W’s Manifest Destiny
17
inciting criticism over the controversial nature of this term.
54
Subsequently, the President toned
down his rhetoric and began to call the fight against terror a “monumental struggle of good
versus evil,” in which “good” would prevail.
55
As the war against terrorism took shape, Bush
repeatedly revisited the idea of a divine blessing, one of the principles of Manifest Destiny, in
America’s foreign policy.
Speaking on September 11, 2001, Bush explained, “America was targeted for attack
because we’re the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will
keep that light from shining.”
56
Naturally, others (“them”) would envy the fact that America was
chosen by God to lead the world which, in turn, would breed hatred and jealousy. A day after
the attacks, Bush announced that the terrorists had committed an offense against “all freedom-
loving people everywhere in the world,” thereby portraying America’s response as providing a
“public good” for all democracies instead of simply taking revenge for the heinous attack.
57
On
September 20, 2001 Bush generalized this belief further: “[F]reedom and fear are at war. The
advance of human freedom, the great achievement of our time and the great hope of every time,
now depends on us….Freedom and fear, justice and cruelty, have always been at war, and we
know that God is not neutral between them…This is the world’s fight. This is civilization’s fight.
This is the fight of all who believe in progress and pluralism, tolerance and freedom.”
58
In his
2004 State of the Union Address, Bush stated, “we will finish the historic work of democracy in
Afghanistan and Iraq, so those nations can light the way for others, and help transform a troubled
54
Mirra, “George W. Bush’s Theological Diplomacy.”
55
Ibid.
56
Roberta L. Coles, “Manifest Destiny Adapted for 1990s’ War Discourse: Mission and Destiny Intertwined,”
Sociology of Religion, Winter 2002.
57
Ibid.
58
“Text: President Bush Addresses the Nation,” The Washington Post, 20 September 2001.
Convention