| << PAGE 3 | SPEARHEAD'S LETTERS TO THE PRESIDENT CONTEST ENTRIES | |
| Dear President Bush, Ever since March 2003, when you first declared war in Iraq, I have nursed an unpopular belief. This belief grows stronger each passing day, especially now that you want to deploy 21,500 more troops. I think that you need to institute a draft. Let me be clear. I oppose nearly every policy decision you have made about the war in Iraq (at least those I know about). In March 2003, I protested in the streets of New York and D.C. I do not support this war, or your presidency, any more now than I did then. So, why do I support a draft? In 1970, the first draft lottery number was called. It was September 14th, my father's birthday. Suddenly, the realities of Vietnam (which seemed so far away) were brought home to him, and my mother, and to hundreds of thousands of Americans. Like many others, my parents took to the streets. The draft transformed the war into something close and real. Today, too many Americans (including me) go about our lives with only the most superficial and abstract understanding of what's happening in Iraq while low-income kids with few other options return for two, three, four, or five tours. If we, as a nation, are going to allow you to wage this dubious war, then we, as a nation, need to get off our asses - either to fight your war or fight your policies.Here's the deal, Mr. Bush: I am a single young woman (about the same age as your daughters) who grew up in a middle class suburb. I hope to have kids one day, and raise them in a just, democratic, and safe country. That is why today, I challenge you. I challenge you to draft my soft, round, white ass. Draft us all, mofo. Let's see what happens. I have another reason for writing to you today. Last August, President Ahmadinejad of Iran challenged you to a debate, saying, "The debate should be uncensored in order for the American people to be able to listen to what we say." The White House dismissed the challenge as a "diversion" intended to detract attention from Iran's nuclear program. President Bush, FYI, I personally would love to see you debate the President of Iran. In fact, this spring, I think that you should host free, outdoor, public debates in Washington dedicated to the issues of Iraq, nuclear weapons, alternative energy, the Sudanese genocide, global poverty, and world health. In addition to President Ahmadinejad, I would like to see you debate Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro (if he can make it), and others. As Ahmadinejad said, these debates should be unscripted and broadcast live. No teleprompters, honey pie; you'll have to take the battery pack out of your back. You know the Lincoln-Douglas debates (Lincoln was the 16th and first Republican president of the U.S.) which were attended by scores of illiterate farmers who stood for hours, listened, and engaged in the democratic process? Let's do that! I'd hitchhike to D.C. just to be there for it! Oh, Mr. President, chin up. When I fuck up, I try to remember two things. First, at least my family loves me. Second, you can't take back yesterday. The lives that have been lost (American and Iraqi) on account of your folly and machismo are gone for good. But you can work hard to do the right thing today. And you can get on it right now. So get on it. Sincerely,Brianne |
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| Dear Mr. President, Disappointment. I'm disappointed that you have single-handedly engaged the American people in a war without purpose. Existing terorists are an enemy we need to defend ourselves against. Sadly, your war against Iraq is creating new terrorists each day. The people of Iraq offered no threat to the people of America. We were a distant land, irrelevant to their daily lives. You chose to use our powerful, loyal military to invade Iraq, killing tens of thousands of people living there. People who meant no harm to us, what-so-ever. The people of Iraq were opposed to the Al Quieda terrorists. The Iraqi people were not our enemy. Their leader, an eccentric dictator, was not our enemy, as he offered no discernable threat to the American people to the best of my knowledge. Why, Mr. President, did you take our tax money, borrow our children's money and force our noble defence forces to invade a sovergn land, and attack people who were not our enemy?! Each time our soldier held a peaceful homeowner in Iraq to the ground, an assault rifle pointed at his body, family crying in terror, while our soldiers searched his home, you created a new terrorist. A new person or group of people who now hate the people of the United States. Each time an American soldier killed the wrong person, shot at the wrong car at a checkpoint, you committed murder, and converted their horrified loved ones to anti-American terrorists. A friend of mine who served in Iraq described how beautiful the Iraqi peoples' homes were inside. You have undermined the loyalty of our dedicated military people, destroyed a sovergn nation, created thousands of new terrorists, and have spent nearly half a trillion dollars, against the will of the American people on a futile and foolish war. 500 billion, (500 thousand-million) dollars, an unimaginable sum, is enough of our hard-earned money to fund our over-burdened schools, initiate health-care for all Americans AND defend ourselves against terrorists. But you squandered it on a destructive, murderous, horrifying war against people who were not our enemy. Do you understand why disappointment in your presidency looms in our land? Mr. President, I do not deisre to criticise you personally, however, I need to point out the fact that you are disconnected from the vast majority of the American people. It is not your fault, sir, but a matter of circumstance. You were born into a billionaire oil clan, one of the wealthiest families in the United States. Your family did not have to worry about their ability to buy a home, pay utility bills, buy school supplies, and find a job after the local manufactory moved overseas. You did not experience the excitement of small successes, a promotion at work, a better job, the mortgage finally paid off, parents planning for retirement, the pride of dedicated military service to the country you love... You grew up insulated from the daily life nearly all of the 300 million Americans live. Money was no object to your family. Life was lived as a Monopoly game is played. The problems we Americans face each day were irrelevant to you. Growing up in such a fantasy world, in which the rewards of dedicated work were handed to you free of charge did not prepare you to be a leader of the American people. Your life of fantasy has lead you to make arbitrary decisions and use our dedicated defence forces to carry them out. You didn't realize the folly of giving $300 to each tax-paying citizen, then borrowing hundreds of billions of dollars, paying interest each year, money our children will need to pay back. You have failed as our President, sir. I can not blame you personally, sir, for your misdeeds, foolhardy decisions, and ill-conceived plans. You have forced the good people of the USA into a foolish war, and have lost the war. We have the blood of good Iraqi people and dutiful young soldiers on our hands, and a crushing mortgage to pay for your war, Mr. President. I am disappointed. We are all disappointed, Sir. We need to clean up the mess you've made, Mr. President. Cobble together a stable nation where one existed in Iraq, console horrified, greiving families throughout the United States raise taxes to pay for your folly, Mr. President. We look forward to your departure from office. A product of one of America's richest families, you have been our poorest leader. ~Kurt |
