Falsehoods that will be laid to rest

Al Qaeda, Conservative Talk Radio, Fox News, Glen Beck, Bill
O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, and Osama bin laden, all, in my opinion,
would like to turn the clock of time back. Even though their goals are
not within a common interest; they are all part of that ground where
extremism grows. Many of us see that ground ploughed with degrees of
hate. Within the above mix, are those that dream of taking the world
back to the 13th century; and, there are those that dream of taking a
country back to the Reagan era. Modernization through the progression
of time is an enemy to all in the mix; it can not be stopped , it can
only be slowed down. Inevitably, what has to go forward, will go
beyond those few that have twisted Islamic beliefs along with those
that twisted the meaning of being an American. All involved in both
missions will one day melt away in that part of history where
falsehoods are laid to rest.

Judge ourselves honestly, and the world will follow

The following letter was published on June 11, 2009 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

In my opinion, President Obama's June 4 speech in Cairo was crafted to engage, not offend.

Many conservative radio talk-show hosts and others are concentrating on toxic negatives they think should have been in Obama's speech.

Idiosyncrasies exist in many governments, if not all; it shows a lack of character in a government when it is quick to judge others and not itself. When Obama referred to the Iraq war as a "war of choice," he received applause from his Cairo audience.

Were Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to admit that the settlement construction in the West Bank was misguided, and if President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran were to admit he was wrong about his Holocaust denial, that part of the world that wants peace would applaud them both.

Should we look the other way on torture?

Under an unstable leadership in denial, right and wrong can be blurred to satisfy a dark moment. That dark moment, like other questionable moments in the Bush administration, was to justify and downplay types of torture. Should the ones involved in contriving and okaying methods of torture be prosecuted?

If some of the countries of Asia, South America, all the European countries, and the sane part of the US asked for closure concerning the disregard for provisions set forth by the Geneva Conventions in the treatment of war criminals, the answer would be yes. In spite of former Vice President Dick Cheney’s attempt to justify torture because of the type of enemy we face, America is not about joining in and escalating the madness in the world; America needs to be that mature democracy governing by example. The outing of Valerie Plane, the preemptive attack on Iraq, and the torture of prisoners are all part of a pattern practiced by the Bush administration that put itself above the law. If we look the other way and not prosecute the guilty parties involved in the torture, we will leave the door open for another administration in the future to practice the same.

'Tea party' protesters protest the wrong thing

The following letter was published on April 20, 2009 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

In response to the recent tax protests, I asked myself, where were they when George Bush lied the U.S. into a $10 billion-a-month war? I asked myself, where were they when the U.S. suffered losses under Halliburton? A person like myself cannot help but suspect the participants of the "tea party" are somewhat misguided and disingenuous.

As a nation, will we fall, or pick ourselves up and do what's right?‏

The misdeeds of Madoff, and the bonuses given out to past and present employees of the insurer American International Group are obscene forms of betrayal and greed. In the eyes of the world, the land of freedom has become the land of greed. In the months and years to come let's hope the new leader of the free world will help get back some of the trust we once had. A country losing trust is like a sinking ship running out of patches.

Encouraged by Obama's address to Congress

The following letter was published on March 1, 2009 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

I felt President Obama's speech to the joint session of Congress Feb. 24 projected a leader in charge with a hands-on approach.

His vision was of substance and direction. His repair package for the recession (the stimulus package), in my opinion, could very well revive the economy and spur confidence. Unlike the Republican response from Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, President Obama's speech represented a change from the same old approach we have witnessed in the past eight years.

Closet Bigots on conservative radio talk shows are outing themselves

As I listen to many of the hosts of conservative radio talk shows, it amuses me and scares me to hear such an anti Obama and democrat tone;it is really bad and disrespectful. They sound like bigot sour grapes coming out of the closet. Let's never forget these seem to be surrogates of the neo-cons along with other parts of the conservative media helped promote the Bush administration's lie to invade Iraq; yes, they steered the country wrong and they will do it again. It is my hope that newly un-informed listeners of conservative radio talk shows will go back and review tapes of many of the hosts during the lead up to the invasion of Iraq; a fair minded individual would see a lack of or no credibility among them all. It is my belief that bigotry exists in many patches of circles around the country; fair mindedness is lacking among these circles and they charge their batteries with top bigots on the air.

Our troubled economy is a very mixed picture

It felt good to see again a news conference that was not so staged and artificial like many of us have witnessed for the past eight years. I’m not sure I can buy into with complete confidence the stimulus package President Obama is selling. However, I get the feeling from his demeanor that there is an urgency far beyond the understanding of his critics. Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger 3rd, the pilot that eased his plane down in the Hudson Bay saving 155 people, knew he needed to fall back on his training and skills the moment he discovered both engines failed after take off. I believe Economists advising President Obama exist in Mr. Sullenberger’s moment of urgency. Apparently they feel, their training, skills, and understanding of the economy, dictate an immediate action. Some of us, like some of the passengers on that US Airways A320, don’t really see and understand all the options; it is a mixed complicated picture. The President’s news conference left me with this thought: The passengers on the US Airways A320 only option when both engines failed was to put their faith in the skills and training of the pilot. Americans like myself, only option, is to hope that our leaders are listening to the right people and will make the right moves.

A response to Cecchi's letter

In response to the letter written by Mr. Guy M. Cecchi, on 2/4/09, “Don’t let this euphoria keep us from real change,” We all live in our on bubble of understanding of what makes this country great. It seems Mr. Cecchi is one of those victims used by the Bush administration to divide the country. Wedge issues such as abortion, gay marriage and the threat of terrorism provided an illusion that propped up a dangerous administration. I hope that voters like Mr. Cecchi are forever low in numbers. When America recovers from the mess left behind by the Bush administration, I hope safe guards will be put into place to prevent the nation from ever electing such a destructive individual such as George Bush. This country can become great again with real change when we are forgiven by the world for voting George Bush in for eight years.

Living history

The following letter was published on January 22, 2009 by
The New York Daily News
New York, NY

Jan. 20, 2009, was a great day to be alive. It was like a page in a book that ignited an interest to a reader to get involved in a beautiful story. The hope of the Obama administration is in the hunger to hear his words; that is seen in the crowds he draws. It is like taking a plane ride for the first time. He electrifies and excites us with his universal appeal and his very presence. He has the potential to unify; consequently, the world may become a better place.

History to record Jan. 20 as a great day to be alive

The following letter was published on January 22, 2009 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

So many on Jan. 20 will remember it as a great time to be alive. It is like a page in a book that ignited an interest to a reader to get involved in a beautiful story to come.

The hope in the Obama administration is in the hunger to hear his words; that is seen in the crowds he draws. It is like taking a plane ride for the first time. He electrifies and excites us with his universal appeal and his very presence. He has the potential to unify our Gods; consequently, the world may become a better place.

Killing innocent people is wrong

Like many of the brave souls that took a stand in print against the actions of the Bush administration, I feel proud that I joined them and was not among the ones that looked the other way, or painted a false rosy picture. For the pass seven years I have witnessed a lack of empathy from a leader that called himself a “War time President.” Some of us understand the symbolism behind the tossed shoes by a journalist that obviously had a lot of empathy for the misery he witnessed caused by a leader with little or no conscience. No one can really understand oppression like the ones that are living it. Bombs dropped on families killing innocent love ones will never achieve an end to terrorism. Terrorism fought with terrorism is insanity. A country is lacking in humanity when it loses it’s will to hold on to what is right. No matter how you slice it, killing innocent people is wrong.

Following behind bloody hands

In just a few days the Bush administration will come to an end. Like so many other Americans that are disappointed in the lack of outrage for no accountability against a president that lied the American people into a war of choice, I would gladly join any choir group to cheer at him with disdain as he leaves the White House. As of result of the Bush administration, harm and death came to thousands of innocent people. In the eyes of the world, the Bush administration walked on the rule of international law. They falsely accused and attacked a sovereign nation. With all the blood on the hands of the Bush administration, the president elect Barack Obama’s greatest challenge is to influence a change of the mindset of our nation while seeking peace out of wisdom with our enemies.

America can find its way back

As we all metaphorically walk into the door of 2009, we carry with us the thought that the world has changed and our country is different. Looking back and looking forward is in the thought that an unpopular president will be moving out of the White house and a popular president elect will be moving in. The common interest that so many of us all hope and share is in a wish that somehow what was lost in America will be restored by the incoming administration. If we can get back that confidence that once led the way for other parts of the world, we will once again have faith in the future for our children and grandchildren. Like a crew on a ship with no compass and no technology, we as Americans have found ourselves in uncharted waters with uncertain tomorrows. Let us all step into the new year with that familiar American spirit, to find direction and gain back that respect from the world we once had. Let’s say, we can find our way back and gain respect from the world, with a “Happy New Year” to everyone.

House Negros were followers not leaders

Osama Bin Laden’s top Al Qaeda deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, was reported to have called the President-elect Barack Obama a “house Negro.” Without followers, Osama Bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahri would be lost in their medieval ideology that comes from that part of that distance past that ruled and governed the masses through fear, a self interpreted theocracy, and violence. The orator skills of Barack Obama and the respect he received from many in the muslin world for becoming the President-elect might trickle down to followers of Osama Bin Laden. I’m one to believe Al Qaeda can be defeated with words and truth. Obama has demonstrated when he speaks the world listens and likes what he says; he can unmask and put the spot light on the idiosyncrasies existing in the Al Qaeda’s belief system. In my opinion, this is Obama’s greatest potential at this moment in time. House Negros were silent, obedient and well programmed to serve their masters; these types are similar to the followers of Osama Bin Laden. Barack Obama is not a follower; he is a leader. It is my belief his words will free the followers of Osama Bin Laden.

Reality and a page turned

For those Americans that are feeling bitter and down about the election results and the many comments concerning the inadequacies existing in the Bush administration, try having a reality check. When you are done, try not to be so disappointed in those Americans that criticized George Bush’s policies. If a sane person witnessed someone driving off a cliff, that person would scream and try to stop him; he would not willfully and joyfully join him. With no apology, many of us criticized George Bush’s policies and arrogance because we were concerned about the path he was taking the country on. Furthermore, many of us feel he should have been impeached. Having said all of this, many of us and others in other parts of the world can turn the page on the Bush administration. We have hope that the president elect, Barack Obama, will restore much of what was lost.

McCain claims a share of pride in our nation

The following letter was published on November 7, 2008 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Like many, I was so proud to see the first African-American become president-elect in the U.S.; equally, I was proud of John McCain's concession speech. It was the John McCain we once knew.

Optimism is spreading

Yes, optimism is in the air. It is exciting to think about an Obama presidency. At a moment in time when the volume of optimism is turned up not only in America but in other parts of the world, it gives so many of us a relief and satisfaction to see eight years of arrogance being shown the door. On November 4th , the nation will turn the page on cowboy politics. We all have hope that the nation’s economical, domestic, and foreign policies will evolve around fairness, inclusiveness and transparency. We look for an Obama administration not to pick fights with certain parts of the world, but bring a common interest and understanding to the planet that we all need each other.

When the election is over we will come together as one country

On November 4th, Tuesday, some will use their votes to go down with the ship and others will cast their votes on that miracle ship under the banner called change. Both ships have come a long way and experienced windy, stormy waters. Even though my vote along with many others will be cast on the miracle ship, we respect the ship that lost its way. When the ships are translated into candidates Senator Obama does stand out as the miracle ship and Senator McCain stands out as the ship that lost its way. In this election a candidate’s demeanor, judgment, calmness and steadiness outweighs the other candidate’s experience. For many in the media to tap dance around the fact that Senator McCain acted impulsively when he picked Governor Sarah Palin for his running mate, it shows an all around respect for the man in spite of his blunder. Lets hope on Tuesday when all the votes are cast, all Americans will pull together, put bitterness aside, and help steer this country to a better place.

The pendulum is swinging to the left in Obama's era

In the history of politics, in my life time and many others, there has never been such a fierce battle between the “Us And Them,” with the large number of participants witnessed in this election year. Both sides are hoping that there are more of “Us” than “Them” to set the tone and agenda in all three branches of the government: executive, judicial, and legislative. Former President Ronald Reagan convinced many democrats that he was best for the moment he lead. Those democrats are referred to as “Reagan Democrats.” It seems in 2008, Obama is convincing some republicans to become “Obama Republicans.” That means on the “Us And Them” scale, the pendulum is swinging to the left and the neo-cons are on the run. This thought along gives so many of us great pleasure that we are living in a moment in time when the right side will conquer the wrong side.

Wishing another would follow the path of Powell‏

Like many, I was delighted to hear that Colin Powell endorsed Barack Obama, even though many of us wished he had had the courage to resign the Bush administration during the run up to the Iraq war. That would have made a difference in the eyes of the country and the world. Even though I agree with Colin Powell that McCain’s VP pick, Sarah Palin, pushed the Republican Party too far to the right, I’m not convinced that this reason alone is why Powell endorsed Obama. In my opinion, the endorsement of Obama is a way for Powell to redeem himself before the eyes of the Bush administration, the country, and the world. Mainly, I believe, this is his way of separating himself from the denials of the wrongs perpetrated by the Bush administration. Like many, I can only hope that some day Condoleeza Rice will make her break from the Bush administration’s pretense world that laced with so many denials. She is too talented to hold herself hostage to such an out of touch, lost, corrupted administration.

We need McCain back in the Senate

The last debate between Senator McCain and Senator Obama, in my opinion, was easily won by Senator Obama. He was steady, calm, relaxed and confident while Senator McCain was anxious, shaky and a little bit scary. Senator McCain is a good man with good intentions, however it was obvious that Senator Obama would make a better president and maybe it would be best for Senator McCain to go back and do his good work in the Senate. When the election is over we need his toughness to help shape an immigration policy that everyone can live with.

