families: He has given up golf.

“I don’t want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the commander in chief playing golf,” he said. “I feel I owe it to the families to be in solidarity as best as I can with them. And I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal.”

I remember stories from my grandmother about great hardships during World War II. For example, she had such problems getting a large gear for the printing press because most everything was directed toward the war effort. Shortages of materials, gas rationing, etc.

In today’s war, it’s just the opposite. We get tax cuts (and the federal debt grows with an expensive war not paid from the budget) and we’re urged by the President to do more shopping. There’s no draft so the combat deaths come from the volunteers.

As Brandon Friedman puts it: “In today’s world, sacrifice is defined in terms of not being able to afford a Hummer; of having to see a few images of war on TV; and of giving up golf.”