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| Dear Mr. Oppressor It is YOU You who chooses our battles and the Looses count of lost souls, YOU who murders your family, All for the game of gold, It is YOU Who claims to love thy neighbor, Who pretends to promote the will of God, But it is you who uses slave labor, Many work hard for the gluttony of a few fat hogs? Yes it is true. And it is YOU Who uses fear as your weapon to gain consent For all the harm you do, It is YOU Who will try to keep us scared of each other, You know the power of numbers when confronted with the truth, It is you It is you Who has forgotten the balance, That is needed to maintain, Just take a look around us, My brother, we can?t survive this way It is you It is you Who terrorizes Yes, It is YOU, It is YOU Who terrorizes? Some things are real, Oh yes some things are real The breath you steal, The wounds that you refuse to feel, The oneness of all, That you refuse to feel These things are real, Oh yes some things are real, The giggle of a child, The wind singing wildly, The inability for war wounds to fully heal, These things are real? And some things are NOT REAL, The dollar bills in your smile, The motivations for your wars, The game you?ve played since you were a child, But trust me, nickels and dimes can?t heal your sores, It?s true, For it is YOU You who terrorizes, Yes it is YOU, You who terrorizes, And it is you Who should be ?Serving your country? In Bagdad, Counting the daily lost limbs and lost lives, Of those who fight for you and your money, Who fight for you and all of your lies, It is YOU Who should be waiting on a rooftop, With NO food or water for days, You should try being a slave to the white man In his white world, For his white money, And then you could see the truth, For most of us it is YOU You who Terrorizes It is YOU YOU who terrorizes? And it is you, Who could use healing the most from the very souls That you have forgotton, Healing from the warm bosom of a woman Or the strong song from an African American, You could use the healing drum beat, From a native of Turtle Island, Or see a dance of struggle and honor, From a latin sister or brother who only wish for human rights, What we need now are elders, that are not so much RICH as they are WISE, It is true? For it is YOU YOU who Terrorizes Yes it is you WHO terrorizes. Come my brother, there can be no WAR for PEACE. ~Myria |
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| Dear Mr. President, Greetings from Kansas. Stop, please stop what you are doing. I beg you. Everything your administration has touched during your presidency has failed and made things worse for Americans abroad and at home. The catastrophic point of view is wrong, this idea that America must act proactively against its' enemies or grow inexorably weaker. Your calculations are not only strategically mistaken, but morally wrong. I can see why Muslims hate the West and America. So much of what we take pride in and enjoy tends to militate against a simple, ardent Faith. Their may be only one God, but Religion definitely not. Only in America is American democracy possible. It cannot be isolated from American traditions and values. After the Soviets launched Sputnik. JFK said, "America's cold war struggle depended on American kids learning Science." Education is the key. A diplomatic victory must be won. The U.S.A represents freedom, the ability to love everyone. And that doesn't come at the hands of a gun. Patience, combined with self-improvement, can be strength. Panic never is. Why do we (USA) always have to declar war on problems we face? Does America really need to be fighting an enemy at all times? Currently we have a war on Drugs, poverty, hunger? Instead of taking a violent approach, why not realize we have a problem and then set out looking for a creative solution? America is unlike any other place in time or history. We should represent everything that is right with the world. You often hear about the American Dream. A chance to improve ones life. Europe and people in general love to make fun of our optimism, our silly notion that every problem has a solution, that tomorrow can be better then yesterday, the future is bright and is something that should be welcomed, not feared. The world needs an America whose greatest export is HOPE not FEAR. Sadly, I will not be able to attend the shows on the 16th, 17th, or 18th. As I will be in Japan. But, I am planning on going to one or all of the shows in Texas. Thanks for this opportunity to share my thoughts. Peace & Love, Travis |
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| Dear President Bush, You have given this country many things to contemplate and forced us to dig deeper into who we truly are as human beings. You have made me look deep inside myself to try to find who I really am. And what I have found astonishes me and encourages me at the same time. Because of you I have realized that we all think we have the right answers, which gives us the ability to relate to anyone if we so choose. Because of you I have come to realize that love is the only way forward, and that I must live my life in accordance with a state of unconditional compassion and encourage others to do the same. Thanks to you I have come to realize that there are no such things as us and them. We are all part of a larger organism connected through an omnipresent entity some call God. Thanks to you I now know all of this and more. I feel that you have given this country the wake up call it has long needed to realize that true progress can not be made until we learn to love ourselves as well as our enemies. And I now believe we are finally ready to learn to love even you. Thank you for your service. In Peace and Love, Trey |
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| January 23, 2007 Mr. Bush: According to an article by James Dao in the New York Times (October 26, 2005), “one in five of the troops who have been killed were in their second, third, fourth or fifth tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.” It is clear that the burden of war is falling on the very few. I am proposing, Mr. Bush, that if you persist in this folly of war, that you also do the fair and logical thing and call for a draft. I grew up listening to my mother talk about how young men lined up to volunteer during WWII. The whole nation pulled together against a common threat. Well, we have now been fighting in Iraq longer than we fought in WWII, but something is missing. You said this in your address the other day: “Now is the time, and Iraq is the place, in which the enemies of the civilized world are testing the will of the civilized world. We must not waver.” That sounds pretty serious. Well, if it’s that serious, why aren’t we all pulling together? Why aren’t you asking all of us to make the necessary sacrifices? When you proposed war several years ago, I applied the test I always apply when someone proposes military intervention: Is this situation serious enough that I would be willing to send my son or daughter to fight in it? Would I go myself? I’m afraid that in the case of Iraq the answer was no on all counts. And being unwilling to send my own son or daughter, I was also unwilling to send yours. I would suggest that you apply the same test yourself. Are you willing to send your daughters to this war? Your nieces and nephews? Are you willing, like Teddy Roosevelt was willing during the Spanish-American war, to go yourself? (OK, he wasn’t president yet, but still he resigned as Assistant Secretary of the