We are what we pretend to be.

I just read an opinion piece about former President George W. Bush. The author's point was that whatever else he was, Bush was and is a genuinely nice and caring person in his personal life.

I have no doubt that is true, and at least partly explains the popular notion that most Americans would rather have a beer with him than with Al Gore, his one-time opponent for the Presidency.

What it made me think of, however, is the quote (which also embodies the story's moral) from Kurt Vonnegut's novel "Mother Night": "We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be."

President Bush was self-righteous to the point of arrogance in his public life. Even if he was only pretending, that, not his demeanor in his personal life will be his legacy.

Here are a couple more Vonnegut quotes relevant to the legacy of the second President Bush.

"There are plenty of good reasons for fighting, but no good reason ever to hate without reservation, to imagine that God Almighty Himself hates with you, too."

"Left or right, Christian or Muslim, those convinced they're doing violence in service of a higher power and against an irretrievably inhuman enemy are the most dangerous creatures of all."

Vonnegut served in World War 2 and was a POW in Germany (That's where the title for "Slaughterhouse Five" comes from.), so there is some experience behind his quotes!

I find the "we are what we pretend to be" quote especially humbling. Have I been arrogant, self-righteous or dismissive of the opinions of others in my professional life? I expect that I have been, and more often than I'd care to admit.

But then I'm probably attributing more importance to my actions than they deserve.

Forgiveness is the only real hope any of us has. "So it goes."