The opportunity to debate the Bush presidency, his decisions and the real challenges facing the American people and world is worthy of a forum, whether you agree, disagree or are trying to simply understand the issues.
Perhaps the Bush Library is currently viewed as a polarizing institution. Perhaps the left can’t imagine that a rational debate is possible, given its enmity toward Bush.
Perhaps the right wants a stage to justify any and all decisions. For me, SMU and Dallas can only gain when free debate and access to research material, which will permit current and future generations to achieve greater understanding than we collectively did, are available. Stanford has not been hurt by the Hoover Institute. Further, there will be a Presidential Library in any case. Why not increase it’s accessibilty by placing it in a major metropolitian area, adjacent to a fine university? The challenges to the site are worthy of debate, but moving it to Waco, Irving, Lubbock, etc. doesn’t change the reason or need to have it built.
Why SMU? Why no?. Fear of a library and a think tank is not consistent with either free speech or confidence in your own position. Imagine a more nationally recognized SMU, located in a beautiful part of Dallas with ambitions to enhance its role in serving its students, community, the nation and, perhaps after years of what will be a continuing debate, a world which will learn about the mistakes made by this president, his opposition, the UN, radical Islamists, the West and the broader Muslim faith. What a great opportunity. Carpe diem.
Lydon Neumann, SMU alumnus, 1968