Navy to put his money where his mouth was.) I know you do not want to call for a draft. That would be political suicide for you and for your party. Keeping the circle of pain small keeps its electoral impact small as well. We all know someone who has gone to Iraq, or who has a son or daughter who has gone to Iraq—but there is nothing that concentrates the mind quite like the prospect of having one’s own son or daughter, or oneself, placed directly in harms way. There might even be rioting in the streets (ours for a change, not theirs). Let’s be clear: I am opposed to sending 20,000 more soldiers to Iraq. In fact I am opposed to sending one more. However, if you really believe in this war, you should be willing to send your own kids, and your friends’ kids, to fight the “enemies of the civilized world”. I suggest we institute a draft, starting with the families of those officials whose decisions sent us to war in the first place, and let those good soldiers on their second, third, fourth, fifth tour of duty finally come home. Sincerely, Nancy P.S. Have you noticed that the polar ice caps are melting? Do you think it might be a good idea to do something about that before it's too late? |
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| Dear President Bush, I am writing due to my concern for the state that our country is currently in. There is no way that I could express all of my concerns and ideas in one letter, but I will try to cover the major ones. Our current status in Iraq- I do not believe that we are there to help people establish a government or to ‘help” the Iraqis. If that were true, why have we not been a predominant force in the Congo? Millions of people continue to be violated and murdered on a daily basis with no help from us. I also do not believe that we are in Iraq due to the events of September 11th. The people of Iraq did not attack us, they did not even threaten us and still we are there killing thousands of people and allowing our own innocent people to be killed. Listen to the people of our country. We do not want innocent people dieing while fighting in a war where we are being lied to about the reasons behind it. You have created a divided country, we are no longer united as one and it has made us even more vulnerable to terrorists’ attacks than we were before September 11th. We need to start bringing the troops home and allowing the Iraqi government to stand on their own while providing support from home. Why are we doing so little to save our environment? This planet will eventually do what ever it takes to replenish itself. It has proven this many times through the millions of years that it has been alive. That’s right it is alive, every little part of it and we are killing it, now faster than ever. There need to be more resources for the people of the United States to help this planet. Why are we not relying more on alternative energy sources? We have had the ability for years and are no further along. We should be the leader in this area and yet we are way behind. Make a commitment to stand beside all of our other brothers and sisters around the world and start saving what we have got. Why would we spend millions trying to figure out a way to one day live on another planet instead of spending that money on saving our planet? That is the ultimate show of our throwaway immediate gratification nation. Start encouraging alternative energy sources and recycling with positive rewards and punishing those companies who do not comply. Prescription drugs! Ugh, why would any government allow what these companies are doing? They make a living off creating legal drug addicts. The side effects are extreme and the more the doctors prescribe, the more that they are rewarded. The drug companies have stopped inventing drugs to help illness and started creating illnesses to match the drugs they make. Stop with all the syndromes and start dealing with the issues of the people of this country being overworked, under paid and stressed out! What happened to middle class America? Reinvent it! And further more the health care system does not care. How can the drug companies make so much and those in need die due to lack of money? And our food supply, well that is a whole letter it’s self. Frankly I am appalled! You have the ability to make these changes and many more, forget about all that you have been taught about politics and start listening and responding to what the people need. Or step down so someone else who is unafraid and willing can!!!! Lori |
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| Dear Mr. President, I voted for you twice but I feel you have let us down. You need to take some time and read the Good Book; Daniel 2 clearly states there will not be another One World Order… A soft answer turns away wrath but the opposite is also true. I can think of better ways to help our Nation through the use of faith not firearms. We say that we are one Nation under God yet tell the world to “Get on their knees… because we are preying for them?” I’ll gladly stand up and defend this Country and its borders… Something we should be doing this moment on our Southern and Northern borders. Over twenty years ago I wrote then President Regan a poem, it started with the words, “Today I saw an eagle cry, not for want of space to fly, but that men should no more die, beneath it’s outstretched wings….” As a Proud member of the Cherokee Nation I ask that you put a stop to the current Trails of Tears. God has blessed America isn’t it time we stand for Him. Mr. President could peace be as close and a stones throw away…? What's in your hand? If He Were in Our Boots I love this dear Country to It I’ll be loyal Yet is this fight for freedom or another drop of oil? How are we treating others? What does the good Book say? Could peace be as close as a stones throw away?…. With an eye for an eye and tooth for tooth WeR17;d all go blind with no way to chew! LetR17;s take these swords make a plow or two...! What would Jesus do… If He were in our boots? A bullet or a blanket which will it be? A line in the sand or to teach clothe and feed If we love our neighbors the way we do our own In time we’ll be reaping the seeds that were sown… Bridge: Wana see some real shock and awe? Turn the other check and watch their jaws If we practice what we preach we just might find that missing peace…. Repeat Chorus: ~ John |
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| The Election Composed by Talia Chorus The election, we lost it you see the election, you think that we'd be the election, smarter than he...but i guess were not its just ignorant thoughts we've got politicians making decisions for us thought control they're on a roll tryin to bore us but i know my mind, remind what I'm speakin I'm gonna vote then promote what I'm thinkin vote for freedom, liberty and justice slimey old men who wont even trust us the youth, the futures what we control to the top of our game no one can slow.... how we get down, their dirty money laundry is piling high they sit there ponder, wanna ask us why? why no donations to our police force? because inequality and wrongful abuse but of course. why no American flag pride, or bush administration? Freedoms what we need from him...EMANCIPATION I have my pride my pride as a human i don't need red white or blue, my fury is fuming i am who i am a race called people we've got to get one love under our steeple Chorus now here we are under his control again we tried to speak but were still considered hooligans wars in the world caused by Bush's insecurities its not the Iraqis I'm afraid of its him you see dropping bombs cause of a weapons mirage finding