Former President George H.W. Bush was in Indianapolis earlier this month to speak at Butler University. Six Y-Press members attended the speech and also were able to ask him a few questions beforehand. While a few approached this "brush with celebrity" with awe, others had braced themselves to hear what they thought would be some stock political talk. By the end, however, they all agreed the former president surprised them in one way or another.

But we'll let them speak for themselves.

Former president

just a normal guy

I was very excited when I found out I was going to former President Bush's speech. I had never seen a historic figure in person. But then when I heard that I would actually meet and interview him, I got nervous. I wasn't sure how to act. I mean, how many people my age get to meet a president?

The plan was to meet him at a private hangar at the Indianapolis International Airport. We couldn't find a place to park. All of a sudden a Secret Service agent emerged from one of the hangar doors and pointed at a spot, and then he disappeared. He looked exactly like the stereotypical agent, with a long black trench coat and earpiece.

We waited for the president's plane with a group of police officers, who were looking out the few windows that didn't have the blinds drawn. Soon we heard the plane approach, and the officers let us look out the windows. When the plane stopped, the stairs came down and the president's entourage exited first -- just as I've seen on TV.

As Bush walked in to the hangar, all my nervousness went away. He could have been anybody's grandfather. We shook his hand and took pictures with him.

We had been told that the president would be unable to answer any questions because he was on a tight schedule, but Bush didn't seem to know this, because he asked us what our questions were. He let each of us ask one question. He answered all questions very thoroughly and made sure we understood him.

My question was: "What was the most important decision you made for kids during your presidency?" He said the Americans with Disability Act, which prohibits discrimination of people with disabilities by ensuring them equal employment opportunities and access to public buildings and transportation. This gives kids with disabilities an opportunity to have a normal life, he said.

I will remember the day I met former President Bush forever. I learned that even famous and important people are normal, just like you and me.

Racism, kids' futures

among concerns

When I met President Bush, my first impression was he is a kind person. He greeted our team with a warm smile and handshakes. In the 10 minutes spent with him, I had the opportunity to ask a question and asked him how he had been personally affected by seeing the victims of the natural disasters. He said that it was the children who affected him most -- "sad little children in pathetic little tents."

Even though he is a powerful man, he sounded just like an average person humbled by seeing those less fortunate than himself. Through his work with former President Bill Clinton on behalf of disaster victims, I believe Bush demonstrates that he is a moral person first, and Republican second.

In his speech at Butler University, former President George H.W. Bush showed concern about the racial divide that continues to trouble our country. Bush praised the peaceful legacies of Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King Jr. "We must come to see that the end we seek is a society at peace with itself, a society that can live with its conscience. And that will be a day not of the white man, not of the black man. That will be the day of man as man," he said, quoting from a speech Dr. King made more than 40 years ago.

These days, Bush is more focused on service than on politics. Out of all of his accomplishments, he said the most rewarding thing he had ever done was to build a YMCA in Midland, Texas. "There is a great personal satisfaction that comes from serving other people," he explained.

Bush's speech, and our meeting with him earlier, made me look past his political affiliation. Like Bush, I think we need to look past our differences before we can begin fighting big problems, such as racial inequality. I agreed when he said, "The country wants more cooperation from people of opposing views and opposing parties."

The gaps dividing this country need to be bridged, whether they be between Democrats and Republicans, or minorities and whites, or rich and poor. I think we would all do well to be like Bush and team up with our adversaries.

Kids need to care

about leadership

"I just hope the future generations don't turn their backs on politics, and if they do, they will get exactly what they deserve -- something lousy. That's not the America I know. And that's not the America millions died fighting to preserve," said George H.W. Bush.

When former President Bush told the Butler audience that it's all of our responsibilities to get involved in politics or live with the consequences, I agreed with him. If people don't care about the leadership of their country, they could end up with a tyrant, like Saddam Hussein, or with no leader, which would be chaos.

While most kids don't care too much about politics, they do care about leadership. Even in elementary school, there are ways to stand up and be a leader, such as sticking up for a kid getting picked on, or getting involved in school elections.

Other people besides Bush have been concerned about future generations and what disinterest can do to America. During the last presidential election, MTV and Diddy got together to get more youth to vote. But the slogan was, "Vote or Die," which I think was a bad choice of words. It seemed like a threat.

In the end, it didn't seem to make much difference. Maybe Bush will have more of an influence because he just wants people to vote.

People need leaders. Without someone to start or lead a company, people wouldn't have jobs. Without someone leading the government, people's homes wouldn't be safe and there would be no money to help the poor and homeless.

Diddy may not have been the best leader, but at least he tried. As Bush said, more people just need to try.

He urged everyone

to serve mankind

Before his speech, I asked former President Bush how, as a kid, I could help victims of natural disasters. I was expecting a stereotypical political response, such as "Make a donation." However, he actually told me something useful, which I was not expecting from a politician.