Gov. Palin was a bad gamble

Senator McCain is known for his gambling side as well as the Maverick. Many of us know now that Governor Sarah Palin was not a well thought out pick for the VP on the republican ticket. The sad state of the economy may be a contributing factor to Senator Obama’s rise in the polls; however, many of us think Gov. Palin contributes to that as well. Looking at the type of crowds she attracts might be why McCain is losing steam. There is certainly some truth to the old saying “A person is known by the company he keeps.” I believe most Americans are concerned with restoring the direction of the country rather than the type of politics we have had in the past eight years. In my opinion, Gov. Palin and the crowds she attracts is a reminder of the tactics of the Bush administration. Those tactics have lost their usefulness for many that are looking for the country to be steered in a new direction. Let’s be honest, Senator McCain could be doing better in the polls if he had picked a more qualified running mate. The Maverick made a bad gamble.

A bright light

The second debate between Senator McCain and Senator Obama was like looking at the past closing out to the future. Both put forward strong efforts; however it was clear that America needs a forward looking candidate with a real vision; not a vision on past experiences but a vision on real change. Senator Obama shined like a bright light on a hill leading the way for the future.

Unseasoned Palin gets kid-glove treatment

The following letter was published on October 4, 2008 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

It is so peculiar that some in the media and many of the commentators after the debate between Sen. Joe Biden and Gov. Sarah Palin put kid gloves on when criticizing Palin's performance.

She totally avoided answering many questions and the only area she actually showed some knowledge in was energy. In my opinion Palin is lacking depth and appeared to be far out of her league debating Biden.

Having said all of this, I and many others somewhat appreciate the kid-glove treatment; Sarah Palin is a likable person. However, it is scary to think she could be a heartbeat away from the presidency.

America's choices: twentieth century or the twenty first century‏

In the 9/26/08 debate between Obama and McCain, Obama was clever to say, “Ten days ago, John said that the fundamentals of the economy are sound.” Like many, I feel, that John McCain that suffered as a prisoner of war in the Vietnam war, was a special soldier with a strong spirit. The John McCain today looks like a man clinging to the ways of the twentieth century. The challenges in the twenty first century can not be met with the resistance demonstrated in the past eight years. It is time to restore and move ahead. If you have been ignoring the disappearing middle class, if you are part of that group that has a deaf ear to the needy in America, if you believe ten billion dollars a month that goes to the Iraqi cause is a worthy cause, vote for four more years of holding on to the twentieth century with McCain and Palin.

A dissenting view on wars with false causes

The RNC confirmed for many of us that many in the Republican Party believe that God has a hand in the Iraq war. The Americans that are willing to stand up and say that they want their sons and daughters that are taught to fight to be put in the right fights and the right causes rings hallow with many that believe the Bush administration was right to invade Iraq.

For those of us that believe our country is going down the wrong path, we have to stand up and not march behind those that are willing to fool themselves. In Vietnam and Iraq, we didn’t buy into the overstated greatness of those causes that many of us looked at as trumped up illusions.

Because of our dissent, the other side wants to paint us as unpatriotic. We love this country, and we love our sons and daughters. We don’t want them coming back in body bags, missing limbs and damaged minds, for leaders driven by a false ideology.

We can hear the dream of MLK through Barack

For many of us that watched the DNC on 8/28/08, our minds were flooded with awe that Barack Obama has come so far reflecting many themes and values that brought tears of joy to our hearts and souls. You could feel and hear the rusty hinges on that door of forgotten hope crackling as it opened showing us all through Barack, that promise in the dream of Dr. Martin L. King.

Time to beat those drums

Now that Joe Biden is the VP pick for Obama it is time to go after the hearts of those 18 million voters that stood firmly behind Hillary Clinton.

Loud drumbeats echoing the following themes should be done and repeated on a daily basis:

Drumbeat 1- Do we want a continuation of a bunch of advanced aged men stuck in a cowboy time bubble, pretending to be tough while wasting our resources in a war of choice benefiting Iran?

Drumbeat 2- Do we want a bunch advanced aged rich out of touch men in the pocket of religious extremists tampering with women rights to choose?

Drumbeat 3- Do we want four more years of losing the middle class while the rich is getting richer?

Drumbeat 4- Do we want that trust back we once had that we and the world were proud of?

Drumbeat 5- Lets merge together and take this country back.

A war of choice that benefited Iran

The whole business of using force to settle disputes, I believe borders around men’s immaturity. With all that we know in these modern times, men still have not risen above killing each other over territory, religion and resources.

Just because so many of us can see the invasion of Georgia by Russia is pale in comparison to the Iraq invasion, this does not mean we are apologists for Russia’s behavior.

Our patriotism is in our hope that one day men as a whole will grow up and some of the behavior of men kind will somehow experience a breakthrough. That’s not going to happen in a McCain administration; we will only have four more Bush years of old men claiming to be stewards of pro-life in one breath, and in another, they won’t hesitate to send young humans beings to die in a war of choice.

Is our patriotism in question just because we don’t buy into the dream that a stable democracy will be left behind in Iraq after the Iraqi government succeeds in negotiating the complete withdrawal of American troops?

Perhaps by then George Bush and John McCain will realize that this war of choice that have drained on our resources and has shed so much blood has strengthened the hand of Iran.

A maverick no more

The following letter was published on August 19, 2008 by
The Star Tribune
Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota

I've always had a great deal of respect for the young John McCain as an American hero who suffered as a prisoner of war. No one can ever take that chapter in his life away from him.

But, in 2008, McCain is making comments about his opponent that are out of sync for a war hero. It seems out of a desperate attempt to score political points.

Obama's attraction is all about the inspiration of trust that is lost in the Bush administration that deceived the country and the world. Sadly, this McCain clings to many of the policies of the Bush administration.

Look who's preaching of long-term consequences

The following letter was published on August 16, 2008 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

These are unbelievable quotes from a nominee of the Republican Party and the president concerning Russia's military offensive in Georgia:

"Russian leaders must understand the severe long term negative consequences of their actions." — John McCain.

"Russia has invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people. Such an action is unacceptable in the twenty first century." — George H. Bush.

The nominee of the Republican Party and the president didn't mention that the fighting started when Georgia, a former Soviet republic, decided to invade the province of South Ossetia. You don't see large crowds protesting around the world against Russia's war, like we saw before and after Iraq was invaded.

Over 100,000 Iraqis have been killed, and over 4,000 US troops have died in a conflict that was preventable. Can the nominee of the Republican Party, who has always supported the war in Iraq, and the president, say the U.S. does not have long term consequences for invading Iraq? Can they also say the US actions were acceptable in the 21st century? In my opinion, because they represent the epitome of hypocrisy and denial, the answers would probably be in the affirmative.

Shooting: a sad moment for everyone

The following letter was published on August 7, 2008 by
The Register
Yarmouthport, Massachusetts

It's very hard for so many of us to rise above looking at another human being from another country here in America illegally as one of us. It is as difficult for many in Brazil to accept the unfortunate death of Andre Luiz de Castro Martins. Not only does my heart goes out to the family and friends of the deceased, I understand this moment of sorrow for the officer who was given a set of circumstances and dynamics that required a response. According to what was reported if valid, when Mr. Martins turned his car around in that yard on 41 Baxter Avenue striking Christopher Van Ness's cruiser, options were reduced and Van Ness' training kicked in on the use of deadly force.

I don't think any sane officer on Cape Cod would relish in the thought of being put in that moment when Van Ness pulled his weapon and used it. At that moment Mr. Martins may have been thinking about being deported and away from his family. It is sad to think that his mind may have been flooded only with the thoughts of staying with his family at a moment when clarity was needed to protect his life. His decision, as reported, to continue to run after striking the cruiser reduced officer Van Ness's window of timing on responding in a moment when his training dictated his response.

Estadao, a newspaper dated 7/30/08 in Sao Paulo, Brazil reported the many violations Mr. Martins committed in America, and revealed that Mr. Martins' father, Luiz Carlos de Castro Martins is a retired military police. It is a very sad thought that Martins' father may be more familiar with officer Van Ness' window of timing on responding in that moment his son was shot than any other member of his family.

In retrospect, I believe everyone involved wishes that moment and the speeding vehicle never happened.

Human element on Cape

The following letter was published on August 4, 2008 by
The Boston Herald
Boston, Massachusetts

It's hard for so many to look at another human being here in America illegally as one of us (“Illegal actions, not status, got Cape immigrant killed,” July 30). It is as difficult for many in Brazil to accept the unfortunate death of Andre Luiz de Castro Martins. Not only does my heart go out to the family, I understand this moment of sorrow for the police officer who was given a set of circumstances that required a response.

When Martins turned his car around, striking Christopher Van Ness’ cruiser, the officer’s training kicked in on the use of deadly force. I don’t think any sane officer would relish being put in that moment. And it’s sad to think that Martins’ mind may have been flooded only with the thoughts of staying with his family.

The Sao Paulo newspaper Estadao reported the many violations Martins committed in America and revealed that Martins’ father is a retired military police officer. It’s sad that the father may be more familiar with Van Ness’ window of timing on responding in that moment his son was shot then any other member of his family. In retrospect, I believe everyone involved wishes that moment and the speeding vehicle never happened.

McCain / Obama

Like many, I've always had a great deal of respect for the young John McCain as an American hero that suffered as a prisoner of war. No one can ever take that chapter in his life away from him; he really showed bravery while in the hands of his captors.

In 2008, the nominee of his party for the president of the US, John is making comments about his opponent that are out of sync for a war hero that showed true grit against his captors. It seems out of a desperate attempt to score political points McCain has been trying to blur the goodwill Barack Obama shows in his orator skills. He is claiming Obama lacks substance.

Many voters like myself know Obama's attraction is all about the inspiration of trust that is lost in the Bush administration that deceived the country and the world. Sadly, the McCain we all thought we once knew clings to many of the policies of the Bush administration which is in direct contrast with an Obama ticket.

A McCain ticket is about a continuation of distrust and out of touch. An Obama ticket is about hope, change, and trust. We can pick a ticket that clings to an administration lacking credibility in the world or we can pick a ticket that might some day restore what America lost.

Back to basics for Obama

The following letter was published on July 30, 2008 by
Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles, California

Re "In Berlin, Obama calls for unity with Europe," July 25

Barack Obama's speech before 215,000 Germans shows that glimmer of hope so many of us can see coming if he is elected president of the United States.

The lack of global respect for the U.S. can be traced to the disrespect for the international community President Bush showed when his administration decided to ignore so many during the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq.

I believe those 215,000 people who showed up to hear Obama in Germany share what many Americans and others around the world feel right now. Maybe the America we all once knew will come back thanks to Obama's leadership.

Denial of a brewing civil war

That feeling that the Bush administration may have over played its hand when no WMD were found is echoed in John McCain’s claims that the surge is working and the US is winning. Are we really winning, and can we call refereeing winning? “Bomb Attacks in Baghdad and Kirkuk Leave Dozens Dead,” reported 7/28/08 by Richard A Opper Jr. and Sabrina Tavernise in the New York Times, left me with the feeling that our troops in Iraq are delaying the inevitable; a civil war is coming like a forecasted storm with all the signs.

Glimmering hope

The following letter was published on July 26, 2008 by
The Houston Chronicle
Houston, Texas

That speech in Germany before 200,000 people by Barack Obama shows that glimmer of hope so many of us can see coming if he is elected president of the United States. The respect lacking around the globe for the United States might be traced to the disrespect for the international community the Bush administration showed when it decided to ignore so many during the lead up to the invasion of Iraq.

I believe those 200,000 people showed up to hear Obama in Germany to share what many Americans and others around the world feel at this moment in time: Maybe the America we all once knew will revive through his leadership.

Global warming waits for no man - The energy crunch

The following letter was published on July 26, 2008 by
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts

Like many, my admiration for Al Gore for his work in bringing to the world stage the effects of global warming puts him among my greatest heroes.

Looking at the larger picture, global warming and wars are like two related cancers; both feed off greed.

We are running out of time. The next administration must put forth an effort toward steering the world in the direction of using our resources to stop wars with the same vigor Gore is using to get the world's attention on global warming.

Patriotism being questioned again‏

The dispute between the two presidential hopefuls concerning troop withdrawals is losing ground in the McCain camp. It seems McCain/Bush focus on the success of the surge is being undermined by the Malika government and people of Iraq; they seem to want a time line which is in support of Obama’s camp. Even though the Bush administration would like to call it a time horizon, Americans and the world are very much aware that this is a goal post moving time for a cause slipping away; it is very much like that WMD cause that evolved into an Iraqi freedom cause.

Could it be that one camp can see the handwriting on the wall while the other frames the troop withdrawals in terms of winning or losing a war projecting a false sense of patriotism as done during the lead up to the invasion of Iraq?

Can an immigrant get fairness?

There are some that are stubbornly refusing to connect to any form of fairness to the plight of immigrants. To work hard, to love your family, to help your neighbors and pay taxes are values that productive people share to maintain a viable system. Daniel Tacuri, an illegal immigrant from Ecuador, had a successful roofing business in Milford Massachusetts; his business was successful because he worked harder and charged less than other operators in the area. From a moral perspective no one can blame Mr. Tacuri for leaving a hopeless life of poverty in Ecuador for a chance of decency for him and his family in the US. To hunt a productive person down, bankrupt him, and deport him and his wife somehow goes against the spirit of liberty and the respect for fairness given to any struggle.

The surge will never right the wrongs

In response to the column written by David Brooks, “The Bush Paradox,” which appeared in the New York Times on 6/24/08, allow me to challenge this type of understanding of a president many compare with some of the worst criminals in history. Even now those guys, I feel are admired by many that have blinders on.

The dead has no voice in judging George Bush; but the some two million Iraqis that fled their homeland that are now living in run-down neighborhoods in surrounding countries described in “Books Not Bombs” Nicholas D. Kristof, New York Times, can see the surge for what it is; a desperate ploy to try to make a wrong look right.

