THE THEME of President Bush's Inaugural address was "America's belief in human dignity will guide our policies."

The president's use of the word "dignity" struck me - my life and work have taught me that without dignity we cannot survive the inevitable unfairnesses, injustices, connivances and betrayals of life.

Dignity allows the development of ideals, ethics and an understanding that, to protect others, when risks inevitably have to be taken, they must be tempered by knowledge, thought and planning.

The two components of dignity are humility and pride. Too much humility, and we are unable to care for ourselves. (If the meek ever inherit the world, they won't be able to keep it very long.) But those with excessive pride devoid of humility become tyrants - bullies abusive to those who rely on them.

So let's examine some of Bush 43's sentiments in his second inaugural address in this context:

"We celebrate... the deep commitments that unite our country."

At his first inaugural, the president promised to unite us. Instead, we have had four years where his policy architects have terrified and tried to control us through issues like gay marriage, abortion and patriotism.

Those who dared to question this do so at grave risk. Just ask outed spy Valerie Plame or her husband, Joseph Wilson, who concluded that the administration knew no nuclear program existed when we attacked Iraq.

"Then there came a day of fire."

Sept. 11, 2001, was the most terrifying and horrific of days. But Europe has known more of them.

And consider the message of a $40 million inaugural extravaganza while our troops are poorly armed and their vehicles inadequately armored, war deaths escalate, Southeast Asia faces unimaginable devastation, nearly 36 million Americans live in poverty.

"Freedom... must be sustained by the rule of law and the protection of minorities."

Threatening to change Senate rules permitting unlimited debate, even filibusters, abrogates the rights of those with minority views and removes a guarantee of free speech at our highest governmental levels.

Our vice president has met secretly with oil lobbyists, and Alberto Gonzales, our attorney general (while stating he is against torture) can't "remember" the treatment he advised at Abu Ghraib.

The administration is beholden to corporations and contributors and pays them back with tax policies, environmental favors, no-bid contracts, weak enforcement of rules (FDA, EPA). Last year, more than a million Americans fell below the poverty line. Forty-five million have no health insurance, 11 million of them children.

"There is no justice without freedom..."

While saying he favors "compassionate conservatism," the majority of the president's candidates for federal judgeships have been chosen for their views on abortion and the death penalty.

This administration responds to dissent or disagreement in these areas with the same vindictiveness held for those who question the war. Just ask Arlen Specter.

"We are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom."

A few paragraphs earlier, the president told our allies to "know we honor your friendship... rely on your counsel... depend on your help." Considering the past record, how do they - and we - digest the arrogance of this prediction or even begin to understand what it means?

Close scrutiny can tell us this much: The U.S. and the world experienced a $40 million honeymoon, Bush style, a metaphor for an administration that speaks of dignity yet has no concern about what it truly is. The inaugural and state-of-the-union experience was calculated to distract from naked, palpable distortions and lies - and their short- and long-term consequences. And even the beautiful couture of the first lady and first daughters cannot hide that this emperor, though greatly skilled in coverup, has no clothes.

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