This venerable and much honored WW II vet is well known in Hawaii for his seventy-plus years of service to patriotic organizations and causes all over the country. A humble man WITHOUT a political bone in his body, he has NEVER spoken out before about a government official, until now. He dictated this letter to a friend, signed it and mailed it to the president.
Dear President Obama,
My name is Harold Estes, approaching 95 on December 13 of this year. People meeting me for the first time don't believe my age because I remain wrinkle free and pretty much mentally alert. I enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1934 and served proudly before, during and after WW II retiring as a Master Chief Bos'n Mate. Now I live in a "rest home" located on the western end of Pearl Harbor , allowing me to keep alive the memories of 23 years of service to my country.. One of the benefits of my age, perhaps the only one, is to speak my mind, blunt and direct even to the head man.
So here goes.
I am amazed, angry and determined not to see my country die before I do, but you seem hell bent not to grant me that wish. I can't figure out what country you are the president of.
You fly around the world telling our friends and enemies despicable lies like: "We're no longer a Christian nation", " America is arrogant" - (Your wife even announced to the world, "America is mean-spirited." Please tell her to try preaching that nonsense to 23 generations of our war dead buried all over the globe who died for no other reason than to free a whole lot of strangers from tyranny and hopelessness.) I'd say shame on the both of you, but I don't think you like America, nor do I see an ounce of gratefulness in anything you do, for the obvious gifts this country has given you. To be without shame or gratefulness is a dangerous thing for a man sitting in the White House.
After 9/11 you said," America hasn't lived up to her ideals." Which ones did you mean? Was it the notion of personal liberty that 11,000 farmers and shopkeepers died for to win independence from the British? Or maybe the ideal that no man should be a slave to another man, that 500,000 men died for in the Civil War? I hope you didn't mean the ideal 470,000 fathers, brothers, husbands, and a lot of fellas I knew personally died for in WWII, because we felt real strongly about not letting any nation push us around, because we stand for freedom. I don't think you mean the ideal that says equality is better than discrimination. You know the one that a whole lot of white people understood when they helped to get you elected.
Take a little advice from a very old geezer, young man. Shape up and start acting like an American. If you don't, I'll do what I can to see you get shipped out of that fancy rental on Pennsylvania Avenue . You were elected to lead not to bow, apologize and kiss the hands of murderers and corrupt leaders who still treat their people like slaves.
And just who do you think you are telling the American people not to jump to conclusions and condemn that Muslim major who killed 13 of his fellow soldiers and wounded dozens more.
You mean you don't want us to do what you did when that white cop used force to subdue that black college professor in Massachusetts , who was putting up a fight? You don't mind offending the police calling them stupid but you don't want us to offend Muslim fanatics by calling them what they are, terrorists.
One more thing. I realize you never served in the military and never had to defend your country with your life, but you're the Commander-in-Chief now, son. Do your job. When your battle-hardened field General asks you for 40,000 more troops to complete the mission, give them to him. But if you're not in this fight to win, then get out. The life of one American soldier is not worth the best political strategy you're thinking of.
You could be our greatest president because you face the greatest challenge ever presented to any president. You're not going to restore American greatness by bringing back our bloated economy. That's not our greatest threat. Losing the heart and soul of who we are as Americans is our big fight now. And I sure as hell don't want to think my president is the enemy in this final battle.
Sincerely,
Harold B. Estes
Wow. That is an impressive letter. I would be curious to know if the President or any of his staff took the time - and showed the courage - to respond to Mr. Estes.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great letter! I'm thinking about borrowing it if ok with you??
ReplyDeleteSouthern, I doubt he ever sees any letter sent to him. His minions will read every bit of mail he gets and only give him what they think he wants to read or to fill a certain niche in a program.
ReplyDeleteJessica, borrow away, darling. The more people see this the better off we will be.
This one hell of a statement from a man with common sense to a man who has none. I'd love for all Obama supporters to read this. Most of them don't even know the stuff he says and does that belittle the country he represents.
ReplyDeleteI saved this letter in my Word documents for future use.
Thanks.
Matty, use it as often as you can. I have already sent it out to my non-blogging peeps, too.
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ReplyDeleteAnonymous, I have deleted your comments, not because of what you said. I respect your comments and would normally let the stand. I deleted them because you are a coward, and as long as you come to my site and try to push your Socialist, pro-Obama agenda under the cover of anonymous I will continue to delete them.
ReplyDeleteI and all the people who visit me and comment have the courage of their convictions and are not afraid to say what the think or feel. I have a couple who are more left than most of my peeps, and the speak their mind un-molested by me. That is what free speech is all about. However, since you are afraid to speak in the open, what you have to say means nothing to me - even if what you say is the truth. I have no problem with the truth, but I do have a problem accepting thoughts and ideas from someone who is afraid to be open.
But when you are afraid to stand up openly, then you are a sneaky coward and you will not be published here. I don’t care if you are a recipient of valor from a police, fire or civilian group. I don’t care if you have won the Medal of Honor. You received those awards by following though with your training (and some political pressure from upper brass). That does not make you brave, just a reactionist.
But it takes courage to speak your mind and face any feedback you may receive from those comments. You are too afraid to do that. You are like most Democrats, make snide remarks and comments and then hide.
So, until you start a blog, stand up to your convictions and work in the open, you will not be allowed to speak here. Get your own blog and I will visit you and we will discuss our differences. Until then, FUCK OFF.
Amen!
ReplyDeleteDear coffeypot,
ReplyDeleteYou had my sincere attention right up to the end of your reply until you had to ruin it by using such offensive language. I got your point without it.
Keep after it, and nice site anyway. God bless, and Merry Christmas!
Jim (kiwibum@wavecable.com)