Bush told me to serve, to go to any non-governmental organization such as the United Way or American Red Cross and volunteer. He also told me to go to my local congressman and ask how I can help.

Later, in his speech, Bush repeatedly stated the importance of service, compassion and what former President Bill Clinton called "interdependence." "There is no definition of a successful life that does not involve public service," he said.

Bush also commented on the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, a nonprofit organization founded solely for the purpose of aiding the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Since its inception, the organization has raised more than $100 million to help those on the Gulf Coast.

Bush said he was motivated by the hurricane's destruction and emotional toll. He described the "desolate" landscape and the "pathetic children bundled up in the sad little tents" after the hurricane struck. "When I help, I feel like I am doing something greater than myself," he said.

In hearing Bush's speech, I got the impression that he honestly cares for children and for those not as materially endowed as he is. I believe he cares for them out of his own volition and heart, not because it is the "politically correct" thing for a former president to do. For a man in his 80s, he is very active, touring the world and visiting with humankind.

Even though Bush has held a job that only 42 men in history have held and at one time was arguably the most powerful man on Earth, I also got the impression that he is not a proud man. Maybe that comes from the realization that he is a mere human, like the rest of us. After all, he did vomit on the prime minister of Japan.

But what I will most remember from his speech is one statement: "All you got to do is care and roll up your sleeves and claim one of society's problems as your own."

Changes in China

were captivating

Former President Bush covered many topics in his speech, but what captivated me most was his discussion of China. One of Bush's many jobs before he became president was as the U.S.'s unofficial ambassador to China in the 1970s, and he described some of his experiences in that country over the last 30 years.

In 1974, the United States did not even have diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, which explains why Bush's position was unofficial. It was a very "closed and discouraging" society, Bush said, making it very difficult to build relationships with the citizens. Bush recalled that he could not enter anyone's house, and no one could enter his house, without the approval of the Chinese government.

Things are very different today. Bush mentioned that he's been to China 14 times since he left the presidency, and the Chinese people have gained many freedoms. For example, citizens can be more entrepreneurial now and own stores, businesses or even companies. Cities are far more modern, and people enjoy many of the same services and technological breakthroughs that Westerners do.

"They're not in my view rigid Communists," Bush said.

Bush also pointed out that the reunification of China and Hong Kong went smoothly, and that Hong Kong has managed to preserve its identity and culture. "If you go to Hong Kong today, you do not see totalitarian Communists, and they are a part of the People's Republic of China," he said.

However, Bush pointed out that China still has a ways to go on human rights. For example, Chinese citizens can access the Internet search engine Google. But all searches on Google are censored by the Chinese government. For example, if you were to search "Tiananmen Square" in the U.S., you would get some rather disturbing images of Chinese student protesters being attacked by tanks and soldiers in 1989. If you were to search this in China, however, you get a picture of the current President Bush shaking hands with the Chinese emperor in the square.

I find this horrible. Censorship denies the Chinese people their right to know what really happens in the world and in the nation they live in. However, I would agree with Bush that Chinese society has definitely become more positive with regards to capitalistic opportunities, and that it will do a "first-class" job hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Witty, funny man

with a message

I didn't really know much about former President Bush except for Dana Carvey's parodies on "Saturday Night Live." I certainly did not expect his speech to have much entertainment value.

But this President Bush is a very funny, charismatic person, unlike his son. His wit took me by surprise, and I felt like I was watching a stand-up comedy routine, but with a message at the end.

Bush poked fun at both parties, himself and his colleagues.

For example, he said he regretted that protests seem to be getting smaller and fewer. "You miss the ugliness," he explained. He recalled the time when the ugliest woman he had ever seen approached his car in San Francisco with a sign that read, "Stay out of my womb." The president now responds: "No problem, lady."

Bush also reflected on what he misses about Washington (the military) and what he doesn't (the Washington press corps). "After I left office, I was bashing the press when an old friend of mine said that I ought not to do that. So I joined 'Press Bashers Anonymous.' I was true and loyal until the 2000 Florida recount, and then I jumped off the wagon."

The former president also described a "great" cartoon in a newspaper.

"In one panel it showed the (current) president sitting there (saying), 'I'm against gay marriage.' And the next panel showed me sitting holding hands with Clinton on the sofa (in the next room). The door opens up and the (current) president goes 'DAD!' "

Though I was young, one of the few things I remember about the Bush presidency was when he threw up on Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa.

In his speech, Bush said he thought after 14 years, people would forget the incident, but like me, many had not. So we were delighted when he told us that after his term, he invited Miyazawa to Houston and told him, "This time, the dinner is on me."

George Herbert Walker Bush was one of the best speakers I have ever heard. He was funny, self-deprecating and pretty darn good-looking for an 81-year-old man.