The most transparent understanding of how the Bush administration is perceived is in the dilemma that the most powerful leader of the free world has to sneak in Iraq when a less powerful leader from Iran makes an announcement to visit and is greeted as a hero.

So you see those 28% in which David Brooks is a part of, that approves of George Bush’s three billion dollars a week war in Iraq might be compared to those that approved of such leaders as Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler when they thought they had moments of getting it right.

A chance to make it the people's White House

The following letter was published on June 19, 2008 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Unlike the case with the present occupant, Obama's White House would be the people's White House if he picked Hillary Clinton for his VP. That would be the beginning of his greatest change, to share his glory with Hillary and her 17 million voters; this would be a start for a nation to become whole again.

Even though the Clintons gave the appearance that they were willing to inject race in their campaign out of desperation for Hillary to become her party's nominee, it is a fact that Bill Clinton's White House was the most inclusive White House ever.

Many of us know that the people's voice during the Bush administration matters less than the Maliki government in Iraq. An Obama-Clinton ticket, like no other ticket, would restore credibility to a nation begging for smart, inclusive leadership.

Tim Russert is irreplaceable

The following letter was published on June 17, 2008 by
The New York Daily News
New York, NY

I was shocked to hear of Tim Russert's passing. He had a very special style of politely probing an individual on "Meet the Press." My Sundays will not be the same.

Bush's rat

“Even though I’ve shown nothing but disdain for the Bush administration in many of my letters to the editor, like many I don’t buy into Scott McClellan’s sudden change of heart in his book “What Happened.” It is what it is; a Judas Iscariot greasing his palms while delivering a kiss. The only thought that comes to me from an artist prospective, is McClellan’s head on a rat’s body.

Hillary moments that passed and the now

Think how different the world would be if Monica was never heard of, or, Hillary divorced Bill at the end of his term to run for president; the attention needed on the dots that weren’t put together in the Bush administration might have happened in a Hillary administration; just maybe we would still have the twin towers and the lives that were lost here with us today.

Even though Hillary cast a vote for George Bush to go into Iraq, we all know that vote was meant to strengthen his hand not his desire to leave a heroic legacy and make an appearance on an aircraft carrier claiming “mission accomplished.” We all know a Hillary administration would not have gone into Iraq and maybe Ben Laden would be in custody now.

In the present and the real world, while observing the battles in the primaries between Hillary and Obama, many of us know that Hillary’s moments slipped away in that infidelity exposed by Kenneth Star. Even though Hillary has blazed a historical trail, many of us know as she should and will know that this moment in time belongs to Barack Obama.

A voice of reason

With the seemingly none stop rising cost of oil, the housing slump, and all the dismal links of the falling dollar value, permeates a type of fear among many that we are swept up in some sort of infinite wind storm heading toward a maybe lose it all cliff.

Many of us beg to differ with the ‘stay the course’ strategy in Iraq. That strategy only benefits the other side; it falls into their strategy to bleed America of its resources.

At this moment in time in the US and the world there is a yearning for voices of reason rather than an expensive macho misguided military adventure by an administration that really didn’t understand a culture.

In a nut shell we have three presidential hopefuls; one, many of us fear at the end of the process if she does not become the nominee she will flip the table over; another, many of us fear will continue some of the destructive polices of the Bush administration. The third one, many of us feel has the talent and potential to mend broken fences trampled on by an arrogant administration; he is certainly counted among those voices of reason.

Can we find common ground in November?‏

The duel between the two has brought forth a transparency in America’s politics leaving both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama under tough scrutiny; even though they are from the same political party, they both have themselves the blame for steering that party against itself. I would not be surprise to see Hillary pull a Joe Lieberman if all is lost to Obama. If she ran as an independent McCain would be the next president. Like many voters, I would like to see an end to America’s participation in the Iraq war. Obama’s claims to end that war are more believable to me. It is common knowledge that a McCain administration would continue the mess of the present administration. However, if somehow Hillary Clinton pulled off a miracle in Penn. and other states to follow and she legitimately becomes the nominee, as an Obama supporter, in November I would go into the voting booth, hold my nose, forget about the fabricating and cast that vote like playing a lottery ticket to see what happens. Like many I expect the same out of Hillary supporters if Obama becomes the nominee; they both have made claims to end the Iraq war.

Feds in bailout mode must focus on homes

The following letter was published on April 5, 2008 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

If the government can be instrumental in bailing out Bear Stearns along with giving $12 billion a month to a lost cause once claimed as a noble cause by a president who many think should be in prison, the government should also be able to help those with little means who want to be part of the dream of home ownership.

At this moment in America some borrowers and lenders are looking for some real creativity concerning the dilemma of the subprime loans; they know the rebate checks that will come eventually will be like a one-minute drop of rain after a long drought.

Let's imagine an empathic government that can go beyond judging and actually create a process that would not only realistically jump-start the economy, but put it back in a safe area on track. If the lenders were paid a quarter of all troubled home loans by the federal government and the borrowers were forgiven half of their loans by the lenders, this simplistic type of one-time settlement would bring relief in a compassionate way.

Obama's speech

“I take great pleasure in knowing that Barack wrote his own speech as I had hoped. He has taken the edge off of concerns whether he would be a leader that can step up to the challenges that America and the world are facing today. Not only does he show courage in his run for the presidency; it is revealed as it spills over in his speech written by him. He is truly a leader with unique skills this country cannot afford to pass up on.

Most Americans will not be fooled this time around

I think Hillary and Barack should fight it out to the bloody end. They represent forces that should be heard. The mud they throwing and the battles they are fighting are part of their forces and convictions. The one with the bloodiest nose will eventually join the one with less; Hillary wants to show the country that women are ready and Barrack wants to show that he is ready; they both have legitimate goals. Worry not about McCain; the money spent on the Iraq war, the deaths, the injuries, the ballooned deficit, the decreased dollar value, high oil prices, and the housing slump all happened on the watch of the president McCain has aligned himself with. Most Americans will not be fooled this time around; they know a republican like McCain will not be able to rescue them.

One or the other will become president

Unlike many others some of us believe a little mud slinging during the primaries is actually okay; if it doesn’t stick it strengthens the candidates. Hillary Clinton was called a monster; and many are trying to make Barack Obama just a black candidate and a Muslim. Because of their determination and support the mud is just slipping off revealing the true grit of both candidates. Inside and outside America many are concerned that the muddy politics existing in the Democratic Party will help John McCain which many feel will continue the polices of George Bush. When it is all said and done, I believe like others when a nominee emerges out of a fair process, the emotional attachment to a particular candidate will evaporate; many voters will be reminded of why they joined together in 2006 and why a greater force is needed in 2008.

Americans will vote for the troops to be pulled out of Iraq

Voters are mad as hell at the Bush administration; it's very telling in the millions raised for the Obama campaign. He has raised more money than any presidential hopeful ever; also he has tapped in on the youth vote. McCain's Iraq policy which is no different from Bush's policy will become very clear as wrong when most of the public start focusing on the falling value of the dollar and the connection between the Iranian leader and the Iraq leader. The Iranian leader can make an early announcement that he will be visiting Iraq when the leader of the free world has to sneak in and out; this dilemma hits at the core why we should not be in Iraq. At the end of the day Americans will vote for the troops to be pulled out of Iraq; and, McCain will be left biting the dust of reality.

Obama won't settle affirmative action

The following letter was published on March 4, 2008 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

In response to Sean Gonsalves' Feb. 27 column, I don't think an Obama win would just be about a black win. In my opinion, Obama is winning now because liberal and moderate voters are banding together to take this country back from the neocon extremists let out of a Pandora's box by the Bush administration.

If Obama is elected the affirmative action matter will not be settled, as Gonsalves hinted; years and years of people being pushed behind will not wear off in an Obama administration. An Obama win would be a symbolic defeat of the arrogance that has gripped this country for the past eight years.

Will Iraq be governed by a Theocracy?

“Changing the mindset” captured my attention when those words were spoken by Barack Obama in the debate on 1/30/08 concerning ending the Iraq war. I truly believe as others the wrong mindset lead our country into a never ending war that a presidential hopeful on the republican side stated it may take a hundred years to end.

I admire John Mc Cain’s accomplishments and dedicated service to our country; I truly believe he loves America; however, his position on the Iraq war has the same mindset and tone coming out of the Bush administration; it has a tunnel vision feel to it. It is not just sub prime mortgages that are sending America down a road toward a recession; the mindset that America can sustain a war in a country where the leaders are bidding their time and positioning themselves for the inevitable is a drain on America’s resources.

In spite of the fact that the surge has minimized some of the violence in Iraq, in the eyes of the world and some Americans, a political solution will realistically come in Iraq only after a civil war; at the end of that long war some of us believe theocracy will be the victor and democracy will be the spoil.

A fresh start in a new chapter

With all do respect, the letter to the editor on 1/14/08“America too fragile for a rookie in charge” was a bit of a stretch comparing Barack Obama with George Bush. Like Nicole Warren, the writer, I have a favorable Opinion of Hillary Clinton; however, it disappoints me to know that she was among the ones that cast a vote for George Bush to invade Iraq. She and others let down all those innocent people, Iraqis and Americans, that are dead, maimed or mentally challenged. Because America’s image is in such a slump and the dismal forecast of the economy, I, like many others, would like this country to have a fresh start in a new chapter. Both JFK and MLK Jr. were profound thinkers with writing skills along with being unique orators; they both worked on a new chapter to steer America in a better place; like many, I feel Obama’s skills are certainly reminiscent of the two.

An avalanche is coming aimed at neo-cons‏

We knew the train was coming; some of us had actually read the mood of the Bush administration before those that cast a vote and gave a green light for Iraq to be invaded; not to apologize for that vote shows a disconnect. At this moment in time being connected counts. Too many innocent lives have been lost under a goal post moved and shifted to justify a wrong in front of the eyes of the world.

With many neo-conservatives behind a trillion dollar war translated by many now as US providing security for Iraq while Americans are loosing their security, be aware that many of us see an avalanche coming taking aim at neo-conservatism.

For those voters like myself that voted for a change in 2006 that never happened, not only do we want the page turned, we are asking for a new chapter.

Obama shows himself on a path to greatness

The following letter was published on January 9, 2008 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Barack Obama’s win in Iowa might be the revealing pulse beating elsewhere in the nation; there is a feeling that many like myself were waiting to see how the voters in Iowa would receive him. It is somewhat clear now that there is a real momentum behind Mr. Obama. Like others, I have been reluctant to embrace his candidacy; I had hoped that Al Gore would put his hat in the ring; because that has not happened, I’m drawn toward Barack Obama. His tenacity, courage, and aura of magic certainly have crossed political lines projecting a feeling to many that Barack Obama is on a path toward greatness.

Setting a tone to blame immigrants

Putting myself in the shoes of those immigrants, that are human beings struggling to make ends meet by taking any job for low pay, saddens me when I witness rich presidential rivals using them as a political football; it seems most of those rivals in St. Petersburg FL on November 28, wanted to show to each other and everyone else that they were not “immigrant lovers.” To see the fanes of politicians that are willing to throw immigrants under the bus must be psychological terrorism for illegal and legal immigrants that are family connected. The whole exchange between Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney on the immigrant question was parallel to the opposition to civil rights for blacks by George Wallace, a national candidate in the 1964 democratic primaries. Adolf Hittler in Nazis Germany viewed the Jews as the German nation’s true enemy.

With all the demagoguery reflected in America and on political platforms against illegal immigrants, I wonder will the illegal war in Iraq drain our resources to the point where many will blame the immigrants rather than the Bush administration.

Unless rhetoric ends, America will implode

The following letter was published on November 19, 2007 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

I think voters want to hear from politicians they recognize that America's house needs to be put back in to order; the low poll ratings should be a wake-up call for all politicians to have the courage to steer away from focus grouping and get to the crucial points of urgency facing our nation.

The power to end the Iraq war was in the power to end the funding; many of us feel it was a mistake not to because of the rising cost of oil, the housing slump, the decreasing dollar value and that nonstop rhetoric from the Bush administration escalating tension in the world.

A real change is moving away from cocky politicians like Condoleezza Rice, who is talented in dodging the reality side of a question with all smoke and mirrors with the pretense that the real side is relative.

A real change begins when we hear the truth from our presidential hopefuls that if the war in Iraq doesn't end soon, America could be in danger of falling from inside.

Witnessing a UFO is not such a bad claim

He called for the impeachment of George Bush; Dennis Kucinich echoed what a few voters in 2006 wanted done. The other Democratic hopefuls in the10/30/07 debate seems to feel compelled to attack Hillary or pat themselves on back. I didn’t see any real visionary wisdom coming out of any the D. hopefuls, however I was impressed with Mr.Kucinich speaking his mind concerning Iraq being an illegal war; and, that he would indeed talk to all his enemies. Jimmy Carter claimed to have seem a UFO, so why should it be so far out for Kucinich’s claim? Maybe if the other D. hopefuls had witnessed a UFO, they would be more sincere and forthcoming.

Wanted: Empathetic Oval Office candidate

The following letter was published on October 19, 2007 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

I look for a politician who has empathy and wisdom, which I concede is lacking in many.

It frustrates me to hear a politician speak only of America; I yearn for a universal mind among presidential hopefuls rather than too much showmanship. We can't go on as a country judging other nations with a blind eye to our own social ills. It seems each generation, as we turn back the pages of time, slowly opened that door where greed, selfishness and spoil masquerading as progress sapped this democracy of its innocence.

The slump in the housing industry is just the beginning; because we consume more than any other nation this democracy will be the first to show its wounds.

I've not given up; I have faith that eventually someone will show up on the political stage with the raw, unfettered truth. If that person shows up, I will certainly make a wager that that individual's approval ratings would skyrocket.

