I love Snopes. When it comes to urban legends, shit people make up, etc, it's one of the best. So when I receive and email that Snopes says is correct, I start getting interested.
The email in question is titled: "Fw: You'll want to read this letter...wow". With the "..." I could have sworn that I wrote this, but alas I didn't.
I'm not sure when it was first sent out, but apparently from Snopes it's from Nov. '09. It's from a 95 year old WWII vet from Pearl Harbor who "wrote" a letter to President Obama. The letter begins as such:
WOW !! AND WOW AGAIN !!
95 year old hero!
Letter To Obama at Whitehouse Sent from 95 year Old Pearl Harbor Survivor !!
WW II Battleship sailor tells Obama to shape up or ship out !
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.
I first will say, to Mr...well, his name isn't said yet, but it's Harold Estes. Congratulations on your 70-plus years of service to this country, to patriotic organizations (whatever those may be, while they could be to political groups or whatever, they are never mentioned, but hey, he was a survivor of Pearl Harbor. PEARL HARBOR!), and to causes all over the country (again, whatever they may be. Could be Boy Scouts of America or a "Race for the Cure" event or something). As it's stated, he doesn't have a political bone in his body, which I'm pretty sure is a lie as he dictated this message to someone. Sorry, but if you're jumping into the political arena, Yea, you've got a political...something, in your body.
He's off to a good start...
I'm not going to argue the fact that you are going to be 95 this(?) year, but I doubt that those people are just trying to be nice, cause that picture of you certainly shows some wrinkles and you look like you are getting up there. I won't argue your mental state, as I can't base that on a picture, but you do see to be in decent shape for your age. But enough about physical fitness, let's get to the juicy stuff...
One of the benefits of my age, perhaps the only one, is to speak my mind, blunt and direct even to the head man.
Hold on. I'ma let you finish, but I'm gonna stop you right there and say...That's the beauty of America is that you don't have to be a 95 year old man to speak your mind anymore. You can be 29 and be able to speak your blunt and direct mind to whomever that may be, even if it is the "head man" (whomever that may be).
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.
Let me assure you, that I feel your pain when it comes to not letting my country die. Hell, I've got (hopefully) a lot of years left, and I certainly don't want to see my country die before me. But as I see it, America has not always been a country. In fact, there have been countries, nations, even complete civilizations that have risen and fallen before, so what makes a person think that America will be the one that will never fall. I will honor you with this one piece of hope: civilizations in the past have lasted hundreds, if not thousands, of years. England is still there, and they've been around much longer than us. Anyways...
Why does Obama not want to grant you that wish? I'm sure you'll go into it more in the letter, so I'll let you continue.
The United States of America. If you check out any official papers his title reads "President of the United States of America Barack Obama" http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president-obama
At least, that's what THEY say. I could be wrong. Perhaps you've heard differently. But you did write to him, not to someone else, so you must be able to understand that he is the President of the U.S., right?
" 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.)
Alright, here comes the juicy stuff. "We are no longer a Christian nation".
Now, before I go around posting facts and actual insight to when he said that, I want to state this, and this is coming from someone who is paying YOUR social security right now (Where will you be to pay mine when my turn rolls around?). Of course this nation is not a Christian nation. While millions consider themselves Christian, there are others who consider themselves Jewish, Buddhist, Catholic, Muslim, or Atheist, or a number of whatever fly-by-night religions that pop up that people might take an interest in. We are not, well, should not be a nation that centralizes ourselves on one religion. We pulled ourselves apart, and those men you talk about who died "for no other reason than to free a whole lot of strangers from tyranny and hopelessness" came a lot longer than even you or me or anyone else living were born. Citizens fought England for the right to worship how we wanted to worship, not to be told WHAT to worship (among other things, yes, I know, but that's outside this part of the argument). The Church of England, anyone? Personally, the only reason you dare bring up the whole "Christian nation" comment is because you consider yourself a Christian and are threatened by the idea that there's other religions out there that might persuade you to walk away from the light, like some religious boogey-man. We are a free country, and until we are forced to worship one God, one religion, use one Bible, or pray one way, I really doubt your fear. We are not a Christian nation. We are a nation of many religions, and we all live here. Now, before you go questioning my religion, I was raised Methodist. Nowadays, I don't find any one organized religion to tickle my fancy. I've got my faith in God and Him alone, and that's all that I need now. I don't want people to think that I'm some kind of Satanic Atheist who wants to warp the minds of our fragile children. I don't. I could really care less. Your religion is like your sexual preference, none of my business. Now, if you want to start talking religion to me, I can start. But I won't. That being said, I've got some Jehovah's Witnesses I'd like for you to meet...