Saddam but none of his weapon entourage bombing everything, except all the targets let me ask you one thing was Bin Laden a far hit? you just gave up because it was all a ploy two planes hitting the world trade..oh boy lets scare the American people into what you believe but you sat there for seven minutes not doing anything because you and Bin Laden had some business plans all you can do is your fucking oil dance lets flex military muscle, that will work because Saddam already beat your daddy....jerk Chorus I was told Nov 2 would be my time my time where I could speak my mind but it wasn't heard i guess i have to whine Like W did when he lost it the first time puppet strings attached to our government and we have a fucking moron whose in charge of it i guess its OK cause majority rules I'm just so damn sad our country is full of fools land of freedom...no tapping our phone lines land of opportunity...no unemployment with long lines land of justice....no cause killings a crime unless your killing outside of the US line we need to get together 'stand firm' :) and fight his terms are almost over but for years we'll feel his plight our country is unique, beautiful and strong lets use our strength so peace can last long the American people, we have a voice lets not fuck it up with a wrong choice ~Talia |
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| ~A LIFE OF HATE~ A life of Hate is doomed from the start. It clouds your judgement and liquefies your heart. A life of Hate makes one less whole... It seizes dreams and it darkens the soul. A life of Hate can make one insane and looks to someone else for the blame. A life of Hate makes friends become enemies and eventually will erase them completely from memory. A life of Hate is lonely and wrong and Lennon knew it all along... just listen to his sad sad songs and realize that tragedy because he is gone. A life of Hate as they hold their signs... trying so hard to change your minds. A life of Hate because one is gay... and he doesn't even know what made him this way. A life of Hate to try to create peace... but doesn't that the whole purpose defeat? A life of hate because he is in Iraq and you are very scared he may never come back. A life of Hate because they shouldn't marry because she is "dike" or he is a "fairy". A life of Hate because he is black and in hopes to bring the KKK back. A life of Hate because she wears fur coats as he dumps red paint and then sits and gloats. A life of Hate because she made a choice... and because you disagree so you raise up your voice. A life full of Hate because his eyes are slanted. A life full of Hate because of that pot seed you planted. A life full of Hate because he believes in an alternate God then you... A life of Hate because he isn't a Catholic he's a Jew. A life of Hate because God has started to disappear... or maybe because it's him that you fear. A life of hate because someone else won...and that's when you decided to selfishly cheat someone. A life full of hate because you hold the power... A life full of Hate because they knocked down our towers. A life full of hate just to blame someone else... in order to avoiding taking a good look at ourselves. A life full of Hate and now too many soldiers died... Your life full of Hate equals his mother with tears in her eyes. A life full of Hate... just so you can make some money. And you can wipe off that riduculous grin Mother fucker... it just isn't funny. A life full of Hate and more families destroyed yet I'm sure if you had them... you wouldn't hand over your boys. A life full of hate and then hate turns to lies... meanwhile every day on the news... another soldier dies. A life full of Hate and up goes the price of my gas... A life full of hate because I am sick of paying out my ass. A life full of Hate and an eye for an eye but I know, I know... right, you're such a smart guy. A life full of Hate... why does it have to be this way... because you have something to prove an innocent life must pay. A life full of hate and a soldier with wars post tramatic effects... I think we should bring back a president who just sits around all day having sex. A life full of Hate... and now it's I who hates you just because you have the power does not mean you should make nightmares come true. A life full of hate and in the name of war it's ok to murder a child. Absolutely not.. That's barbaric man, you've completely gone wild. A life of hate so now they feel all the pain they caused us... But, we know the game.. Then comes retaliation... hopefully there's not a bomb under your kids bus. A life full of Hate sending young children off to war and to you that is probably the one thing they good for. A life full of hate.. No, I think I will pass... but I'm sure you Mr. President, will never remove your head out of your ass. A life of Hate because life's done you wrong... and you can't see it was your fault all along. A life of Hate is no life at all... Can't you see the writing... it's there on the wall ~Maranda |
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| “We can't solve problems by using
the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” Albert Einstein Please look outside the box for new solutions to problems that have arrisen from old decisions. Thank you, Leanne |
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| Dear Mr. President: My name is Jonas and I am almost eight years old. I live in Washington, Maine, and I am in the second grade. My favorite class at school is Handwork: right now I am knitting a flute bag to put my flute in. I like math and I am learning my lower case letters. Do you know how to knit? Getting on with the point: I am writing today to tell you that I think children should be allowed to vote in presidential elections. I care a lot about my country and about having a healthy Earth. I know that I am a lucky child who has enough food to eat and goes to a good school, but I wish that I lived in a peaceful world. In the next election for president, I want to vote for John McCain (if he runs). But this is not who my parents want to vote for. I think it's unfair that children can't vote because we have really good ideas. Once we visited Washington, D.C. and we saw where your house is. It was white and humungous! I hope that you will think about children when you make important decisions. Sincerely, Jonas |
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| Dear Mr. President, Let me start by thanking you for your efforts in serving the United States of America. It is an often thankless position you hold where it becomes obvious that you can’t please all of the people all of the time. Though there are a great number of people who are displeased with you at the current time, I am happy to say that I am no longer among them. I was once one of the many people who dislike you and your policies. However, I have since learned some valuable things about the inner workings of life, and have come to realize that you have been doing what you think is best all along. In fact, I have realized that everyone everywhere is always doing exactly what they think is best. Therefore, I no longer blame you for your decisions. Why blame someone for doing what they think is best? Having said all of that, let me also share some of the other things I have learned during your terms in office. Not only are all of us doing what we think is best at any given time, but everything that happens to us is significant. There are no accidents, and our reality is the product of our outlook and beliefs. Also, if you believe in some form of an all powerful God, then every single thing you see around you is a Divine creation. This