# If I were President Bush after 9/11

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-if-i-were-bush-after-911
- Themes: forgiveness, violence, politics, hatred
- Life situations: aftermath of violence, political anger

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

A week or two after 9/11, asked in Singapore what he would have done as President Bush, Ajahn Brahm says he would have gone on TV and forgiven everyone involved so no more mothers cry — imagining Baghdad streets holding Bush photos instead of bin Laden's. About 1,500 people give a standing ovation.

## The story, as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

I gave a talk in Singapore just after 9 11. maybe a week two weeks afterwards and after the talk the obvious question if you were President Bush what would you have done and I said straight away I did this I said this with with all the power of being a monk for such a long time after 9 11 If I Was President Bush I would have gone on TV straight away and said I forgive everybody involved in this terrorist Act there's been enough people died already I don't want any more mothers crying over their sons I don't want any brothers just so lost because their little brother is gone I forgive everybody let's end this violence and I was wondering what would have happened afterwards just imagining just people through the streets of Baghdad holding up photos of George W bush rather than Osama bin Laden George Bush George Bush instead of Osama bin Laden and I I got a standing ovation for that about 1500 people

## Teaching point

Hatred does not cease by hatred; forgiveness is the other ideology.

## Reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

Weeks after 9/11, asked what he'd have done as President, Ajahn Brahm said he would have forgiven everyone so no more mothers would cry. Fifteen hundred people stood and cheered. Hatred never ends through more hatred. Respect others even when you disagree. Their soccer team needn't share your religion.

## Source

- [Hatred and how to overcome it | Ajahn Brahm | 17 Jun 2016](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvrZ7q7LTtY) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 44:45 to 46:00: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvrZ7q7LTtY&t=2685s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Virtue, Peace and Compassion | Ajahn Brahm | 17 June 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYMtoVMz6QE) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 34:51 to 35:15: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYMtoVMz6QE&t=2091s