Now, to debunk your statement that you think Obama made: http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/did_obama_say_we_are_no_longer.html
From going off of what this says, you're doing one of two things. Either you're just reciting political poppycock from the likes of Linbaugh, or Hannity, or Beck, O'Reilly, Palin, FOX News, or whatever the radical Republican jargon will tell you these days. Or, you want to make Obama into a Religiousless hatemonger, who'se sole purpose is to destroy the religious sanctity of this country, and eventually the world (insert evil genius laughter here...wait, wrong movie). Since you've fought for this country, I can assume that you'll either go with whatever someone tells you to do and you're willing to believe everything you are told without questioning, or you genuinely love this country and are willing to see wrongs righted, and truth ring free. I'll let you figure out which one you are.
"America is Arrogant"
Okay, yes, I guess America can be a little arrogant. Wait, wait, HELL YES AMERICA IS ARROGANT. I see arrogance every fucking day I turn on the TV, or step outside, or go somewhere that makes me feel like I'm not as elite as the others. Hell, I turn on the XBOX and pop in a little COD: MW2 Deathmatch, holy shit brother, the arrogance of some of these players just stinks like fresh sauerkraut! When there are people going about thinking that we are the only country in the world that matters, is that not arrogance? I understand that there's a little thing called "pride" and "spirit", but all those left me when I was in High School. Of course, I've got pride in my country, but when we act like we are the greatest country on earth, we fail to take into account that there's millions of other people looking over at us trying to stomach the shit we're spewing. Where's my American spirit? I usually pops up around during major world-wide sporting events. Like the Olympics, or the World Cup (another issue. You don't watch Soccer regularly, why the fudge do you care when it's on during the World Cup?) But I digress. Yes, America is Arrogant. And if you aren't able to see it, you sir, are filled with pride. And as we all know, pride is one of the seven deadly sins. But anyways...
Here is the actual speech where the words "America" and "Arrogant" are uttered in the same sentence. They are in the same sentence, but I don't hear "is" separating the two...
Hmm, you have a point. Then again, how many other people do you pass by that don't show an ounce of gratefulness in anything they do for what this country has given them? Do you confront them, telling them what you have given so that they can be free from the tyranny of the Nazis? Or the Japanese Empire? I'm not with the President or First Lady 24/7, so I can't be certain that either of them have no shame or gratefulness when the cameras are not on them. Just as I can't be sure that Lindsey Lohan or Paris Hilton, or even fucking Snookie will have remorse or shame in their actions. Hell, they've done less for this country than Obama has, yet I don't see you lambasting them. More of this generation will be looking up to them, or another teen idol figure as a role model, than the president. I certainly never looked up to any politician or President as a role model as I was growing up. Why? CAUSE THEY WERE POLITICIANS. I wanted to be Mark McGuire growing up (sans the steroids). I wanted to be George Brett. Stephen King. Alfred Hitchcock. Steven Spielberg.
But I'm getting off the subject. Whenever you, or anyone, wants to start ripping into someone, like the President, why don't you rip into everyone else who looks like they have no shame or gratefulness. Their image is going to define future generations just as much as the President is.
Okay, so it took some digging, and I think you are referring to this, despite the fact this speech was given almost 8 years after 9/11. So...I guess you're right about it being said "After 9/11".
While I still don't know what ideals you are referring to that America hasn't lived up to, I am in agreement with you that our ideals have changed and we are not living up to ideals of peace, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We live in a world where peace has been replaced by security, a state of mind, rather than a place of being. We give up this and that for the false sense of security, rather than being at peace with one another. Though we really can't truly have peace unless all around us want peace (I mean they Really, Truly, Actively want Peace, not just say it). Our liberties are still hanging in there, somewhat. We still are able to do what we want...unless it's online poker, doing what we want with our own money we have earned...hmmm....Anyways...
And we still have the ability to pursue happiness. So there's that. I hope those ideals were what you were talking about, cause I'm not sure what other ones you might have in mind...
Okay, here's some "ideals" examples:
- The notion of personal liberty that 11,000 farmers and shopkeepers died for to win independence from the British.