How about Mr. Al Gore? He could give back to this nation and the world what is lost.

The Few

Many of us understand the concerns raised by Moveon.org. It is a needed and legitimate voice cutting through all the political cosmetics. It is certainly an enemy of the few mentioned in the following: “When wealth becomes in the hands of few, this government will become an impossibility”,John Quincy Adams. That few, the neo-cons, hijacked the Republican Party and drove this country in an un-charted dark area of madness. For many it is hard to see for sure whether or not we can recover.

Too many in the neighborhood and outside see the US as an out of control arrogant bully obsessed with the flow of oil. The oil in Iraq can never be secured by the US because the different factions are more than willing to fight over it as if it is the only pie on the table. That pie to them represents the core of power. They are willing to kill each other off over that power. This is a civil war that at some point will become full blown. We are spending our treasure and blood on a pipe dream turned mess while the world watches on.

Even though the president’s poll ratings are down to 31%,the world will never be able to look at America as having the credibility it once held. According to the polls taken before the invasion of Iraq, 72% of the American public along with many of the present presidential hopefuls supported and believed in the Bush administration pre-emptive war.

The masses and many in our country that took a stand against the invasion of Iraq were referred to by George Bush as a focus group, in which he ignored. This to many represented a dictator incognito.

Recently, the few mentioned above took a stand with the president to veto a bill crafted for poor children. So you see, the few that lost much ground in 2006 would rather remain behind a failed policy with no end near than help the nation’s poor.

No closure for the American majority

In the Bush administration hypocrisy shows up so frequently like a returning thief in the night stealing and sapping away at the American spirit that many around the world wanted to follow.

At a meeting with leaders of Canada and Mexico, Bush said: “ If the government doesn’t respond to demands of the people they will replace the government.” “That’s up to the Iraqis to make that decision, not American politicians.”

Many of us feel at moments that somehow the world is upside down when we hear words from George Bush. He is like a person that has a terrible odor complaining about an odor of another. Does he realize he is ignoring the demands of the majority in his own country? Does George Bush understand that the reason why American politicians are applying pressure on the Iraqi government is because they are adhering to the demands of the American majority?

For those of us that have digested hypocrisy and corruption through out the Bush Administration years which will be coming to a close, not to put impeachment on the table doesn’t give us and the world the closure we deserve.

Will we ever see peace again?

Some of us just can’t connect with any real hope from both parties of presidential hopefuls. It is hard for us to see beyond a war with no end near and the lack of accountability from an administration that chooses to hide behind executive privilege to block links that would expose an administration that put itself above the law. If there is no real drumbeat for impeachment from the presidential hopefuls, the Bush stain on the White House will carry over with the next occupant. We know that a country can’t forge a new direction and change its path in a real way if it is in denial of its wrongs.

How can the next president build credibility and trust under the shadow of a predecessor that lost it in front of the world? How can the world trust America again after giving George Bush two terms in office?

With global warming and world war three standing near, it is like a house on fire not noticed by members inside while divided and fighting among themselves. Many of us are looking for a peace-maker with wisdom in our next president.We know that the road toward peace cannot be paved with denial.

Let's have wisdom and trust back

It was like a western posse forming; some members reluctant and many willing in the beginning stages in the lead up to the war in Iraq. Even though only a few spoke out against a climate of vigilantism, the world and the ones behind the few witnessed a wave of silence while the dissenter’s patriotism was being questioned. Those behind the few and many outside of America stood by and watched how fear was used as a tool to hijack a nation’s spirit.

Some would like to pretend that the Iraq war is just another war like all other wars fought by America. The story out of the trail that led to the Scooter Libby conviction reveals the true nature of a war of choice spun by a deceitful administration.

If we had someone else in the White House masquerading as a democrat practicing the same policy of the present occupant, a certain party would most certainly use impeachment as a tool of choice; Bill Clinton can attest to that. His offence was beneath pale in comparison with the offenses of the present occupant.

While one presidential hopeful stated that the Iraq war is “George Bush’s war” and that “he started it”, a faint drumbeat for impeachment is smothered out by the newcomer compared to a rock star; selling hope.

How can America rejoin that world where trust and wisdom reside? If we can’t find our way back, we will never again be able to lead the way. We can’t find our way back looking the other way.

The perfect candidate is a thing of dreams

The following letter was published on May 30, 2007 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Many who voted in the 2006 elections across the country feel we are being taken for a ride by some of our leaders on both sides of the political spectrum.

We wonder how many others are screening their calls to avoid political fundraisers. We just don't feel we are getting what we voted for on the national stage, and the presidential hopefuls are not saying what we want to hear.

Just think if a well-spoken, brave, knowledgeable lawyer with impeccable credentials appeared on the political stage after the loss of a child in Iraq, with his hat among the presidential candidates on a platform to encourage impeachment proceedings against the Bush administration; online fundraising would skyrocket. If he promised to have the Bush administration go before a world court, the media would start asking the impeachment question, and the Maliki government would no longer be able to milk America's resources.

Presidential hopefuls owe us Iraq preview

The following letter was published on May 18, 2007 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Many of us have been waiting for some type of special sneak preview from our politicians on how the war in Iraq should be turned around. The following is what most would like to hear:

Should we pull out of Iraq and go totally on the defense while creating thousands of Arab-speaking Americans to penetrate the enemy, or stay on the offense and continue to let the enemy turn our strength into a weakness? To deplete and unnerve our resources is the clear strategy of the enemy. Our strategy is to talk tough and ignore that an end is not in sight. To gain support internationally on the war on terror, the lines should be drawn in the psychology of our cause as well as the enemy.

Our presidential candidates should have the courage to show a preview of how the world would be better off if impeachment proceedings were started against the Bush administration.

Accountabilty is long over due

What will come out of the Bush administration Pandora’s box next? The world knows how we treated our prisoners of war; the world knows how we treated our own after Katrina; and now, the world knows how we treated our wounded at Walter Reed. How can a country that prides itself on the maturity of its democracy recover from the shame the Bush administration has brought on it? Hollywood, Congress and the Senate, please step up to the plate and show why at this moment in time, the US should put impeachment on that table with lies that put many in harms way for a war of choice that have caused thousands of wounded humans and the loss of over a half million lives.

A wasted treasure = insecurity at home

Aside from looking at the blood tally, the robust treasure squandered on an illusion fading out in cross-fires, will not stop flowing on a lost cause unless we all see while spurring insecurity in Iraq, America is losing a sense of security at home.

Imagine because of the war in Iraq a co-operation is experiencing cutbacks in many of its programs; subsequently meaning that the pie has gotten smaller and some employees will have to be pushed out creatively.

Lets imagine in this co-operation Jack and Carol were pushed out with a process called, “Putting Employees Against An Employee.” Now that Jack and Carol is gone it leaves other employees left behind with mortgages and car notes, with the thought; who’s next?

Because of money being wasted in a war that should not be, so many Americans like in the Jack and Carol scenario, live in fear that they are going to lose what they have.

Vote to invade Iraq won't be forgiven

The following letter was published on February 12, 2007 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

At this moment in time, talking about ending the war in Iraq will not win the election for some of the candidates running for president.

For many of us, the next vote for the presidency will not be a vote against George Bush, but a vote for bringing closure, sanity, compassion and wisdom back to a nation that lost its way.

George Bush may have pulled the trigger, but his accomplices – the ones who cast a vote for him to invade Iraq – gave him the power. Blood is on their hands as well.

This is not the time for those who cast a vote for Bush to invade Iraq to play politics. So many limbs have been lost, so many lives have been taken, and so many faces and bodies have been burned. Those of us who understood the consequences of invading a nation with hate-filled factions will not forgive those who cast a vote to invade Iraq unless they are willing to put impeachment on the table.

It is a proud time in America

With Rep. Nancy Pelosi as speaker of the House of Representatives and Deval Patrick governor of Massachusetts, many of us are feeling good about the direction the country and Massachusetts are headed. It seems arrogance and stubbornness are loosing that grip that smothered out reason, and wisdom. Many of us feel the 2006 voters like in Massachusetts and all across the country have set America on a path toward healing. No longer will so many reasonable minds be held hostage to the whims of a party lost in extremism. It is a proud time in America and the world to have sanity back in a country that lost its way.

More troops isn't answer

The following letter was published on December 27, 2006 by
USA TODAY

Many Americans know the suggestion to put more troops in Iraq will only prolong the agony of accepting a reality born out of an invasion that was ill thought out. That reality is: America can't impose its will on a broken nation.

Let's hope the message sent by voters in the 2006 elections will resonate among the decision-makers in the Iraq war. Knowing when to fold does not mean "cut and run."

In the minds of many Americans, the Iraq situation is unsolvable with an American presence. A civil war in Iraq can't be resolved by a third party, especially when that third party can't pick sides.

Whether the United States can win in Iraq should not be the question. The question should be: Can a civil war, which has already started, be stopped?

The Iraq factor

The following letter was published on November 12, 2006 by
The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts

"Enough!" fueled the drive toward changing the political landscape in a nation led by an administration that created a quagmire.

Election 2006 is about truth vs. fiction. The impression many of us have is that the Bush administration lacks empathy concerning the mounting human cost in Iraq. Just 18 years ago, many of those dead soldiers were in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade.

No parent wants to raise a child to die in a war that is no longer called noble, and for a president who no longer says, "Stay the course."

The country and the whole world are looking on and expecting a change.

A message to the new Congress and the new Senate

My country has to make a decision when the new Congress takes over; we can share and accept the disdain for the Bush administration or show to the country and the world that we believe that this administration should be held accountable.

Right now the Iraq war to America is like a house that lost its foundation. The only choice for the occupants in that house, is to leave. The longer they stay, the more likely it will come crashing down on them. That house can't be rebuilt with no foundation, like democracy can't survive on a foundation built on theocracy. Both repel the other.

For the sake of the troops in Iraq, many of us feel they should be withdrawn immediately and impeachment should be put on the table.

The above message should be the message sent to the new Congress and the new Senate when convened in January.

Imaginary scenario

Eventually everyone involved with trying to find a solution to the quagmire in Iraq will admit to and conclude that the civil war inevitably will have to run its course.

If he can find humility and think about what is good for America and the world, Americans would forgive him and the world would move on. Just think if the following imaginary scenario actually happened in the real world a healing would start in many parts of the world.

The president of the US addressing the country and the world:

“Effective today, I have accepted Mr. VP Dick Cheney’s resignation, and I have also given mine. It has become clear to me that Iraq is in an advanced stage of a civil war. Therefore, Mr. Cheney and I decided we must accept full responsibility for opening up and causing this disastrous chapter in Iraq. To spill more American blood on this directionless course will only deepen our sorrows. I have signed an order to start a withdrawal of troops out of Iraq and have them all home by three months. I don’t want to leave my successor with the blood I have on my hands.”

As this imaginary story goes, many neo-cons hyperventilated and one suffered a heart attack when they heard Nancy Pelosi was measuring windows at the White House for new drapes.

Closure

I think George Bush and Dick Cheney should be forced to resign by the Senate and the Congress if they have real evidence that the intelligence were manipulated. I think investigations can start in January soon after the new Congress and Senate take over. This would not be pay back to the Republicans; it would be closure to those in the US, Iraq and other parts of the world that have suffered losses. These two men that have never experienced being in war themselves were too anxious to get one started where it should not have been. America should show to the country and the world that we have acknowledged that the Bush administration colored the truth and should be held accountable. The American voters took the Congress and the Senate back not for business as usual. If Bush and Cheney are not forced to resign or impeached many more American soldiers will die under the pretense that Iraq is not having a civil War.

Accountability on the horizon?

He must be dreaming about investigations. His appearances on the Rush Limbaugh talk radio show and the Christian Broadcast Station along with that desperate grasp for straws demonstrated in his response to the joke botched by John Kerry shows the extreme intensity of a leader’s effort to shore up a very frayed base. Days away voters in America might get that America back that was once proud or continue to be stagnated in an America criminally hijacked by the Bush administration.

Growing nuclear club necessitates dialogue

The following letter was published on October 27, 2006 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

When we invaded Iraq in front of the world, we revealed how power can be misused in the hands of an arrogant leader.

The interest in and proliferation of nuclear technology is based on foreseeing a future reality. Market forces, resources, religion, distrust and greed are driving the membership up in the nuclear club. The animosity built up in many parts of the world against the Bush administration's policies certainly makes the U.S. the most plausible target for the first attack.

At this moment in time no member in the nuclear club cannot afford dialogue.

Cape Cod Times endorsement 2004

The Bush administration cried wolf too many times and the republican control congress and senate gave too many blank checks. I believe like many, the mood in America has shifted because so many voters feel that they have been had by some of those members of a party that were willing to suppress and distort the truth. Because the political climate seems to be changing, I think it is time on some level for the Cape Cod Times to address the endorsement of George Bush in 2004. Like many I would like to know CCTs thoughts now on that endorsement. Does the Cape Cod Times feel it has been had?

He does not have the credibility to comment on violence

Unknown by many, Susan Ralston, a top aide to the brain behind George Bush resigned 10/6/06 because of her connection to the Abramoff scandal. The Bob Woodward book, the resignation of Rep. Mark Foley along with Rove’s top aide stepping down are all part of a party’s arrogance self destructing while many of us are asking: Where is George Bush’s credibility? Knowing how he spurred the violence now in Iraq by going in there under the false pretense of looking for WMD, his weekly radio address condemning violence in schools as a result of the Amish killings has the same feel when Mark Foley spoke out against sexual predators.

The national stage is an intimate part of the local stage

The local political stage is so intimately connected to the national political stage this election year, that many of us have taken that pause and asked: Is a vote for Kerry Healey a vote for the policies of George Bush? It doesn’t matter to many of us what Kerry claims to stand for because we know what her boss, Mitt Romney stands for. If we want to purge the hurtful policies of George Bush out of Ma., we must indeed vote for Deval Patrick.