goes for stars, rocks, plants, animals, and people. We, as human beings, all have this in common regardless of our occupation, religion, country of origin, or socioeconomic background. The ramifications of Divine Equality are enormous and challenging to fully embrace when you have been trained to focus on the differences between people all your life. However, once we are ready to accept this truth, we can truly make the world a better place simply by treating everyone we know as the Divine beings they are, and not judging them for the decisions they have made. This applies those who oppose us as well as those who love us, and is the reason why I am no longer among those who dislike you. All of the great avatars who has ever lived, from Jesus to the Dalai Lama, has given similar advice that needs to be heeded. Love everyone unconditionally. Not only will this liberate the individual practicing unconditional love from his or her own egoistic and judgmental ways, but it will also lead to the liberation of the entire world. We all want what’s best, which is a peaceful well balanced life where everyone is guaranteed certain basic rights, but we all have different ideas about how to bring that about. We also tend to believe that we are right and those who disagree are wrong, but we need to get passed that thinking and open up to the possibility that we may not have it all figured out after all. The only way to do that is to open up a dialog with people and actually listen to what they have to say in a non-judging way, whether they are evil dictators or peace loving avatars. We all share the same common bond as human beings and can learn to make this existence a peaceful one simply by treating everyone, including ourselves, with the same level of Divine dignity. Violence begets violence and love begets love, so let us start initiating the love now and see what happens... Yours Truly in Peace, Love and Gratitude, Trey |
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| Dear President Bush, I brought two kids into this world since you were elected and am ashamed to show them the monument you've erected kneeling to hate praying for fear creating new enemies year after year i check on them five or six times while they sleep and can't help but feel you've gotten us all in too deep what would i do to fix what you've done i'd start with apologies to each and every one the soldiers you had killed the many people you've offended use love and compassion for the fence to be mended the harder you push the more the tension will come back on us (not you, i must mention) so please, just stop stop the violence, the isolation stop the judgemental beliefs that destroy our nation hold out your hand so that others can see we can't lead with the sword if we want to be free. or just resign. let me sleep. Kristin |
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| Mr. President, Sir! I am writing to you today, because I am very upset and angry about the whole situation in iraq. Yesterday again, in the meat grinder that is Iraq, twenty more troops died. When is it enough, i am asking you Mr. Bush? The violence in Afghanistan and Iraq has escalated since the war started. The USA was supposed to bring peace and stability into that region of the world, but the opposite has happened. According to the study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology: 31% of violent deaths, that occurred after the invasion, were caused by coalition forces or air strikes. STOP THE WAR!!!!! Yours sincerely H. |
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| POEM FOR THE PRESIDENT Dear Mr. President What will your Legacy be? Listen to the people They say give up the arms race Its time for this nation To have a new face Quit warring for oil You will only spoil The work of the many Who toil and toil Its time to come forth And lead all the nations In powering the world With a whole new creation Something clean And not so mean That will give us the power In this crucial hour You have spent America's money To militarize and terrorize Bringing tears to the eyes Of all the war torn children That never had a chance to rise You have taken water From our Rivers Killed our salmon And sold our ancient forests When the oil is all gone The ozone is blown And the water is sour The environment will Crash like the towers Then Mr. president What will your legacy be? The president that squandered America's riches on torture and killing In the name of cheap oil To power our waste full machines So all Americans can wear Wall Mart Jeans Dear Mr. President You could still turn it all around Let the New World Order be Global Cooperation Let the sons and the daughters Bring forth the seeds of the next generation Your Legacy could be The president who led this world On a campaign of conservation New technology and inspiration The president who made good relations With all nations Who left a world suitable for habitation For the next 7 generations Mr. President What will your legacy be? ~David |
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| The Not So Distant Future Dear Mr. President, Now is the moment to derail old patterns of ongoing crossfire— of shrapnel. Enemy-tactics of the past give us your final grandiose blast of uranium and landmines ready to explode into this simple ode. Whether or not you understand, or fail to give a damn— about the implications of disfigured atomic wastelands. Of cluster bombs—suffocating voices in muted sleep victims of war left with few choices but to weep. In unison— SCREAM! Wake us up from this inhumane dream of population annihilation, of corporate deregulation. Creation… …is a myth unless you give it another twist. To renew our nation Through a paradigm shift of imperial transfiguration into subaltern lands of repudiation. (We humans as a species offer you this incantation.) In celebration Of the earth’s rotation There is a clear sensation Of cellular regeneration That’s the real revelation Of the earth’s vibration In a state of transmutation Of continual reparation FOR WHAT YOU—for what we—HAVE DONE CAN BE UNDONE You have not yet won. So, step aside Mr. President—WE ARE DEMANDING YOU ACT ACCORDINGLY to EARTH DNA—there is no separation from one another—indistinguishable other. Earth-Air-Fire-Water—binds us together. This is where your two-timing stolen elections end—delivers swift impeachment proceedings and international amends. * PEACE AND BLESSINGS in 2007 * ~Amina |
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| Dear Mr. President, Please bring our troops home. ~ Mandy |