- Damn, and I thought you didn't know about the Revolutionary War. Then again, that was some time ago. Did Obama soil some memory of the farmers and shopkeepers from that time that I don't know about?
- The ideal that no man should be a slave to another man, that 500,000 men died for in the Civil War?
- Okay, still not understanding the ideals thing here. Is he abolishing freeing of the slaves? Really, though, aren't we all slaves in some sort? We've just got many more "masters" than normally. I mean, if you think about it, we've all (well, maybe not all of us. The ones who are successful millionaires, famous people, etc) got to work 40+ hours a week to pay bills that if we don't pay them, they get taken away, like electricity, water, gas, housing, etc. And some of us have to deal with a bitchy boss who doesn't like the work you do, but you do a better job than any of the other lazy assholes that you work with, but they don't like the fact you're just doing your fucking job, what you were trained to do. Course, then aren't we all not slaves, but trained monkeys?
- 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.
- Okay, so the ideals we are talking about, they're about not having any nation push us around? Fair enough. But do you realize that before Pearl Harbor, we had nothing to do with WWII. In fact, there's rumor that the President then let the attack on Pearl Harbor happen so that we would get into WWII. And even then, we went after the Japanese. And it wasn't until later, when we decided to go after the Germans. Really, by getting pushed around, we were pushed right into WWII. So, what's wrong with being pushed around a little bit? To the 470,000 fathers, brothers, husbands, and others (including several of my relatives) who died protecting the U.S., NO...the WORLD, from tyranny, from dictatorship rule, from...other ideals that they might have had that we disagreed with...well, I hope we never have to witness something like it again. WWII, I'm sure, was something I don't think this world could fathom, or comprehend if it were to happen today.
Now, I'm sure you're talking about a white person like me, right? Personally, I saw McCain as "Bush: Part III", but that's a whole other rant. "Equality is better than discrimination." But...isn't it? And there were many, many black Americans who voted for him as well, so don't forget them, or are you just trying to blame white Americans for not voting for McCain?
Listen, even I don't call my grandmother a very old geezer, despite the fact that she's 5 years younger than you. It's just rude, unless you're trying to make a joke. Than okay. I can take a joke. WHAT? Young Man!?!?!...waitaminute...
I've yet to actually read anything in this entire letter that states how Obama is not acting like an American. All I've heard is bickering and moaning about you being old, misquotations directed to instigate a brittle form of anger, and building of a delusion for ideals. I'd love for you to get to the point about this whole "acting American" thing.
Of course, if you don't like the guy, come the next election you'll just not vote for him...again. And if you're voting, so am I. And if I don't like the guy you're voting for, guess what, my vote is gonna cancel your's out. So there *pppthhpt*
And how DARE you call the White House a fancy rental. It's been paid off for at least 35 years.
"You were elected to lead not to bow". Lead not to bow. Whoever wrote this up for you needs to work on their punctuation skills (and so do I but that's beside the point). You mean, "...lead, not bow.". But what are you talking about with this apologizing and kissing the hands of murderers and corrupt leaders who still treat their people like slaves? The bowing, I could probably see that as a form of respect, or civility to a foreign representative (in the case of the bow to the Japanese emporer), perhaps though, you are meaning the bow he made to the Saudi Kind Abdullah (a rather interesting article, but even funnier is the very last paragraph). Still though, this doesn't really apply to people who are murderers (possibly), or corrupt leaders (maybe), and who treat their people like slaves (there again with the slaves bit. I'm sure even the president gets tired of that word. Good lord...) At least he wasn't cupping the other guys balls. Yeesh, now that would be embarrassing...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33678801/ (I can only assume he meant the shootings at Ft. Hood)
Well, by not jumping to conclusions, we might be able to take a step back and possibly look at any other issues that might have been going on in his life before we jump to the whole (in my best crazy scared person voice) "It's tha Muslims! They're comin' ta get us! There attakin! Ahhhhhh!!!!" *and scene*
What I can assume he is talking about when it comes to not jumping to conclusions is the fear that just because someone is Muslim, does not mean they are going to attack you or try and kill you. Without stepping back and thinking about it, you certainly reduce your risk of "jumping to conclusions" and going out killing innocent people out of fear that they're going to get you first. Who does he think he is telling the American people to do something? He's the President of the United States. He's the person that people look to in times of tragedy to help us move through what is happening. It's what any generation does in times of a tragedy like this. I, along with a great majority of America looked to Bush after 9/11, they looked to Clinton after Columbine, and looked to words of inspiration and what to do. I don't know if they found what they were looking for, I know I didn't. I'm sure you, sir, were just irritated that someone was telling you to calm down, relax, think about it, not go bat-shit crazy attacking anyone with a turban before "they get you".