Time for closure

Rep. Mark Foley e-mail scandal along with Bob Woodward’s book exposing denials of the Bush administration adds to what many of us feel is a revealing of hypocrisy in a party that have wrongly stood together. So much damage has been done with the party in power, many of us wonder whether it can be repaired in the eyes of the country and the eyes of the world. When an individual or a family is unjustly hurt by another, a legal setting usually gives closure or justice to the hurt party or parties. Many of us feel the country and the world is owed some type of justice that will provide the closure for the country and the world to move on. Many of us feel that Mark Foley should be investigated to the fullest extent and impeachment should certainly be put on the table against the Bush administration.

Denial or Reality

How many of us can say that George Bush is the best president of all times? How many of us can say that the Iraq war is on a road toward success and citizens in Iraq love Americans and George Bush? Can we say that the president’s legacy is intact and his greatest achievements are his picks: Secretary of Defense, Rumsfeld and the VP Cheney? For answers that are in the affirmative, let’s leave that world that enables the mind of a president that thinks he is right and the world is wrong. Let’s read Bob Woodward’s book on denial, titled “State of Denial”, and take a close look at what John Murtha on the Defense Appropriations Sub Committee claimed: “The Iraq war is being mischaracterized”. Weeks from now voters will have to decide whether the country should stay in denial or move forward in a reality.

The mind of the world

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Man has become a cancer in the belly of the world
The representation of the brain, which somehow shows what I saw was coming and where the world was spinning toward, reveals what I felt at that time about men's activities in the earth.

Clouding reality

With the elections nearing weeks away many of us wonder whether a pulse in this country is beating with clarity of un-realities existing in the Bush administration: The WMD that were unfounded, but justified by regime change; The notion that Americans are safer because of the war in Iraq, even though the assessment of the National Intelligence Estimate differ, and the effort to blame Bill Clinton for not capturing or killing Bin Laden are all part of a process to create a false pulse, and cloud reality. Hopefully, Bill Clinton’s vigorous challenge on Fox News will resonate across the media like a thunder bolt and wake up many more sleeping republicans deceived by shifty right wing neo-cons, with Karl Rove leading the bunch.

Conservatism out, compassion in?

The following letter was published on September 22, 2006 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Many of us feel that Deval Patrick's win in the primary is a sign that conservatism is on its way out and compassion and wisdom are being welcomed. Let's hope other parts of the country share the same mood.

Rhetoric or Accountability

Here we go again bracing ourselves against being Bush whacked with the terms “Islamic Fascism”. From the very beginning of the Iraq invasion colored rhetoric laced with fear comes and goes like questionable prices on automobiles at a shady car dealership. We are nearing that time for the House and Senate to become something else other than a rubber stamp. This thought must be terrifying for the Bush administration. If the democrats become a majority in the House and the Senate, that alone would mean that Americans want the Bush administration to be held accountable. This is a very desperate moments for those republicans that committed themselves to a war of choice. They are followers of a leader in denial. Accountability would open up a can of worms with Karl Rove being the first to crawl out. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that the near future will bring investigations rather than more fear laced rhetoric.

9/11

Like many it was acceptable to me when the U.S. invaded Afghanistan to pursue the enemy responsible for the tragedies resulting from the attacks on Sept.11, 2001.

When the Bush Administration decided Iraq should be added to the mix on the war against terrorism it opened the eyes of many viewing the Bush administration as an out of control lynch mob.

I think the silence and the votes for the war against Iraq along with a little over 70% of the public, according to the polls at that time supported the war, revealed to many in my country that the U.S. had lost something very sacred. The attack on Iraq was a betrayal of the U.S. spirit while the world watched on.

Like many I will never forget 9/11. Like many I will never forget that child that lost both his arms and legs as a result of an arrogant administration with a cowboy mentality that rushed to war on a nation found not to be linked to 9/11.

The president is disconnected

Think of a father that asked his son to go outside his home to shovel snow in a fierce cold snow storm. The son noticed that the path he shovelled quickly filled up, yet, the father persisted that he was not going to let his son back into his home until the path was clear. That American soldier some where in Iraq that can see clearly that a civil war is indeed going on can feel that disconnect In President Bush’s words: “We are not leaving, so long as I’m the president.

Insanity

It is almost inevitable when trust is betrayed in the world the focus of the world is driven toward a blind fear rather than a universal effort to sustain the earth. While many are witnessing along with many experiencing, a disregard for the value of innocent life roars on while sanity is smothered out by a political majority. Trust and fair play is the tape that has held the civilized world together. One cannot be without the other. A world without trust is a world with too much scheming and too much plotting.

The neo-cons have made a mess. Plotting by them is not the only plotting going on. The other sides are plotting too. The world is in sort of a pre-WWIII mode. Not being hit since 9/11 is just a calm before the storm. The Bush administration has raised a war readiness in the world at a time when scientists have conclusive evidence that the Artic is melting. Instead of making preparations on scaling back the use of fossil fuels we are (men) turning up the volume against fighting each other.

This is insanity.

The sanddollar

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The sand dollar
The sand dollar represents the uniqueness of Cape Cod, what I felt and still feel about the special inner beauty of the Cape.

On a collision course with World War III

The following letter was published on August 2, 2006 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Intelligent people can see that the world is moving in a very dark direction in contrast with the false hope and out-of-sync portrayal coming from the Bush administration.

Too many people in America bought into the Bush administration act in their early denials. Now that many have pulled their blinders off, the country and the world are too far down that path, with World War III, standing by waiting near the eleventh hour. Many of us can feel the road the world is speeding on and sense the collision ahead.

Many of us also feel helpless because our leaders, who are supposed to be sane but are not, are in the driver's seat.

Denial and Pride

There are those that think the root cause of the problem in certain conflicts is simply for the little bullies to concede all to the big bullies before a cease fire is put in place. These are simple terms describing a very complex situation: Many of us think the greatest fear now for the superpowers is ; they have been the oppressors with their weapons of mass destruction; and now that the oppressed have access to the knowledge and a sizeable amount of weapons themselves, it has raised the paranoia of the big bullies. While innocent people are dying, living in misery and begging for the conflicts to stop in Lebanon, Israel and any other parts of the world where the big bullies won’t talk to the small bullies, the world continues to be dysfunctional while the real root cause of the problem is buried in denial and pride.

Madness

Imagine a town in the old west where the law in the town is control by two rich bullies acting outside the law. This type of town is at the mercy of bully power. Where ever there is bully power there is silence laced with repression that will explode only out of courage. In reality the US and Israel are viewed as bullies of the world by many nations. Back in the old west when anyone decided to take a stand against the bulling in a town it was the beginning of an exploding courage to affirm the law. We don’t have to negotiate , we will kill you, is the attitude and the mark of the bullies. Imagine one of those bullies in that western town heard his son received a brutal beating after slapping a sister of the boy he received the beating from. That dad went into that town drunk with two six shooters and shot everyone in his path to get to the boy that beat his son while the other town bully looked the other way.

The many innocent victims bombed by the madness of superpowers in Iraq, Palestine, and Lebanon view terrorists as the ones that are dropping the bombs. The superpowers view them as collateral damage. In the eyes of many in the world, the modern day bullies are the ones that will destroy everything in their path and twist the facts to have their way. Any group, leader, or country that is willing to kill and destroy the property of innocent people to get to an enemy have all crossed that line with blood on their hands into that world called madness.

Hypocrisy

At an earlier moment in time he stated “Affirmative Action does not square with the constitution.” On 7/20/06 at the annual NAACP convention he stated: “I have come to celebrate the heroism of the civil rights movement and the accomplishments of the NAACP.” Thousands of innocence people have died as a result of a questionable war he lead America in during a time of fear. He claimed his veto against the stem cell measure will save innocent life. Does he really understand the accomplishments of the NAACP and does he have a genuine interest in innocent life? How many of us see George W Bush as very disingenuous along with being the epitome of a hypocrite?

Parallel World

On George Stepulopalus show Madeline Albright stated that the Bush administration is in a “Parallel Reality” concerning the success or mess in Iraq. There are so many crises in the world now and many of us wonder whether the pre-emptive strike on Iraq is connected to the worst of it. The questions many of us are asking are: Did the inexperience of the Bush administration lead the world down a path facing world war three? Can America’s credibility deficit with the world be turned around with another political party in the Senate and the House? Would it be in the country’s best interest to impeach Bush and Cheney and bring some reality back to the country or continue to exist in that “Parallel Reality?”

Hatred on the rise

The behavior of many Islamic extremists is very similar in nature to the behavior of the men in that army under the biblical character Moses. Those men slaughtered others thinking God was behind them; see Numbers in the old testament, chapter 31: 16,17. Is the war against terrorism a war against ancient ways and thinking? Is there a significant difference between the modern prosecution of a war and the ancient? Did George W. Bush think God was behind him when he gave the okay to invade Iraq? If war is about acts of hatred, would any supreme being be the driving force behind it, if all opposing sides hated each other? By attacking Iraq, did the US positioned itself to fight against hate or spread more. With the volume of insanity in the present events turned up with more violence, is the world on the fast track toward destruction? Should we all be asking ourselves the above questions, or have we become too complacent?

It is time to bring the troops home

It is reasonable to seek for a date to bring the troops home out of a messy war that does not seem to have direction toward an end. We will exhaust our resources if we continue on the offense.

The creatures our troops are fighting against exist in a similar fighting mode Moses commanded his officers of the army to be in. Numbers 31: 17-18, “ Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known a man intimately. But keep alive for yourselves all young girls who have not known a man intimately.” Moses was angry that his officers brought the above captives in the war against the Midianites back alive. The Iraqi insurgents, foreign and local don’t look at themselves as murderers like the west view them. They view themselves like Moses’s men viewed themselves; soldiers of God.

In reality, fighting against the Iraqi insurgent is like fighting against an ancient God. It seems the more you kill, the more will come. We can stretch our resources so far in an unpopular war while the belt on the purse string is being tightened at home. Now that we understand the culture of this enemy, why wait to get on the defense. In their minds, as opposed to the west, God has not modernized.

I agree with John Kerry’s assessment of the Bush administration cutting and running from reality. While the world has looked on, the rush to war by the Bush administration has brought nothing but sorrows. To stay the course would increase the sorrows. Let the Iraqis sort out whether they will be ruled by ancient ways or some type of a democracy. Whether it will take years or another century, that battle should be left for the Iraqis to fight. Our troops and our resources cannot solve that divide. Lets bring the troops home and target our real enemy that have been targeting our troops and our resources.

In your eyes

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Lets get those borders secured

At this moment in a nation waiting to be hit by an enemy that patiently put years into plotting, we should not be a nation so pre-occupied with fixing the immigration problem. If we can’t secure our borders, we should start impeachment proceedings on the Bush administration so the country and the world can have closure. This is the only way to bring back trust and credibility to the American spirit.

With the low approval ratings of the Bush administration, most Americans understand that too many stones were thrown, and the America that once had a reputation for governing with wisdom is now existing in a glass house predicament. Three more years of a Bush administration would represent a country in denial. This is a very dangerous dilemma. We cannot afford not to have the borders secured. We cannot afford not to strengthened and enforce the laws on immigration. This moment in time calls on an across the board immigration policy. We must do what it takes to secure the borders.

Has compassion escaped Sudan?

With all the news interest that have transpired over the pass two weeks; the fuel crisis, presidential possibilities, the march in NY against the war in Iraq, Colin Powell’s admission that his advice on putting more troops in Iraq at the start of the war went upon deaf ears, and the warm reception for the book written by Ted Kennedy does not claim my attention as much as the genocide in Sudan. I’m thankful that the actor George Clooney is putting forth such a strong hearth felt effort to bring world attention to a defenseless situation for people that are targeted for death. There are some real serious questions on who gets humanitarian help in the world when some humans are experiencing horrendous tragedies. Some of those questions were answered during the Katrina tragedy in New Orleans. Have the global markets, politics, oil, wealth, and self interest smothered out any real compassionate response to the needs of people crying out to the world for help? Have the religious leaders that preach compassion asked their followers how long can they ignore and turn their backs away from the desperate calls of help from Sudan? In retrospect, where is real compassion in the world?

More blood and more billions will not solve it

The expected goal backed by U.S. officials for the Iraqis to establish a fair government shared by Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds is simply a pipe dream born out of an illusion. The thought of replacing the voted in Prime Minister Ibrahim al- Jaafari to solve the stalled opposition, calls into question what type of democracy is being formed in Iraq. It seems the search for a face saving pull out of troops borders on a false hope that three different factions will come together under a common interest. Culture divisions and concerns evolving around power is deeply rooted and cannot be solved by a government put together out of haste. It is like forcing two people that hate each other into a marriage. The marriage would quickly fall apart. The presence of American soldiers adds to the the following negatives: The wounds of loosing power can not be healed in a quick made up government. An oppressed majority that gained power out of an occupation lived with bitterness and dreamt of revenge. Those that were protected by the no fly zone that practiced and tasted a type of democracy; they fear the majority’s appetite for a theocracy. More blood, more billions and a quick put together government will never solve the above negatives.

Reverse black paper

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Looking for a leader among the republicans

The moment is ripe for a courageous republican to break rank and call on the president to be impeached. This type of stand would be compared to the stand taken in the 1954 movie, “The Caine Mutiny.” The captain on that ship, like the commander and chief of the US, showed signs of being detached. Reality on that ship was being questioned, like the reality now in the US. Imagine an arsonist standing in the woods all alone with a box of matches in his hands contemplating setting the woods on fire. The moment the match is lit, many of the trees, animals and plants will forever be changed. The attack on Iraq was like that moment the match was lit. One moment charged the adrenaline of an arsonist by watching the fire, and maybe that same type of moment charged the adrenaline of a leader in the thought of expanding on a legacy. The delusions in both moments set off havoc. Imagine the family of the arsonist deciding not to buy the story that the killer bear was the reason the fire was set. Imagine this family turning their own son in to the authorities. It is time for the party in power to stand up to the plate and edify the country in the eyes of the world by demanding accountability from a member of their own. The country and the world awaits on that courageous republican to lead in bringing reality back to a party lost in an illusion.