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| THE REMEDY (CHORUS) One family, prosperity, where did it die? Generosity, diplomacy, turned into a lie. Now it's atrocities, rapacity without the vision to try. What capacity do we have left?..other than to cry. (VERSE1) An apostrophe to highlight George bush's ownership of his nation. Yet no ones curiosity reveals the failure of his creation. Liberty, is the president's "death by war" abbreviation. Yet to everyone else it should mean reconciliation. Why no heart? No strength of people, power will prevail! We can stop the future from death and stench of air becoming stale. No mass of numbers with lit passion will stand frail. We need to dispute and reject George Bush's continuous betrayal. Ask him what son, daughter, father, mother, sister, brother left him? Ask him who died whom he loves, and see if he still wants to win? A whole country at war losing thousands, nation becoming slim. And yet he doesn't care, he just takes it all on the chin. Everybody talks, nobody moves, everybody just lives, Yet everybody hates, everybody fears, everybody just forgives. Why not take control, distinguish truth from the fibs. Then one day ill get some sleep, happy to put my bubs in their cribs. (CHORUS) (VERSE2) You wanna live! You wanna feel! You wanna know there's a remedy. but hope stops at the reluctance to fight the fatality. the frustration of knowing everyone's ignorant stupidity. Swells my veins with the desire to prevent the continual fertility. Who wants to raise a child in a world that's self destructing. From God's love, to peoples hate, without peaceful faith conducting. We need to revolutionise thought, and with our minds reconstructing. We'll play sweet tunes of love in the tunnels of the world's ducting. In God we find comfort, in people we find sanity, Take away the balance and what's left is profanity, Nature was a gift to be our own amenity, So let's preserve it with respect and leave behind vanity. One last chance, One last family, One last hope in us all, One prayer, whatever religion, that we don't fall. Fear is not fear, if by one president it was installed. To stop his evil devices, and pointless speeches, this is why we've been called. (CHORUS) ~Bethany |
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To Whom It May Concern: |
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| Mr. President: Thank you; you have made me who I am. I am angry, I am ashamed and I am disgusted. I am taking the situation into my own hands. I am living in an R.V. in New Orleans to help the Americans you have forgotten. I am acheing for my fallen brothers and sisters in the Middle East of all descents. I am calling for our troops to return home to their families. I am in support of Daniel Ortega and his reconciliation and peace policies in Nicaragua. I am aware of the CIA’s economic hit men and encourage our neighboring countries to stand united against your Hitler-esque agenda. I am not afraid of ‘terroists’ other then those that are lurking in your cabinet. I am a proud marijuana smoker. I am a peace maker. I am fed up with your lies, your evasion of the third world needs, and your hunt for black gold. I am a constituent of the United States and I vote. Mr. President, I am many, and WE are all in this together. WE are taking responsibility and reclaiming our country. Go back to your ranch, Mr. President and take your ‘good buddies’ with you. WE are the freaky people; and WE are bringing beauty back to our world. Fuck you, Sarah |
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| On A Day Such As This On a lazy day, a sparkling day, I dreamed in a beloved place A park filled with children, open fields, flowering space With a hand on my belly I thought of my child Still sleeping inside, not arriving for awhile. "On a day such as this," I heard a gentle voice say, "the One gave me my light, my son, on that day." She spoke, this sad woman, often stopping and weeping Her hands moving,describing, eloquently sweeping. "On a day such as this, I remember it so well My little man skidded, turned and proudly yelled. "Look Mom, I've got my soldiers cause today's Show and Tell" Years pass, race by, the boy became a man Fiery buildings, a war and a patriotic demand "Ah Mom, don't worry I'll be back soon on pass But, right now, I've got a job to do. I'm gonna kick some Iraqi ass." Foul smell, diesel hell, Greyhound rumbled from the place Where exhaust burned my eyes And my tears burned my face. The back of that bus, it mocked me As it rolled on taking my boy, Making my boy, disposable Army property. Days crawled, months passed, regret-filled letters weekly Til somber men with platitudes With patriotic attitudes Took the heart from me. Young lady, teach your child to love Not to differentiate We were born to share our souls, never to hate Never to hate. On a day such as this, the Army returned me my son. On a day such as this, I gave him back to the One." Thank you. Love, Marlene |
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| Dear Mr. President Bush, I am a citizen of the world who tries to understand his own path. As we witness contrasts of peace and joy with the chaos and suffering of a changing world, the classical struggle between order and disorder, between angels and devils is still with us. Same lines we have fallen before yours and look where we ended up today. Apologizing in wrong doings of the past will not be enough. Human expectations rose up. Depression is higher. In a global world the environment remains to be a local issue despite your prolonged fake promises. If everyone consumed at the rate Americans do, we would need five Earths. Disconcerting issue to think about, considering how eager the rest of the planet is to achieve American levels of consumption. The natural world is not just a pile of instrumental accidental stuff to be used up in the arbitrary projects of one purposeless species. Our species have a purpose in this universal empire. The world today needs to realize that we are under the control of good people who are merely abiding by the narrow economic "theology" that includes a devotion to scientific materialism that helps explain economists? disregard for the environment, we can not ever prosper. After all, the Earth was not formed by accident, and the natural world is not just a pile of instrumental accidental stuff to be used up in the arbitrary projects of one purposeless species. Anyone who believes exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a madman or an economist. Humans need to wean themselves from fossil fuels in light of rapidly shrinking reserves. Redistributing the world's wealth more equitably, curbing population growth, streamlining energy use, promoting lower intensity agriculture, and modifying capitalism to make it less focused on growth. Doing so gradually would allow a "soft path down" that would make the world more prosperous after a global economic descent. The formula for sustainability: Stop counting the consumption of natural capital as income; tax labor and income less, and resource extraction more; maximize the productivity of natural capital in the short run and invest in increasing its supply in the long run; and most contentiously, abandon the ideology of global economic integration through free trade, free capital mobility, and export-led growth. You should not really need eyeglasses and a hearing aid to be more responsive to outside input. I examine these facts and then stand here without fear. I remember that which matters the most. I am confident that enlightened reason and mutual compassion will triumph over scripted determinism. And the Earth will be better off for it. Having read what I just said you can ask yourself who is running the project. In other words who is the universal empire? Let me spell it for you: L-O-V-E As you are not yet a member of the throne in the Kingdom of Love this is your formal invitation to be a delightful human on a magical planet: Bush on Forward As it flows on notice and command, long before your penultimate you should invoke the ultimate. As above, so below the world is at a dangerous crossroads, so far your oaths are fictional still not factional. So within, so without be functional on the ground to guard the mother of invention not the hideous invasion. Anger is only one letter short of danger. Pinpoint the course, revitalize the source, and stimulate the choice. The world clamored to your starting gate for your quaint ways of trade ain't based on our faith. Simply remember Gratitude and please watch your attitude. In close harmony with creative consideration without falling into competitive contemplation, We need you to grow to glow with the light of enthusiasm. Learning living loving the energetic elixirs by Will, you will clear the path to Love. You can not be free of them for Love is the key to freedom. With Light and Love My Kindest Regards, Tugrul |