And yes, I'm sorry, but I'd put up a fight if I was being arrested for trying to get into my own home. While I wasn't there, and neither were you, there's not really anything you can say about it, but I'm sure if you were being treated unfairly by an officer of the law in your own household, you'd be throwing a fit as well. But at least calmer heads reigned and nothing more came out of it than a couple guys sitting around having a beer. Better that than the alternative of a group of white cops standing around beating a black guy half to death (whether he deserved it or not, still not justifiable, even to this day).
And not every Muslim is a terrorist. Just like every Christian isn't an abortion clinic bomber, or every Jew isn't a banker (too stereotypical?). Yea, there are some crazies out there, but that goes with every religion. Like the minister who wants to burn the Qur'an on 9/11. Or how about McVeigh? Or Hitler? He was a Christian, y'know. I wish people would get off their high horses about religion being such a big thing to hate or love, or love to hate, or hate to love. My religion says to love one another. And I do. I'm not going to hate you or kill you for not believing in what I do, so don't do it for me. Please stop the stereotyping of every Muslim as a terrorist, you immature prick (yes, you're 95 years old AND immature. One would think that in 95 years of existence you would have learned to enjoy the little things in life, but apparently not).
Now not everyone has had the opportunities you have had to serve in the military, fight to protect the country and the world from invading forces. God knows you've got a lot of respect for doing what you and everyone else who has stepped onto the battlefield. But that's it. Doesn't make you smarter or better than anyone else. Just because I've done the things I've done in my life doesn't mean I'm going to be better than the next guy, and I don't expect to be. And just because someone has the position of political office, doesn't mean he's better than you or me.
Now, before you go saying how important it is to be Commander in Chief, I want to know if you would have said the same thing to the last President. The one who got us into this mess in Iraq. "The life of one American soldier is not worth the best political strategy you're thinking of." Damn straight. I also would add that you cannot put a price on the life of one American soldier. We shouldn't send our troops in anywhere for any reason that isn't defending our country. Wolverines, baby.
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...
You say he could be our greatest president. I doubt you really think that. I even doubt I think that. We've had Presidents that have pulled our country through so very much. Washington (War with Britain and building a new country), Lincoln (Ending Slavery and reuniting a country), FDR (The Great Depression), etc. Of course, they served at a time when people didn't believe what they were told on TV. They were around when the political commentators didn't have their own radio show, TV show, website, and twitter feed. I feel the greatest presidents never knew what good they did. They were never around to see what the country was like 50, 100 years after their presidency had ended.
I don't want to think that the president is my enemy either, let alone this "final battle" you have called it. As long as there are people who fight for truth, justice, liberty, and that pursuit of happiness that this country is born upon, we'll never lose out heart or soul.
But as long as we keep feeding off the teet that is racist fear, an economic hierarchy, political divide, religious vengeance, and the ever apparent milking of this class war we are in, we'll never have all of these things. The founding fathers vision was one of a Utopia, a perfect world where everyone got along, and was free. As long as we are able to look at everyone else as our brother/sister, as an EQUAL, we should have no problem seeing that Utopia.
Of course, if that doesn't work, there's already been a list of people that have gone crazy and tried to actively do something about it. Of course, they've also showed up on the evening news either dead or in custody, so be my guest you hateful old man.
Harold B. Estes
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Yea, so I'm probably going to get some flack for this. But seeing as how many times people come visit this site...I'm sure not a whole lot.
But to the people that send on this kind of crap, it's really bothersome, but welcome. Especially if I need to vent. You see, it's not that I hate old people, those serving in the military, etc. And it's not that I 100% love the president and everything he's done. I just don't like incompetent, uneducated, redneck, racist, hypocrite, bastard child, old fogey, angry dipshit, inbred, tube sock wearing, Republican Left-Wing Conservacratic horse crap that is usually spewing venom through the Inter-Tubes. If you can avoid any of that billshit...by all means, come at me.
Oh, and I am reminded of a time when I asked someone "where in the hell were you when..." to which they responded with "I wasn't in hell, where were you." To the ignorant...person that you are, shut up, grow a sense of humor and remove the branch that has grown branches up there. M'kay?
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