Time to focus on cleaning house

What now, and where do we go as a nation from here? It is clear that the policy in Iraq is certainly a failure and the possibility of pulling all the troops out is on the horizon. Imagine being in a dysfunctional family with a problematic father that squandered much of the family’s wealth and divided the loyalty. One side of the family enabled the father by ignoring and catering to his problem. The other side which was once small in numbers confronted the father. Now that the reason for the great loss of wealth and the father’s problem is more transparent, is now at the forefront, the enabling side suffers a loss of members. Like this family that finally decided to pick up the pieces and move on, it is time for America to pick up the pieces and move on. We should not be swayed by an apparent attempt by the president to change the subject. When his trip to India, Afghanistan and Pakistan is over, the port deal controversy along with the Iraq mess, he made, will still be at the forefront. As a nation we can move on by taking at good look at both houses of the government and clean out those members who were more inclined to smother out and silence wisdom against an out of control president that lead America into a mess. Let the chips fall where they may.

Port deal

The following letter was published on February 28, 2006 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Given the track record of the Bush administration, any thoughtful minded person would be suspicious of the port deal: Who was rewarded for sealing the deal; and how much money did that person receive? Was Karl Rove involved?

“I’m trying to conduct foreign policy by saying to people of the world, ‘We’ll treat you fairly’” The above statement by George Bush has the same type of melodrama and tone of a defendant found guilty of murder in a court, offering his car for amends to the victim’s family. It is especially troublesome to hear that the port deal was sealed without George Bush having knowledge of it.

It is un-canny to hear professional people defend the sale of six of our ports to the United Arab Emirates. They are willing to sell their souls even if it means to put the Homeland Security in jeopardy. At this moment in history so many of us are holding on to the notion that at this point the Bush Administration has become transparent even to the folks in the red states. The concern of penetration is a wake up call to every one.

What would George Bush say if this sale is allowed and the country is penetrated through the ports? Again, like not finding those weapons of mass destruction, he would put the blame on the intelligence.

The great boxer and the great speaker

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The great boxer and the great speaker
The courageous speaker and the courageous boxer spoke their minds in spite of the threats against their lives and their livelihoods. They will be fixed in my mind forever as my greatest heroes.

America's evil enemy may be just a fantasy

The following letter was published on February 15, 2006 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

What are we fighting against? Some call it an evil ideology. The Hamas victory gives rise to the question: maybe a theocracy? The protest over the caricatures of the prophet Muhammad reveals that cultural divide; theocracy on one side and democracy on the other.

Can a democracy really sustain itself in Iraq? Will it evaporate like the democracy in Iran during the years of the shah? If in the end democracy loses out in the Arab world to a theocracy, the offensive posture lead by the U.S. is indeed an expensive fantasy paid in billions and blood.

Let's hope after all the smoke and mirrors, and Karl Rove, this country will invest more in a defensive approach by securing our borders, investing in homeland security, and promoting Arabic and Chinese as required languages in the business and culture sciences.

I think it will take some time for all Americans to wake up to what we are fighting against. When we all do finally wake up, we might find that we are fighting against an illusion.

Too much power given to a leader can corrupt a system

If you have nothing to hide, why worried, should not be the question concerning Joan McDonald letter to the editor published 12/26/05. The question should be whether America, a mature democracy, can afford to allow power to easedrop on Americans to be totally unchecked. In fact, it scares me more when I think how too much power given to a leader can corrupt a system. 9/11 should not cause a democracy to re-invent itself to the point of looking more like a Kingdom. I'm proud to know that my country is serious about keeping this discussion on the table. Civil liberties were acquired through so many discussions. That is what makes America a mature democracy. I feel safe that silence has lost its grip on Congress and the Senate. It is my belief that this country can become divided and fall apart so much quicker under a King than under a democracy. Sometimos I wonder whether the enemy knows that.

Getting at the truth

Some of George Bush’s critics steadfastly asked before the invasion of Iraq that George Bush secure a referendum from the United Nations to Invade Iraq. Some of those critics voted for George Bush to go to war but not to over ride the UN. To strengthen the President’s hand does not mean following behind a trumped up cause for war. George Bush low approval ratings at this moment in history reveals a turning point in the faith the American people have in their President. The question is not whether his critics are trying to rewrite history, the question is whether his administration doctored intelligence for the cause of war. Using patriotism and 9/11 to stir the pot of vigilantism has lost its thunder. Karl Rove will have to go back to the drawing board. Too many are wise to the Bush administration’s rallying tools for a war fever. Those tools seem to be fading into a background of deceit that have given life to the newly revived Senate investigation of pre-war intelligence.

Something is wrong

With the continuous down slope of the American dollar abroad, the unnecessary blood shed in Iraq, and the billions of dollars going down the drain in a war that has no foreseeable end; why not consider impeaching the President? It is obvious that the American public is indeed paying attention now. The undisclosed documents that are being demanded by the newly revived Senate Investigation of pre-war intelligence, as a result of the Downing Street memo on Iraq, is another serious approach, along with the Indictment of Scooter Libby to get to the truth. Before Americans can set things right or regain that trust we once had in the world, we must admit to ourselves as well as the world that our leaders lied to us and the world. We can’t go on pretending we are not in the mess we are in. How can we as Americans continue with the present leadership that is detested in other parts of the world. The protests set off in Argentina, Uruguay and I suspect Brazil will follow, are not because of the Free Trade Agreement; it is because of George W. Bush. Something is wrong when an American President is treated like an Adolf Hitler.

There is hope

Here we go again folks; another agenda driven presidency in the world. This one is not asking for regime change; he is asking for the total destruction of Israel. I don’t believe either one has an understanding of the phrase, ”Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.” Lets hope the UN will regain its footing after the probe of Iraqi oil-for-food program. Someone once said, “A divided house will fall.” With the world in such turmoil, along with agenda driven leaders turning up the volume on violence, special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald offers a glimmer of hope that sanity is finding its way back in a nation that lost it. Lets hope Scooter’s lies has a trail that will make the Bush administration accountable. Like Rosa Park, many of us are saying; enough, enough, enough. Like his counter part in Iran, extremism has gripped his party so tightly that he decided to ignore the middle and go all the way to the right with his supreme court nominee.

The Herring Run

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The Great Divider

He finally got around to dividing his own party. As a result for his pick for the Supreme Court bench, which many see as unqualified, Harriet Miers speaks volumes about George Bush's wisdom. The world knows his presidency from the beginning split America sharply. With the volume of violence being turned up higher after 9/11 in the world, many in the world blames George Bush for having his fingers on the knob. There are some that think Mother Nature has expressed through hurricanes, floods and earthquakes her disatisfaction with George Bush's enviromental policies, along with igniting a war that should not be. "God told me to go into Iraq, and by God, I will do it." If this quote is true, it is easy to see why the world is divided as well. Like the 54% that disapprove of George Bush's leadership, you can't help asking, "What is next!!?" There are Presidents that are known for being great communicators; I think it is safe to say George Bush will go down in history as the "Great Divider".

The broken record

At the National Endowment for Democracy on 10/6/05 these words came out of George Bush's mouth: "The murderous Idealogy of the Islamic radicals is the great challenge of our new century." Some of us think the greatest challenge in America is for the policies of the Bush administration to be turned around so the respect once held by a country that had grown in wisdom can be re-captured. Americans did not go into Iraq for a murderous idealogy, they went in there for WMDs. For George Bush to continue to justify the war in Iraq using 9/11 like a broken record, opens that door wider to a room where reality does not exist, while the world looks on. It is not an idealogy that we or anyone should fear the most. What we should fear the most are old men like George Bush and Donald Rumsfeld. The willingness to send young people in a war that should not be puts them out there where wise minds don't travel.

Champagne

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Wanted in the U.S.A.: wisdom, compassion

The following letter was published on September 29, 2005 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

I'm amazed at how the slow response to Hurricane Katrina has somehow been turned around to look as if it were a communication problem between the federal government and the Louisiana state government. Mr. Bush took many trips to New Orleans, and the appearance of being on top of the Rita storm has a type of melodrama that may play well with his base while insulting the intelligence of clear minds.

The thought of putting the Pentagon in control of national disasters is a ploy, maybe, concocted by Karl Rove as a fear mechanism to distract and divide the public momentarily. Controlling the message and providing an illusion seem to be the Bush signature. The Republican Party machine has done a remarkable job at silencing compassion and wisdom by making them out to be liberal traits.

I believe Hurricane Katrina revealed to this country and the world that compassion and wisdom are desperately needed in a country that has been without them so long.

A President's arrogance

In response to the letter written 9/27/05 with the title, "On WMDs, enough 'lies' to go around," let me impress upon Mr. Richard Brady with all due respect, solidarity is crucial when a country is in imminent danger of being attack. I believe the Senators and the former President Mr. Brady named and quoted in his letter wanted support from the major players of the UN. George Bush had his finger on the trigger and it did not matter whether Mr. Blix, the weapon inspector at that time or the former weapon inspector, Mr. Ritter, said about WMD not being in Iraq. The UN was not anxious to pull the trigger. They listened to all sides. The former PresidentClinton, Sen. Ted Kennedy, Sen. John Kerry, and Sen. Hillary Clinton were all on the side for waiting for support from the UN. They were not anxious to pull the trigger with George Bush. I ask Mr. Brady not to confuse a President's arrogance with support to strenghten a President's hand. The President had his finger on the trigger and he wanted the glory. It was clear when he stood on that air craft carrier with the sign behind him "Mission Accomplished" that he thought at that time he had gotten the glory he wanted.

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Generations of segregation and discrimination

So many of us are amazed at this statement made by President Bush at the National Cathedral in Washington on 9/16/05, published in the New York Times on page A10: " This poverty has roots in generations of segregation and discrimination that closed many doors of opportunity." Mr Bush was referring to the poverty Hurricane Katrina revealed to the country and the world. We asked ourselves, is this the same George Bush that once stated, "Affirmative Action does not square with the constitution"? Does Mr. Bush realize now that Affirmative Action is a process that was put in place to help those that were affected by generations of discrimanation and segregation? Does Mr Bush, the country, and all those voices raised on re-versed descrimination know now that a country can't walk away from it's responsibility to the poor by using politics?

Pat Robertson

I hope the call for the assassination of Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, by Pat Robertson will wake some of those Christian conservatives that have a real understanding of what Christ really represented. Many of us know that Pat Robertson’s Christ is a Christ made up according to what his mind wants him to be. Apparently his Christ advocates violence. This might be a common trait among many other evangelists. It is scary to concede that this group was instrumental in putting a man in the White House. The self outing of Pat Robertson’s state of mind raises a serious question about the self claimed born again Christian in the White House. Can we see traces of Pat Robertson in him?

Cindy Sheehan

Yes, many of us agree that Cindy Sheehan's stand has that type of moral courage and determination seen in Rosa Park’s refusal to give up her seat on a bus In Montgomery Alabama, when many looked the Other way at the Jim Crow laws. Too many are looking the other way at a presidency that lied us into war. Perhaps Cindy Sheehan’s protest will give a true definition of a noble cause. For many of us Cindy represents that type of hope and light thatcould ignite a path toward truth in 2005 very much like that stand taken 50 years ago by that brave soul on that bus. There are those that are concern with giving comfort to the enemy, while they give a false sense of security to the people in this nation concerning a cause for being in Iraq. Imagine a western town with a sheriff, that has 18 year old off-springs, asking town people to send their 18 year olds, and not his ,to join a posse to catch a ring of killers that did their killings in another state. Even though the sheriff off-springs stayed in town alive and well, he called the deaths of the town people’s 18 year olds a noble cause. Years later it was discovered that the sheriff was really trying to avenge a murder of a mistress in that other state.

Tunnel vision

In response to the letter written on 7/11/05 by Mr. Steve Susko, with the title “Failure is not an option in Iraq”, allow me to impress upon Mr. Susko some brief realities. First of all, many of us don’t look at exiting Iraq as “cut and run”. Because of the dire and unsolvable mess, we would prefer to call it regroup and refocus.

It is not uncommon in a war to make an assessment of mistakes and evacuate an area to fight stronger in another. Please be advised that the enemies in Iraq are doing just that. It was widely supported when the U.S. invaded Afghanistan. So much trust and clout was lost when the U.S. invaded Iraq.

The selling of the Iraq war and the denial that follows has turned into some type of tunnel vision. That tunnel vision is falsely coated with Patriotism. How long can we protect a government in Iraq that is considered illegitimate? When we leave town, can that government ever sustain itself? The cost to not having a plan to leave town is enormous. While some are solely concerned about not to cut and run, many of us are concerned with the weaponry build up of nations like North Korea, Iran, and China.

Death

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The losses may become unbearable

The Fort Bragg address with the backdrop of American troops compared to landing on an aircraft carrier in a pilot jumpsuit was sort of a low key fluff. It takes a little fluff and maybe more when the most powerful leader in the free world breaks the sovereignty of another nation under a dictatorship and tries to graft democratic pieces to form a democracy among different factions with different philosophies.

Not only did he break a different world, he opened a floodgate and cleared a ground for the real elusive enemy to pass through and take a stand.

Some of us know that patriotism is not rallying around a leader that misled his country. Patriotism is a strong belief, will, and love for the values of a country. In this country that strong belief and values are all part of a mature democracy that did not happen over night. This country grew into it.