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| Dear Michael Franti, president George Bush en everyone else, first off I want to show you the best I got: I LOVE U AND I WISH ALL THE BEST! I think the best wish/goal one can have is simply everything the best for everyone everywhere and always. This would be paradise for everybody all the time, funky ay? When we all use this goal to guide our actions, this world will be nicer I think. For humans we can achieve this by starting to give what humans need: love, safety, healthy food & drinks, a warm dry place and medical care where needed . Because this is what humans need in order te stay alive, I think it should be a right for every human to get these goodies! Likewise other organisms en beings got needs that need to be fulfilled and if we do that in the nicest way I think it's gonna a funky good time for everyone and that's what we want! And the goal is the same as the means: we can have a good time by simply having a good time! So to get to that we can start rightnow, for instance by giving the food to the hungry; there is enough for 12.000.000.000 people while there are only 6.000.000.000! So the food is easy to get. And peace starts by being peaceful; it's easy! So please power the peaceful and love for all! BEST WISH Robinneke |
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| Dear Mr. President George W. Bush, This poem I dedicate to you in response to your NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND policy. Education Education: A spider's snare Proceed with caution If you dare. Tread carefully With due consideration In order to achieve your destination To overcome predjudice and discrimination To give your valedictorian salutation To rise again In exaltation Overall, to meet the expectation As expressed by the Constitution There is but one solution "Pursuit of Happiness" is but one solution Don't let education be an illusion. Loreen |
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| Here are some words from my heart: Together Conflict within manifests As we continue to regress Further and further Down this hole we've dug ourselves into Little do we know There's no light at the end of this man made tunnel We've all got to look inside ourselves And then look at each other - see the reflection And fight and scratch and claw our way back out of this hole Together. Together we must toss aside our shovels of Fear, Hate, Greed, and Indifference And together we must look upward And remember... The Dream Look around this planet Oh my God what a mess Do you see, do you care, or are you chasing after the illusion of success? Have you opened your eyes Or are you caught up in this human rat race? Are you sleeping through this lifetime or.... Are you awake? Do you feel that this is the way things have to be Or does your heart whisper the truth infinite possibilities The world truly is what we dream it to be So couldn't we all dream a dream like Dr. King? A dream where there are no disposable people A dream of Love and not judgement and fear A dream where every soul on this planet can dance in celebration, can stand up and cheer...Just for life's sake A dream in which we all are awake One Day One day When we are all free When we have all realized Love When all is harmonious and blissful When there is peace everywhere, Then maybe we'll rest, If allowed. And we'll reflect and smile, Perhaps cry...existential tears of joy At what we all did together Looking for Peace We look around the great world to try to find Peace When all we really needed to do was close our eyes And open our hearts. And then Peace magically finds us and follows us wherever we go. The Illusion of Society All of this confusion about how to restructure a "better society". Let it be known that you cannot reconstruct an illusion, so don't waste your time trying to. There is no such thing as society, there are only individuals living on this planet. Society is an illusion that we all have bought into. You merely have to recognize that it is an illusion, and then it will drop away. This takes a deeper awareness, and the more individuals that have this awareness, this awakened consciousness, the blatantly obvious it will become that society is nothing but a dream, nothing but an illusion that was conjured up by us. So maybe we should stop investing all our time and energy into fixing the dream and direct the energy that we all have towards waking up and realizing that it was a dream we have been trying to fix. You don't fix dreams, you do not struggle with them - you merely wake up. If you are having a terrible nightmare and suddenly you wake up, are you going to try to do something about what was happening in the nightmare? Of course not!! Because now you are awake. Now you can laugh, knowing it was only a dream, an illusion, a veil over our collective consciousness. The dream is dropped immediately. The same can be said for society. We all need to wake up and realizing that we are continually investing our time, money, and energy into perpetuating this illusion. There are alternatives and they come with a higher consciousness and creativity. We need to take a step back and look at what we have created and allowed to happen on this planet and then start reinvesting ourselves and our resources into something new, something vibrant, alive, with love as the only force driving it. It is time to let Love run rampant and take over everything, every aspect of life on this planet. ~Benjamin |
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| When did it started the need for a leader, when we lost ourselves? (tell me how many lives are you a pain in the ass already) Please, Mister President, let those green eyed Afghan girls harvest the holy Papaver again, let the people run naked through the cannabis fields and let the black smoke stick to their beautiful bodies let those mixed up soul singing shamans do there highlife shows tonight. Let the blue blooded poet write his lonely ecstasy in his backrooms of pain, with a soft spike in his arm, let the slaves have their freedom and let them beat their pentatonic scales let them blissfully sing their cries for paradise. Lets us make a library of that little green lady plants, let my open third eye drink famously and flame full of wonder in my favourite bar, let us dance naked without those perverted vampires you send to us, in your dark paranoid clouds of insanity, I don't want to watch my back no more. Let us believe you're not getting too much of that spoonful, more than you can handle let us know you're not in it for the money, and trying to force yourself through the eye of the needle. it would have been easier to do if you were a camel. Let us believe that it, just is, and that there is nothing to gain, give back the elements, fire, water, earth and clean air to create a community so we can play. What is it that you don't understand about the One, is it a certain part of your body that don't fits in, tell me how do you think it has to look like your perfect vision, is it a word, a feeling or a material thing that you're searching for, are you trying to preserve a certain value or is it a conformation of some kind of fantasy you had as a child, is it a search for some kind of ancient drug that can let you speak in tongues maybe you found it already and you're telling the truth or are you waiting for the saviour to stand up to give you a pat on the back, and tells you you're a very good boy. Perhaps your desire is a fine line in a fairytale book, a leading role in a Hollywood picture played by mister Pitt, so your grandsons and daughters can see it over and over again, tell me please, probably I can help you to find it, it must be here and now somewhere, the eternal one is infinite, it looks to me that it has to include you too, is it crazy to say you're also part of me. You must have heard it somewhere along the line, maybe from your own mother, maybe from a friend what you're doing to the world , you're doing to the self. In the dark ages they called it Karma but we're of course a little wiser now we have the holy scripture and Jesus died for us and lucky us we have our science to get some relief thank you Lord for that little blue pill so now we don't have to feel that motherfucking pain no more. ~rob houter |
