President Bush Honored for His "Unprecedented" Level of Contribution to Fight against HIV/AIDS
"The government can't love. Love is from God."
(Lake Forest, California)—Dr. Rick Warren has honored President George W. Bush for his unprecedented level of contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS during the Saddleback Civil Forum on Global Health Summit on Monday, December 1, World AIDS Day. The following are excerpts from the president's remarks at that forum:
"One of the most important initiatives of my administration has been the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as PEPFAR. The American people, through PEPFAR, are supporting lifesaving treatment for more than two million people around the world. Around the world, we've also supported care for more than 10 million people affected by HIV, including more than four million orphans and vulnerable children. More than 237,000 babies have been born HIV-free, thanks to the support of the American people for programs to prevent mothers from passing the virus on to their children. PEPFAR is bringing hope and healing to people around the world. On our trips to Africa, Laura and I have witnessed firsthand the gratitude of the African people.
PASTOR WARREN: I've heard you say many times, "government can't love."
THE PRESIDENT: That's right. Government is justice and law. Love is—love comes from a higher government and, or a higher calling or—from God.
PASTOR WARREN: Let me talk to you about your own personal motivation behind this. This was the largest initiative ever committed to a single disease—PEPFAR. And, I mean, when people heard it—I know when I heard it in 2003, I thought, will that ever get voted through? Because it was just such an enormous, what they call a B-HAG—a big, hairy, audacious goal (laughter) —and from a purely political viewpoint, you aren't going to get a whole lot of votes from that. So what was it that motivated you to do PEPFAR?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, I believe in this admonition, this principle: To whom much is given, much is required. Secondly, I would hope that when it's all said and done, people say this is a guy who showed up to solve problems. And when you have somebody say there's a pandemic that you can help, and you do nothing about it, then you have, frankly, disgraced the office. So, you know, you said you're going to give awards and all that—I don't deserve an award. The people that helped make this policy work deserve the award.
PASTOR WARREN: Tell me about some personal experience that you've seen as you've traveled around the results, because there are always numbers—2 million people, 2 million lives that have been saved that wouldn't be on ARVs, wouldn't be getting any help. Can you tell me about one of them?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes. So in Uganda—we first went to Uganda—I was checking out the ABC program: Abstinence, Be faithful, Condoms; kind of the comprehensive approach to prevention in the first place. And I met a guy named Mohammad in a clinic there, and he just looked terrible. It turns out one of his dreams was to come to the United States. He got on antiretrovirals and was present in the East Room—where you were, by the way—when we signed the reauthorization bill of PEPFAR.
Now, it is a moving experience to see a person go from near death to realizing the dream of being in the White House. That's why they call the effect that's taking place in Africa the "Lazarus effect"—people given up for dead now realizing there is life.
PASTOR WARREN: You know, I've discovered that when you help somebody get better who's been sick, they tend to like your country. (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: They do, which is good. Look, I think it's important—everybody wants to be liked. But being liked because you've actually done something constructive that's measurable is the best way to try to be liked. And it's very important for America to be humble in our aid, in this sense. In other words, we can't say, okay, we're spending so much money, we demand this, or, we're going to make you do this.
To watch a video of the forum, follow the source link provided.