The pre-emptive strike and invasion of Iraq to the world was not the America they knew. It is no secret that many in the world think America is a captive of an administration that had an agenda.

After being exposed to certain truths before and after the invasion, the questions under the surface, contrary to a military philosophy; should we cut our losses, and put the blame where it belongs? Some of us know when the reality sets in that Iraq is indeed a quagmire, the losses may become unbearable.

The stage is being set

At some point there will be some traction from the hearts of the American public. Right now the truth is being suppressed because hatred and greed; they are both fueling madness in my country. Rest assured, many of us are awake to what is going on. It is something like Germany when Hitler was gaining traction. Hatred and greed is like a knob on a radio. The volume is turned up only when some feel they are going to loose what they have. That’s when the finger pointing starts and the madness rises. The stage is being set now.

Time to consider pulling out of Iraq

The following letter was published on June 27, 2005 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Let the debate begin and let the enabling of a presidency end.

That the most powerful leader in the free world injected himself in the Terry Schiavo case speaks volumes about his wisdom. His response to the findings of the autopsy has the same type of denial as in not finding those weapons of mass destruction.

To many of us, Rep. Walter Jones Jr. is a Republican waking up to a flowed leader he once solidly supported during the selling of the war. His resolution to come urging the president to plan an exit strategy in Iraq is long overdue.

It is no secret to many in other countries that the American dollar abroad is losing its value. It is no secret that recruitment for volunteer soldiers is down far below the average, while the enemy is volunteering to die. It is no secret to the rest of the world that there are those in the U.S. eager to point out the wrongs of the U.N. while whitewashing the wrongs of the U.S. It is no secret that our president to the world is the most unlikable one we've had of all time.

Isn't it time for a serious discussion for an exit strategy in Iraq?

"New Age Leaders"

With all the anti Americanism around the globe, and particularly the Middle East, why is the self righteousness so prominent in the character of those “New Age Leaders” of the Bush administration?

Take for example, Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice crusade for democracy In the Middle East. A photograph was taken of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon looking at Ms. Rice admiringly while she smiled. Put that photo next to the photo taken of Ms. Rice staring at Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit of Egypt combatively at a briefing in Sharm Sheik speaks volumes why foreign fighters are entering Iraq to die.

Why are there no cheers or tears from those people that are denied democracy that Ms. Rice speaks of? Like her “New Age” republican colleagues that have aligned themselves with angry conservative radio talk show hosts, and the Christian right to hi-jack power, seem to be lost in that form of local spin that doesn’t apply to the culture of the Middle East.

I whole heartedly support the Senate democrats in their efforts to stop the up or down vote to confirm John Bolton for the Ambassador of the U.N. He is the epitome of a “New Age” conservative self righteous, out of touch republican. Like his fellow toxic gang members, he would only serve as a recruiting tool, escalating anti Americanism.

Evaporating Democracy

Our talk of bringing freedom and democracy to Iraq is like talk of converting everyone in America with Islam. The actual nature of the people in Iraq will supersede the delusional nurturing of an eventual evaporating democracy. That is when we will all realize that billions of dollars and blood were wasted.

Life

Visit my art:

www.alwaddell.com

Moral values

Out of disappointment for the outcome of the election, like many, I have resigned to the fact that we should all search our own souls to define that which is different from the victors. When I read Carolyn Young’s Nov. 5 letter, “Bush won election on moral values”, I thought of a poem I wrote in 1980, titled, “Political Illusion,” see at www.alwaddell.com . When I read the gospel quote, in Mrs. Young’s Letter, “The lord is my light and salvation, whom shall I fear,” and the reference to the bloomed Christmas cactus in November after Mrs. Young returned home from giving thanks to the lord at Mass on Nov. 3, made me wonder whether Mrs. Young was aware of Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” The administration Mrs. Young voted for have given many of us the impression that peacemakers are considered weak. The tax cut given to rich must have escaped Mrs. Young’s list of moral values. Luke17: 24,25, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” If moral values are defined from one side of the scale, then, Mrs. Young’s bloomed November cactus is a sign that all the voters against the war in Iraq are wrong.

I can't shake and ignore

I can't shake and ignore how wrong it was in my life time for the leader in my country to talk of saving the unborn while being very caviler about sending people to a war that should not be.There has to be many voices that would like to speak for the people that are being mained, and killed on both sides. I know in my own heart that we can do better as a nation and as a world to keep leaders that have confused their followers into thinking peace is gained through war, off the stage. A false type of macho is driving the thinking of over a little of a half of USA. Over here that is called backbone. I realize many in the rest of the world look at it as anxious to pull the trigger.

The real world versus the dream world

With just a few days left before November 2, some democrats, republicans and non-party affiliates are haunted by the sheer thought of Bush being re-elected. For many of us this thought is a Halloween scare. Reality and the big picture versus a dream world seem to be the main components dividing our nation. In our nation‘s history, reality and the big picture played a great part in maturing our nation and keeping church and state separate. The Jamestown tragedy where mass suicide deaths took place under the instructions of Jim Jones, a religious leader, serves as an example how powerful a religious influence can have over intelligent people put under a spell. That spell is a dream world.

Maureen Dowd, a syndicated columnist for the New York Times, stated in her article published 10/21/04 that evangelicals called George Bush a messenger of God. Maureen went on to quote the television evangelist, Pat Robertson as saying, “God blessing is on him”, adding “it is the blessing of heaven on the emperor”.

When we think of George Bush’s pro life stance, which could delay hope and is in conflict with his rush into a war stance, interpreted among many as a pro death stance, raises the question, are church leaders behind Bush, pro life and pro death also?

The hypocrisy existing in the above conflict has a chilling effect on many of us that are wondering whether there are more voters in the real world or the dream world.

Is it time for a change of leadership?

The following letter was published on October 18, 2004 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Angela Lebeau’s Oct.12 letter, “U.N. has forfeited any right to respect”, replied to my Oct 6 letter "An Old West parable on Kerry's global test". With all due respect to Ms. Lebeau, her following questions to me - asking why I haven't “criticized the United Nations for foot-dragging in Sudan, where thousands are dying, and for the cover-up regarding the oil-for-food debacle in Iraq” - seem to be right out of George Bush’s toolbox of denials and excuses for invading Iraq.

Like many, I have witnessed the movement of the goal post as it became clear that no weapons of mass destruction were found.

I challenge Ms. Lebeau to not look for wrongs in other nations to justify our leader's wrongs. Ask, is it time for a change of leadership?

Senator Murray's work is well known

Unlike some of the natives in Massachusetts, a few years ago I didn’t know of Senator Therese Murray. I was approached with a request to do sketched portraits of children around her in a composition. The request came from an organization that wanted to present something special to the Senator during a celebration for her. I was too embarrassed to tell the organization that I didn’t know the Senator.

I made a few phone calls and talked to a few people out the earshot of the organization. The warmth, love, and admiration people I talked to have for the Senator helped me in transcending those qualities in the com- position. I can’t criticize her opponent because I really don’t know anything about his work. I do know from the eyes I looked in of the people I talked to about Sen. Murray; they all loved her work.

Proud of John Kerry

Many of us believe the Oct. 8 debate put in perspective an emerging satisfaction for the Kerry and Edward ticket. John Kerry is with out a doubt the best chance for the Democratic Party at this moment in history. His candidacy reflects the substance so badly needed in the White House.

The strategic manner demonstrated in Kerry debate style is informative and credible. We can envision, which is so badly needed, a president on the world stage that can lead rather than divide.

For many of us to really become comfortable with a leader, we look for empathy and hope. We see that In John Kerry. Unlike his opponent’s views on drugs from Canada, abortion, the quality of the environment, and the question on the stem cell research; Kerry views and eloquence showed a balanced command of the facts.

Over all, we believe it is unquestionable, unless some that viewed the debate have blinders on; Kerry’s depth and maturity is clearly lacking in his opponent.

An Old West parable on Kerry's global test

The following letter was published on October 6, 2004 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

George Bush challenged John Kerry on the meaning of his remark during the Sept. 30 debate about a "global test" if a pre-emptive strike is used by an American president. Maybe the meaning of a "global test" would be more comprehensible to Mr. Bush if it were put in simple cowboy settings.

Setting 1: Let's imagine this little town in the Old West. A bank was robbed by a robber who claimed the money he took was stolen from him by the bank. The sheriff of the town went to all the houses in the town that had 18-year-old sons and fathers to get them to join a posse to pursue the robber.When the town found out the sheriff was a best friend of the owner of the bank, no one joined the posse.

Setting 2: Let's imagine an honest, loved bank that helped a lot of folks in this Old West town was robbed. The sheriff of this town did not have to ask folks to join a posse: 18-year-olds and fathers volunteered.

George Bush's rush to war didn't pass a "global test" because the human bank of the United Nations was robbed of that respect acquired through time out of mutual wisdom.

Not presidential

The poor performance displayed by George Bush in the first debate against John Kerry, really substantiated concerns of job fitness many of us have had for the manager of our country.

It was so clear from George Bush’s responses and body language, that maybe he knew, that he was in a debate with some one, far out of his league.

George Bush needed to be able to hold on to a thought and convey it, to debate someone like John Kerry. It seems the most powerful leader in the free world thought processes are questionable. It is also clear to many of us that George Bush is no match for John Kerry.

We saw presidential material in Kerry. What we saw In the most powerful leader in the free world is not something presidential, but something that might be appropriate in a position as an assistant manger at a Berger King fast food.

Happy to vote 'for' and not just 'against'

The following letter was published on September 26, 2004 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

It’s never too late to take a stand on principle. It has been long over due, finally, from John Kerry. Many of us have stood by too long watching George Bush “sugar coat” the Iraq war. Now that John Kerry is going down that path to challenge the fantasy aspect of George Bush’s portrayal of the Iraq war, many of us can safely say we will not just vote against George Bush, but are voting for John Kerry.

Checkmate

When you hear that both presidential candidates are making preparations for the debate on the horizon, think of it as a chess game in progress, and a major move is being contemplated on.

From my vantage point of this political chess game, two pawns on John Kerry’s side of the board have become casualties of the smoke and mirrors shown at the Republican National Convention. John Kerry’s side of the board is still strong and lethal. All he has to do is wake voters up to the idiosyncrasies involved in the rush to war.

John Kerry’s opening move and question from my view should be: “Mr. President before you invaded Iraq, did you make any attempts to do an in depth study of the culture and the surrounding cultures”?

If the president in fact did do an in depth study be- for invading Iraq, he should be asked to give his sources.

The second leading question from my view should be asked by Mr. Kerry: “Mr. President can you define distinct differences and characteristics between a mature democracy and a medieval theocracy with modern features”?

The answer to the above question should put the president in check. Given what is known about some of the practices by some of the governments in the middle east, the severing of hands, and beheadings, challenges the whole concept whether any kind of democracy is sustainable in that part of the world.

The havoc caused by the invasion and occupation is a result of an arrogance and ignorance. The staying power of a democracy in its infancy co- existing with deeply planted roots of a theocracy is a fantasy. John Kerry should make it clear the story concerning how the shah in Iran was over thrown in 1979.

In retrospect, John Kerry has the intellect to bring clarity to the question: how long can a country go down a quick sand path following a fantasy that is draining blood and resources?

In retrospect, if the focus is narrowed down to what knowledge and understanding George Bush has of the Middle East culture, I believe Kerry’s intellect will score a checkmate.

Sunset inside Scargo Tower

Visit my art:

www.alwaddell.com

A choice

We all have a choice to make on that day in November. We can vote for the man that might be getting answers from the blowing of the wind or tea leaves. Or, we can vote for the man with his hand on a cocked trigger, waiting for someone to look at him cross eyed.

Even though the above characterizations are a bit extreme, they are both fitting for the badge both men wear. The first man was in the company of the man that authored the book “Profiles And Courage”. Also, the first man is a friend of that author’s brother.

The second man is promoted by the Rush Linbaughs and the Jerry Falwells in the country. The second man gave a tax break to the rich, questioned the legitimacy of “Global Warming”, claimed “Affirmative Action” didn’t square with the constitution, and started a blood draining expensive war.

It is an absolute certainty that one of these men lack the skills and temperament to work toward what the world needs the most; sanity and peace.

"The blind leading blind"

Many of us that watched in on the last night of the Republican National Convention might have had temporary momentary bouts with guilt. Using 9/11 to rally supporters around George Bush to tie in a justification for invading Iraq, conveyed a sort of surreal madness. It was a party serving a false sense of compassion and heroism, while beating the drums of war. Tears were seen dripping from faces in the audience as if George Bush was the embodiment of courage.

Apparently, this artificial sense of gaiety resonated with some viewers who watched the RNC. It is said, George Bush’s poll numbers went up in the double digits. The repeating pounding themes; will not waver, stand firm, capture and kill the terrorists, many would say, energized that base that seems to be byproducts of selective religious teachings.That base represents the constituents that gives life to the Bush administration.

That entity that described himself as meek, humble, and lowly that most of Bush’s constituents are followers of, also said, “ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall become sons of God”.

Voters on the fence

Monday’s opening performance was laced with sorrow and joy. The three women told heart wrenching stories of their love ones lost in the 9/11 plot. The Iraqi woman with the head wear on, thanking America for its sacrifice in its attempt to bring democracy to Iraq, along with two unique republican leaders justifying the war in Iraq, gave a sort of cohesiveness to the Republican National Convention that might resonate with those voters that are on the fence.

John Kerry is known for rising out of the ashes of the political dead. It is time for Kerry and Edwards to say something different about the Iraq war that would attract voters that are being swayed by John McCain and Rudy Giuliani. We know those two can’t get the anti-war vote. They can however get that ‘support the president wrapped in the flag vote’. Real stories from maimed soldiers, mothers of dead sons and daughters, and a real in depth look at the survival of a democracy in Iraq might make the whole Illusion justifying the Iraq war more transparent. The RNC is making its main theme and focus on the way George Bush has conducted the war on terrorism.

