Bush poem ‘deleted’ from school textbooks

News24: Islamabad – Education officials in Pakistan have dropped a poem from a school textbook after discovering that it secretly contained the name of US President George W Bush.

At first sight the anonymous 20-line ode entitled The Leader, which was taught to Pakistani students aged between 15 and 18, appears merely to list the qualities of the ideal statesman. But closer inspection reveals that the first letter of each line spells out the American president’s title and name.

Bush’s surname appears in the following lines: “Bracing for war, but praying for peace / Using his power so evil will cease. / So much a leader and worthy of trust, / Here stands a man who will do what he must.”

“The poem triggered controversy. It has been deleted from the book,” senior education ministry official Tariq Qureshi said. Read the whole article…

Want to read the poem in full?

The Leader

Patient and steady with all he must bear,
Ready to meet every challenge with care,
Easy in manner, yet solid as steel,
Strong in his faith, refreshingly real.
Isn’t afraid to propose what is bold,
Doesn’t conform to the usual mould,
Eyes that have foresight, for hindsight won’t do,
Never backs down when he sees what is true,
Tells it all straight, and means it all too.
Going forward and knowing he’s right,
Even when doubted for why he would fight,
Over and over he makes his case clear,
Reaching to touch the ones who won’t hear.
Growing in strength he won’t be unnerved,
Ever assuring he’ll stand by his word.
Wanting the world to join his firm stand,
Bracing for war, but praying for peace,
Using his power so evil will cease,
So much a leader and worthy of trust,
Here stands a man who will do what he must.

Thanks Eon!