At literacy conference, Bush says "goals of (US) is to enhance prosperity"

[BurtWorm]

:spray:

As they say, <sic>.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/18/AR2006091800646_pf.html


Bush Promotes "Freedom Agenda"

By William Branigin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, September 18, 2006; 4:08 PM

President Bush promoted his international "freedom agenda" today at a literacy conference hosted by his wife, telling an audience of education ministers and other dignitaries from around the world that teaching people to read helps advance democracy and resist terrorism.

Appearing at the first White House Conference on Global Literacy, hosted by first lady Laura Bush at the New York Public Library, the president pointed to "a direct link between illiteracy and persistent poverty" and said, "You can't have prosperity unless people can read."

Bush made the comments before a series of meetings with foreign leaders at the United Nations, where he is scheduled to address the General Assembly Tuesday. According to a White House transcript, he told the literacy conference that the General Assembly meeting "gives me a chance to clearly explain" to foreign leaders that "the goals of this country are to help those who feel hopeless; the goals of this country are to spread liberty; the goals of this country is to enhance prosperity and peace."

Bush added, "It is very hard to have free societies if the citizens cannot read. . . . You can't realize the blessings of liberty if you can't read a ballot, or if you can't read what others are saying about the future of your country."

Saying he was "deeply concerned about the spread of radicalism," Bush told the literacy conference, "One reason radicals are able to recruit young men, for example, to become suicide bombers, is because of hopelessness. One way to defeat hopelessness is through literacy, is to giving people the fantastic hope that comes by being able to read and realize dreams."

[BurtWorm]

1. By the way, how many of the Qaeda hijackers were illiterate?

I'm guessing none.

Not to argue in favor of illiteracy, but clearly, it is simplistic to suggest that literacy alone leads to democratic behavior.

[Deja Q]

2. How many Americans feel hopeless right now?

And shouldn't Bush be worrying more about Americans rather than a bunch of countries, most of which don't particularly care for us, regardless of what we do?

[NOLADEM]

3. Notice he doesn't say whose prosperity

He is helping his cronies, al qaeda and anti-American movements around the world prosper.

There is a kernel of truth in every lie.