If Kerry can’t come up with a real way to attack George Bush’s short sightedness, then the depressing thought of four more years of George Bush will become a reality that many of us dread.

Brace for onslaught: November is near

The following letter was published on September 2, 2004 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

All our political parties, veterans, and non-party affiliates, let's brace ourselves for the onslaught. November is near. Let's keep our eyes on the ball. The ball is what we were told that is not so.

Look at Iraq as a giant power plug, plugged into the US, draining on our resources and blood with no end at sight. Let's not let the “Swift Boat Saboteurs” detract us.

The man living on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., told us we were in imminent danger of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. He knows November is near.

Making the rush to war look right

Monday’s opening performance was laced with sorrow and joy. The three women told heart wrenching stories of their love ones lost in the 9/11 plot. The Iraqi woman with the head wear on, thanking America for it’s sacrifice in it’s attempt to bring democracy to Iraq, along with two unique republican leaders justifying the war in Iraq, gave a sort of cohesiveness to the Republican National Convention that might resonate with those voters that are on the fence. John Kerry is known for rising out of the ashes of the political dead. It is time for Kerry and Edwards to say something different about the Iraq war that would attract voters that are being swayed by John McCain and Rudy Giuliani. We know those two can’t get the anti-war vote. They can however get that ‘support the president wrapped in the flag vote’. Real stories from maimed soldiers, mothers of dead sons and daughters, and a real in depth look at the survival of a democracy in Iraq might make the whole Illusion justifying the Iraq war more transparent. The RNC is making it’s main theme and focus on the way George Bush has conducted the war on terrorism. If Kerry can’t come up with a real way to attack George Bush’s short sightedness, then the depressing thought of four more years of George Bush will become a reality that many of us dread.

Colin Powell

On both sides of the war, all the deaths, maimed humans, ruined families, and the continuous violence might not have been if one man had taken a stand. I’ll think of this with others during the R.N.C. Like many I knew that Colin Powell had within his reach a courage waiting to be tapped to tip that scale of reason for going into Iraq. Instead there was a 180% turn around from the self proclaimed “Reluctant Warrior”.

That political courage John Kennedy mentioned in his book, “Profiles In Courage” escaped Colin Powell. “I have been interested in problems of political courage in the face of constituent pressures and the light on those problems by the lives of past statesmen”, John F. Kennedy.

If Mr. Powell had resigned rather than have faced the U.N with dubious evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, I don’t believe what many see as a fraud on the American public, would have held together. I believe the media would not have been as mute, and would have vigorously questioned the wisdom of the pre-emptive strike.

Some of us feel that, had Mr. Powell taken the resign course of action, he would have generated more love in the world than hatred. In my opinion, that would have been the type of courage exemplified in “Profiles Of Courage”. It’s that type of courage that brings tears to all eyes that witnessed it.

Of course many would have felt betrayed and probably would have branded Mr. Powell as a coward. I suspect those are the ones that have a problem with the word sensitive.

It seems there is almost a split division in this country concerning whether it was right or wrong to invade Iraq. No one can ignore the fact that the war in Iraq is draining an enormous amount of resources and blood. There are those that say the Iraq war is connected with 9/11. There are those that say there is no proof. This same argument existed before the war when Colin Powell gave his presentation to the U.N.

A question of timing on going to war

The following letter was published on August 18, 2004 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

The question concerning which presidential candidate will be willing to pull the trigger should not be the question. The question should be: Who has the wisdom to know when?

Many of us know why John Kerry voted to give George Bush the power and tool, if needed, to go to war. Many of us would like to hear something like the following from John Kerry:

"As a war veteran, I voted for the president to go to war to strengthen his hand. As a senator and a veteran, I had hope he would have played his hand wisely. George Bush's rush to war was not out of wisdom. It was out of arrogance."

A letter to John Kerry

Dear John, Many of us that would like to see Bush gone are influencing others through conversations and writings. We are not just looking for security and freedom. We are looking for someone to articulate the error of the Iraq war. Since the shock and awe pre emptive strike, over 900 americans have died and thousands of Iraqis. The maimed and mentally damaged ones are permanently scarred along with families of all. Unlike what we saw in 1968 when Robert Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, Dr. M. L. King and others took strong positions against the Vietnam war, In 2004, empathy for the dead and maimed from the politictians is a ground lightly treaded. Dialoque with the Terrorists, to speak of helping the poor,and making Bush and his administration accountable are all swept away in the illusion of polictics. The direction of this goverment is compared to a house with a roof leaking really bad while the occupants concern themselves only with keeping the floors waxed. Inspite of this analogy, my efforts and vote will stay with the democrates. Sincerely, Alfred Waddell

Inspired by speakers at the Boston convention

The following letter was published on August 2, 2004 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

The performance of Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention reminded so many of us of John Kennedy, Dr. M. L. King, and Robert Kennedy.

Obama’s spirited speech July 27 transcended and radiated a kind of hope that was lost in the assassinations. Those of us who admire Ted Kennedy knew he would speak his mind. We were not disappointed.

Like Obama, Teresa Heinz Kerry was a pleasant surprise. She spoke with wisdom and sincerity. She left many thinking how lucky John Kerry is, and how lucky the country would be to have her as a first lady.

The Potential Leaders And The Leader To Come

The performance of Barack Obama reminded so many of us of John Kennedy, Dr. M. L. King, and Robert Kennedy. Barack Obama’s spirited delivered speech on 7/27/04 at the DNC transcended and radiated a kind of hope that was lost in the assassinations. For those of us that admire Ted Kennedy, we knew and expected, he would speak his mind. We were not disappointed. Like Barack, Teresa Heinz was a pleasant surprise. She spoke with wisdom and sincerity. She left many thinking; how lucky John Kerry is, and how lucky the country would be to have her as a first lady. I’m one to believe that once a passionate great speaker shows his head, there are others around that will soon come forward in this decade. At some point a leader will step up to the plate and actually have the courage to solved the hatred in the world by having dialogue with those that are called Insurgents and Terrorists. Because of the extremism existing in many of the Middle East governments, such as chopping a hand off of a thief, or a woman caught without a head scarf, poses a reality check on the notion of spreading democracy in that area.

The voice

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www.alwaddell.com

Even Minded America

The awakening of a balance bordered on principles exposing deception perpetrated by the Bush administration is on the rise, since the threat of war and the start of war. C.SPAN in my opinion serves as a vehicle for news and opinions balanced. I feel a transparency in the deception of many Americans is a rising tide in the days weeks and months ahead. Many conservative talk show hosts will begin to lose thunder when writers, orators, and veterans clearly show the idiosyncrasies existing in the Bush administration. I predict C.SPAN with its quiet balance will assist in the un-doing of brain washing done by years of loud, angry, one sided radio talk show hosts. I look forward to the opposers of the Iraq war to become heroes in the days to come. The debate is on, and a flood gate of even minded Americans is expressing their views.

Illusion

Denial, denial, denial, should be applied to describe the present administration and its followers. The tax cuts given to the rich has given a boost to service areas of employment because the rich are hiring people to make thing better for themselves; roofing their housing, putting in new windows, adding new shingles, painting, rebuilding and in many instances moving low paying tenants out for a higher rent paying tenant. The reason there are no signs of manufacturing jobs recovering, is because businesses are not willing to take the risk in this false forecast that the economy is picking up. When the service areas dries up, the people with little means will be the first to be hit. This is a Republican strategy thought out to keep George W. Bush in the White House for four more years. The tax cuts working for the rich will eventually make the people with little means suffer. The improvement in the job sector broadcasted this week has that same type of falseness in the promotion of the Iraq war. How long will the "Illusion" Last?

"Understanding Islam"

Sean, it seems to me when you wrote the piece titled "Understanding Islam", you must have run out of serious things to write. I have read lots of your material; and found most of it to be thought provoking.It seems to me as some proclaimed Christians like our president, violence plays a role in his understanding of Christian values. An eye for an eye is in the Old Testament, not the new. Jesus was a turn the other cheek, love thy enemy type of fella. Correct me if I am wrong; should not the followers of Jesus (Christians) be in the business of peace rather than violence? Can it be said that many of us would just like to call ourselves Christians but when tested many of us rally behind a president that calls himself a Christian that promotes and believes in violence. Sean, some Jews, Muslims, Hindus, etc. carry their beliefs to points of convenient violence to sustain man made practices from generations to generations. In many instances, like many Christians, it depends on the tolerance and the interpretation of their belief. For example, in my opinion, the Taliban didn't have very much tolerance at all. The US grew into what you call a mature democracy. That maturity was like a light on a tower guiding other democracies out of their infancy of darkness to a future breathing freedom. In my opinion that light dimmed to a flicker when US showed its hand to side with Israel. Too many other democracies felt betrayed because the separation of church and state is indeed a concern now. It is scary to many to see the right wing extremists influencing the US policy in the Middle East; all under the banner of 9/11 and the flag. The US leader turned the tiller to the brain washing side to get support for an agenda to settle a score. This is what many countries believe in now. I personally think the only way the US can regain creditability is for the next leader to challenge the present US foreign policy and state he will undo it. Like Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Judaism are all faith based. It may take years down the road for a US leader to come to an "understanding of Islam". I hope one will emerge in my life time. Governments in the Middle East were built off different interpretations of Islam. Democracy can't be forced on people indoctrinated at birth and governed by a faith based religion. A lesson should have been learned from the expelling of the shah from Iran in 1979. Realistically, in my opinion, a bold and real candidate for president should say it was a mistake to put Americans on Middle East soil, and it was a mistake to side with Israel. Therefore we should pull out and use those resources to beef up the Home Land Security. This will show a real "understanding of Islam".

A war that should not be

The following letter was published on March 7, 2003 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Powell's lost himself in rush along warpath.

Resolution 1441 is echoed so often by the reluctant warrior, so to say.

I admired Mr. Powell before he started beating the drums of war with the Bush administration. When I look at his eyes now, in my view they reveal his inner conflict.

My guess is he was contemplating resigning after the president voiced his opinion on affirmative action. That type of move would have been devastating to the Bush administration and the Republican Party.

It seems Powell's loyalty to those who pushed him ahead, mentioned in his book, and his party supersedes the moral high ground in his consciousness. I can see in his eyes the loss of himself in the drive down the warpath carved out by the right-wing extremists of his party. This drive lacks empathy for all the soldiers and innocent civilians who will die in a war that should not be.

I truly believe now is the moment for the Democratic Party to embrace a core Social Democrat with "Emotional intelligence," as Daniel Goldman called it in his 1995 book of the same name. Emotional intelligence has a lot to do with empathy, which seems to be lacking in many in the current administration's spokesmen.

Affirmative Action

Dana, I read your article titled: Who says I'm inferior? You are so comfortable in your window dressing role that you have stooped so low as to do what many "In house Plantation Negroes" did. You must hate yourself to think to be a successful black; you must tell divisionary whites what they want to hear. Your type was around when Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and M.L.K. were here. In your eyes racism doesn't play a part in your "New Day in America" in the high black population count in America's prisons. You probably look at them as innate criminals. You probably also think in your "New Day in America", the ladder should be pulled up on "Affirmative Action" because the emotional scares from "Slavery and Segregation" have dissipated. In your world and Clarence Thomas’s, it is too bad for that child that comes from a situation with little means that did not get a variety of exposure like the child from the suburb. This child from the suburb ancestors was not abused. Assets were passed on to the present parents of this child in the suburb. This child from the suburb life did not evolve around survival. This child in the suburb vacationed in places like France, Russia, Italy, London and thirty states in America. The child that came from little means most memorable visit is his brother's funeral. The brother was shot by a "Drive by Shooter". The notion held that "Affirmative Action" is equated with being inferior is divisive and false. Because there have always been blacks like Clarence Thomas and yourself, it does not surprise me that someone like Thomas who benefited from "Affirmative Action" would want to pull the ladder up. Both of you and others like you, live in this maze of false pride hurting yourselves and sending pain to others. It is pretty obvious that the both of you are blaming blacks for a painful experience in the past. Dana White, Affirmative Action has nothing to do with feeling inferior. It has a lot to do with fairness and a balanced playing field.

A Common Interest In The Courage To Make Peace

The following letter was published on December 6, 2002 by
The Barnstable Patriot
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

In our own back yard, in some of the so called best families, drugs, alcoholism, and the rebellious child is spreading like a dark plague creating a continuous evolving cycle, worsening in each approaching generation.

When we say we are fighting for our way of life, does an element of denial exist in the actual tone?

It is a dangerous matter when followers are created out of arrogance, vengeance and a fixed hatred. Hitler was at the wheel of his government when Germany evolved into a one party system.

A lot of hope for the world to come together was lost when JFK was assassinated. The world cried when he left because his words, and his character, carried a universal Understanding.

It is no doubt that the character of America has changed. To restore the trust in the character, courage must be sought on the highest levels. That courage is not courage to make war; it is courage to make peace.

The search for peace should involve a self-examination of our present dilemma. We have troops in areas that are not respected; their life styles and their actual occupation of those areas are resented. We have sided with people holding on to land that is not theirs.

This is just an imaginary scenario:

A Westerner meets a Middle Easterner after death in an imaginary crossover.
The Westerner asked the Middle Easterner:
“How did you get here?”
The Middle Easterner:
“Collateral Damage”
The Middle Easterner asked the Westerner:
“How did you get here?”
The Westerner: “I was part of an economic target”

If only leaders today would set their sights and resources in exploring the stars rather than war, the advancement of mankind would be on the move.

Wishing you Happy Holidays
Alfred R. Waddell

Charity

Entities welded together

accepting their weld as being their arc

Entities welded together

lived their lives by sharing their hearts

I took great comfort and warmth in painting two special souls that generated an abundance of love. Their departure will forever mark the year 1997.