Retired, Patriotic WWII Vet writes a letter to Obama

[Danny600kill]

I think this man has some valid points and he should be taken seriously as he fought for his country in their time of need. Like many people posting here im not American and so i dont know everything but i do think he has some very powerful word that all countrys should listen to.

A lot of people here will be saying how much of an idiot he is for bieng disrespectful but thats what need to be done. Nothing is ever goin to change is everyone just kisses up to the higher power. People like Nelson Mandella would never had got anywhere if he hadn't of stood up and showed his views.

So yes in a way it is just and old man venting about problems but at least he is doing something to help change. People will say ' Just because he says stuff doesnt mean it will happen' but if everyone agrees and does something about it, and no im not saying resort to violence but if we all just speak up then we can change things for the better.

Again im not American and im only 16 and so people may just ignore this post but this is the same for every country and every age. just because your'e younger or in a different country with less rights doesn't stop you standing up and wanting change.

There's my views vented and im guessing that not many people will bother reading it, but at least im trying to get my views across.

Thnx for reading it ( If you did )

 

[Veho]

What exactly is he saying? Is he going anywhere with that letter or is he just rambling? People keep mentioning "good points," but I see no points, good or otherwise.

 

[outgum]

So yes in a way it is just and old man venting about problems but at least he is doing something to help change. People will say ' Just because he says stuff doesnt mean it will happen' but if everyone agrees and does something about it, and no im not saying resort to violence but if we all just speak up then we can change things for the better.

I dont think what he said promotes or contribrutes to ANY change, and also , just because he thought for his country doesnt give him a right to tell the PRESIDENT how to do things, like i said earlier, would you want him running the country? With his 50-60-70's releated ideas? no.

Change is necessary and apart of life, and he needs to move on

 

[retKHAAAN]

This is a completely different time.....

The America of today faces completely different challenges than the American of WWII did. There was no threat of nuclear holocaust. There were no suicide bombings or hijacked planes. There wasn't the fear that our population would grow faster than our ability to take care of it.

I applaud the people who step out in front and defend their country. However, the vast majority of people do not enlist. They just sit back and take advantage of the freedoms they have. That is what makes Americans "arrogant" and "ignorant". I guess a fitting analogy would be that you take better care of stuff that you bought with your own money. Meaning, the people who have invested nothing will fail to appreciate what they have.

IMHO, no country can afford to be an island anymore. Technology has changed that. Every country has some sort of socio-economic investment in the well-being of every other country. I think Obama sees that much more so than the previous administration did. I'm just sorry that the America BMC Harold Estes fought for, isn't the same as the America he's living in now.

 

[Veho]

" 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.)

Their deeds and deaths don't place modern day America above reproach, and it is arrogant to claim that they do. Hiding behind someone else's valor and sacrifice is arrogant. He acts like he's never reprimanded anyone in his life. I wonder how he would react if someone he told off told him to "try preaching that nonsense to our war dead." Modern day America is enjoying and abusing the freedom and way of life those soldiers' deaths made possible, and hiding behind those same dead soldiers from any criticism. That is arrogant.

It's like all the people saying "you don't have the right to criticize me, we saved your ass in WW2." Wrong. You didn't save anyone. You weren't even born. Your father wasn't born. Your grandfather probably hadn't been born in time to fight in the war. Something your great-grandfather did does not put you above reproach, it doesn't make you a holy cow that nobody can touch. I'm grateful to your great-grandfather, not you. And most importantly, I'm not criticizing him, I'm criticizing you.

I agree, all this still doesn't give outsiders the "right" to criticize America. True. However, in this case, it's not outsiders. The one doing it is an American, and has every right to do it, and nobody has the right to hide from that criticism behing dead people's merits.

 

[outgum]

if they achieved so much, Why are they dead? XD

 

[Canonbeat234]

Okay this is what I have to say to all of this...For starters Harold is only speaking from a point-of-view that only had worked in his generation instead of today. Like Ace have typed, he grew up in the 50's, 60's, 70's which to me he only remembers the patriotism of this country not realizing that WWI and WWII were both costly wars; in money and casualties.

Obama is a President who is trying to please everyone; What I can remember is you can't please EVERYONE! He was so quick to make the gay/lesbians/trans month be in June but can't make more jobs available in America? Its the main reason why medicaid/food-stamps/section 8 are skyrocketing right now because the few Americans who are trying to find a job right now are worrying how to pay their rent, having medical coverage, and what are they going to eat? If Obama want to fix the damn economy in United States, he needs to start building more opening job positions with or without diplomas.

Guess what war we are fighting right now? An endless war! This whole 'sending more troops into Iraq/Arabic Country to stop the Muslim Radicals' is impossible. We are fighting against a belief that isn't even ours to begin with. When we took down Saddam Hussein statue that should have been the end of it, troops return home and that's it. Not for the troops to go there fighting endlessly of muslim radicals that will keep popping up while they have to defend for their lives. You wonder to know why majority of people aren't volunteering to go to the Army unless they have that patriotic pride.

