8.19.2010

A LETTER TO OBAMA!!

Forgive me friends for this momentary change in soap boxes, but under prevailing circumstances, I think a little food for thought is in order. Not to worry, tomorrow I'll be back to my usual unimportant nonsense.

Some of you may have already read this letter to Obama from 95 year old Harold Estes, a world war two veteran. Either way, I'd love to hear what you think of it.

Dear President Obama,

My name is Harold Estes, approaching 95 on December 13 of this year. People meeting me for the first time don’t believe my age because I remain wrinkle free and pretty much mentally alert.

I enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1934 and served proudly before, during and after WW II retiring as a Master Chief Bos’n Mate. Now I live in a “rest home” located on the western end of Pearl Harbor, allowing me to keep alive the memories of 23 years of service to my country.

One of the benefits of my age, perhaps the only one, is to speak my mind, blunt and direct even to the head man. So here goes.

I am amazed, angry and determined not to see my country die before I do, but you seem hell bent not to grant me that wish.

I can’t figure out what country you are the president of.

You fly around the world telling our friends and enemies despicable lies like: “We’re no longer a Christian nation” “America is arrogant” — (Your wife even announced to the world, “America is mean- spirited.” Please tell her to try preaching that nonsense to 23 generations of our war dead buried all over the globe who died for no other reason than to free a whole lot of strangers from tyranny and hopelessness.)

I’d say shame on the both of you, but I don’t think you like America, nor do I see an ounce of gratefulness in anything you do, for the obvious gifts this country has given you. To be without shame or gratefulness is a dangerous thing for a man sitting in the White House.

After 9/11 you said, “America hasn’t lived up to her ideals.”

Which ones did you mean? Was it the notion of personal liberty that 11,000 farmers and shopkeepers died for to win independence from the British? Or maybe the ideal that no man should be a slave to another man, that 500,000 men died for in the Civil War? I hope you didn’t mean the ideal 470,000 fathers, brothers, husbands, and a lot of fellas I knew personally died for in WWII, because we felt real strongly about not letting any nation push us around, because we stand for freedom.

I don’t think you mean the ideal that says equality is better than discrimination. You know the one that a whole lot of white people understood when they helped to get you elected.

Take a little advice from a very old geezer, young man.

Shape up and start acting like an American. If you don’t, I’ll do what I can to see you get shipped out of that fancy rental on Pennsylvania Avenue. You were elected to lead not to bow, apologize and kiss the hands of murderers and corrupt leaders who still treat their people like slaves.

And just who do you think you are telling the American people not to jump to conclusions and condemn that Muslim major who killed 13 of his fellow soldiers and wounded dozens more. You mean you don’t want us to do what you did when that white cop used force to subdue that black college professor in Massachusetts, who was putting up a fight? You don’t mind offending the police calling them stupid but you don’t want us to offend Muslim fanatics by calling them what they are, terrorists.

One more thing. I realize you never served in the military and never had to defend your country with your life, but you’re the Commander-in-Chief now, son. Do your job. When your battle-hardened field General asks you for 40,000 more troops to complete the mission, give them to him. But if you’re not in this fight to win, then get out. The life of one American soldier is not worth the best political strategy you’re thinking of.

You could be our greatest president because you face the greatest challenge ever presented to any president.

You’re not going to restore American greatness by bringing back our bloated economy. That’s not our greatest threat. Losing the heart and soul of who we are as Americans is our big fight now.

And I sure as hell don’t want to think my president is the enemy in this final battle.

Sincerely,
Harold B. Estes

7 comments:

  1. Well, kudos to the very old geezer for living to be a very old geezer! But here's my two-cents' worth: Obama isn't everything everyone had hoped he'd be, 'cause he was expected to be the Second Coming -- that's kinda hard to live up to. He's trying to clean up a big, enormous mess ... and not just that oil spill. He's not gonna make anyone happy as he tries to mend those proverbial fences and cut the losses in every area. But I agree with him that we're not a Christian nation even if a majority of our folks are Christians; in fact, we were founded specifically to give religious freedoms to all -- including Muslims -- rather than favoring any particular denomination. There are fanatics in every religion, and none of them does any good when they veer so far from the truths of their faiths. We don't fear WASPy men and profile them and try to set limits upon them, but they form the Michigan Militia (a couple of MM members took down the office building in Oklahoma City, folks might remember) and cause lots of other mayhem in the name of their religious or political beliefs. Entire groups should not be judged upon the egregious behavior of a few of their representatives/members. I also think that the Obamas have shown enormous gratitude for the blessings they have received in this country, being well aware (Barry, in particular, from his international upbringing) that their stories would be nearly impossible anywhere else in the world. What they'd like is to share those blessings with so many others who are still being left behind. So, more power to the old geezer for having his say!!! But I think he's missing a few facts and just a touch of objectivity ....

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  2. Hear hear Yenta Mary. I am not American nor I live in the USA but I respect President Obama for having the courage to do even the least popular of decisions. He indeed is a brave man. Someone to look up to. I also respect the US man who fought in the WWII enormously as they laid their lives down for freedom...not just their own.

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  3. Three cheers for Harold Estes. It is no wonder Obama is woefully unpopular with the military. Going around the world appologizing for our country and comments by Michelle like "For the first time in my life I am proud to be an American" and Barack Obama refusing to acknowledge the success of the "surge" in Iraq, where many American men and women died in what all experts agree was the turning point in that effort.

    Granted Obama is trying to clean up a big, enormous mess but it is painfully clear he is in way over his head.

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  4. I love Mr. Estes letter and I think he's spot on. Being politically correct is not the way to make change. That is not how America came to be...I don't have any solutions to offer. Sorry...

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  5. Good afternoon Keri,

    What a fine letter, it's right on the mark.

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  6. Tag, honey -- you're it! http://foodfloozie.blogspot.com/2010/08/tag-im-it.html

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  7. Props to the guy for writing that, but it's like talking to a BRICK WALL.

    "Shape up and start acting like an American." ?

    Obama WOULD be ACTING.

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