 

[Uncle FEFL]

What exactly is he saying? Is he going anywhere with that letter or is he just rambling? People keep mentioning "good points," but I see no points, good or otherwise.

When he says "not bow, kiss..." he's speaking of the two instances Obama bowed to his equals. I'm of Japan and Saudi Arabia. He bowed to both of them during his visits, and Japan merely nodded at him; Saudi Arabia showed nothing.

What type of president bows to equals? Just what is Obama trying to really prove?

 

[Domination]

LOL, he should ask himself what kind of patriot criticizes a president that got over 300 votes from the electoral college, when I doubt he could even get 10.

So you are angry over an over courteous president? At least no body throws shoes at him.

 

[Veho]

two instances Obama bowed to his equals. I'm of Japan and Saudi Arabia.

Well, when in Rome...

 

[iPikachu]

"but you don't want us to offend
Muslim fanatics by calling them what they are,terrorists."
^ wut
umm, muslim fanatics will always be terrorists? is my definition of fanatics wrong?

dont people in japan greet by bowing? not sure about saudi arabia though.

 

[ZAFDeltaForce]

Interesting read. It will be more interesting to read Obama's reply, if it ever materializes.

 

[emigre]

Without tryng to sound like a twat but I struggle to beleive this is even real (sorry I like my sources) let alone it has valid points.

It's written in a painful patriotic style, "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." Sorry but let's be rational, the Us is going to be there long after me, you and Keith Richards die. America being arrogant and mean-spirted arn't despicable lies, it's the truth that tinted rose patriots don't seem willing to admit. US Foreign Policy under Bush was fucking atrocious, they were so hell bent going into Iraq under the guise of WMD despite UN weapon inspectors not finding trace. When Israel attacked Palestine in teh last year, there was no condemanation. (Though I guess they weren't being that much twats, the UK sold Israel £20 million of weapons, yet we called for restraint) Defending your country is acceptable and understandable, but when you get into tangents and ignore rational advice and subsequebtly make the situation even worse then you should have a review on your policies.

When he goes on about personal liberty does he seem to forget about Guantanamo Bay?

Or should I mention the CIA's role in bringng down the democratically elected Salvador Allende becasue he was a *gasp* socialist! As Allende is so clearly evil we must bring him down and replace him with Pinochet. You know, the man was essentially a dictator with no election, saw greater inequality and violated human rights. ( I know about Thatcher's relationship with Pinochet)

Or how about Mossedaq in Iran?

Or how the US trained Osama Bin Laden and had a alliance with Saddam Hussain...

I'll be frank, I'm not anti-Amercian and I'm just seeing this as I see it. To quote the speech, America needs to "shape up." I hope Obama succeds in chagning the world' view of America into something more positive, he's an excellant orator and very likable. Personally I wish he had done a lot of things different such as call off the extradition of Gary McKinnon.

Though I have to say, I do doubt that the majorty of Obama's critisicsm is actually valid, I read in the paper that something like only 1 in 4 Republicans actually beleive that Obama won the election fairly. If most people have made thier minds up without even looking at the facts, then I have little hope that these people will think rationaly.

Las thing, Obama isn't a fucking Socialist or Communist. You have to be be fucking idiot to think that, "oh he wants socialised healthcare! Evil!." Get a fucking grip, every other western democracy has it and it's genrally successfull. Also what kind of Patriot wants to deny thirty million of thier fellow citizens healthcare?

Apologies for any grammer and spelling mistakes.

 

[Veho]

Also what kind of Patriot wants to deny thirty million of thier fellow citizens healthcare?

Patriotism is love for one's country, not one's countrymen

 

[enarky]

IANAA (I Am Not An American), but I stopped reading at "despicable lies like: " We're no longer a Christian nation"". Bullshit.

 

[BlueStar]

So that's what patriots do nowadays, slag off their country to the world and talk uninformed, poisonous shit about the person the country voted to lead them?

Seems a funny kind of patriotism to me.

Are GOP wing-nuts as willing to take the word of war-hero veterans as gospel when they say things like this?

 

[Cermage]

seems to me this guys idea of a true "American" is exactly what the rest of the world is tired of seeing/hearing. Also what the current America wants to grow out of.

 

[emigre]

Also what kind of Patriot wants to deny thirty million of thier fellow citizens healthcare?

Patriotism is love for one's country, not one's countrymen

My bad, they love the soil more then the people

I like how those who agree with the letter are in the minority.

 

[Veho]

So has the authenticity of this letter been confirmed? I have my doubts towards any proclamation that starts by assuring us the person in question is real. It usually raises a tiny flag labeled "bullshit," but I remembered Joe the plumber and I thought this was a jab at him. "Unlike Joe the Plumber, our guy is for real."

 

[Defiance]

Ahh, reading his email gave me a little hope to humanity..

Although I wouldn't expect a reply... :/ the President is probably far too busy.