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| dear mr president, your second term mandate is rapidly coming to a close and our billion dollar deficits are growing each minute that we continue the unspeakably horrible violence in the middle east. i urge you to focus on the pressing needs of all your citizens at home and in the military, many of whom have no health care. the money spent in iraq for weapons,etc would be put to much better use in our schools and hospitals. we could be developing alternative forms of energy that would eliminate the need for oil and all the ugly death and destruction that follows in its wake. lets put a final halt to the continuing degradation of our natural environment by greedy multinational corporations. every animal or plant that goes extinct leaves a void in its passing. we have no idea of the final consequence of these extinctions. planet earth is our only resource besides each other that we can depend on for continued well being. our wasteful shortsighted approach to resource management is lethal. we can only hurt our own chance of survival as a species with our continuing policies. lets give all the endangered species a break and stop destroying their habitats and let them live on their own terms. instead of leaving a legacy of genocide, ecological destruction and greed lets think of the final days of the bush administration as a time of peaceful enlightened opportunity for everyone, not just the ones with the big bucks and big guns. as the mother of two boys who will never got to war on foreign soil for the unsustainable greed of a few wicked power hungry individuals i beg you to reconsider your positions in a true christian fashion of love and respect. i had a fantasy that we could support the visions of the dalai lama and come to peaceful co-existence with the whole world. in hope, marya |
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| this is an undeclared War Our Constitution does not san ction it we the People must say End this war NOW. From raging Granny of Humboldt Jean |
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| Dear President Bush, I understand that this war is a “dick” thing (and I don’t mean Cheney). I’m the mother of three sons, so I know all about that little elevator of flesh you boys have between your legs. It’s all about aiming and shooting. You aim and shoot to pee, you aim and shoot when you make love. The world provides an endless source of target practice for your amusement. However, there is a big difference between aiming and shooting to make life and aiming and shooting to take life. It’s so much safer to play with your dick than to play with a gun. Therefore, I am advocating a National Peace Movement starting with the dick (again, I don’t mean Cheney). It’s time for the men of this country to get back in touch (literally) with the original aim-and-shoot experience. Put down the guns, boys and grab your dicks. I guarantee, we’ll all be happier and safer in the long run. Peacefully yours, Carolyn |
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| Dear Mr. President, I am writing today to share with you a few of my views... i, of course, have many views on many different topics - but the one i'm going to focus on is the prison system in our country today. i see a few HUGE problems... first of all, why is our focus so much on punishment instead of prevention? let's get into some of these high crime areas, as well as everywhere else, and focus on the future. let's get some more money put into educating the youth so they might have a chance of growing up and becoming productive members of society. and concerning the grown adults that are already in the prison system, let's get them some education as well as general lifeskill classes and rehabilitation therapy so that when they do get released back into our society, they have a chance of success - as well as not being a threat to those of us out here already. and that leads me to the unsuccessful, extreme sentencing laws in our counrty right now. among others, we have the 3 strikes laws as well as the mandatory minimum requirements - and these strict laws have not helped the crime rates AT ALL! in fact, crime rates are up as well as the prisons becoming overcrowded...for what? this system is not working the way it was intended. i think it's time for some serious changes. locking these people away forever only costs the taxpayers money and does not do anything to help our future! it's time... sincerely, Elisia |
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| Hello, my name is Simon. I'm a 15-year old boy from belgium. I can't really imagen how the poeple feel who live in a country like Iraq or even America. The first is the second home of thousands of American soldiers and is in war with their own people and the American governement. The second is under control of a lunatic who only offers his coutry war. I don't hate America, because it's a beautifull country with a lot of opportunities and with a lot off great people. But when I see how the American governement brought only death and a civil war too Iraq, i'm pissed off. After seeing this on the news and read it in every paper, I feel forced to write this letter in the hope that a hole lot off people will be inspired with it. My dream is a peacefull world with no guns and any weapon . But my biggest dream is NO racism, because when there is no racism in the world there wont be war. I dream of a world where my children would grow up with no hate and no terrorism. I dream that my children and all the children off the world can go to school without beeing controled by the army and the police like in Palestina. After seeing Michael Franti's movie "I Know I'm Not Alone" I felt a feeling that I never felt before. I felt angry and at the same time sad . I felt angry because I saw a world without freedom and I saw the future off the world if we continue with going to war for every single reason. And I felt sad because I, a Europian with a great education, saw how people lived and I saw something in the eyes off the people. A curtain courage. A courage no people on the Europian side off the earth could have. A courage to, even tough the war, try to continue their life without any sign off freedom. I was against the death penalty of Sadam Hoessein. I believe that you could punish the man with lifetime prison. The solution to this all is TALKING. It's simple. No guns, no A- boms. And LOVE. Love too every living creature. My solution for Iraq is that the Americans give the governement of Iraq more power and more democraty. The Americans should bring there troops in small groups home and leave a small groep off Marines in Iraq to provide safety too the Iraque people. There should'nt be war for oil, there should'nt be any war. But is it possible? I believe it is. Maybe because i'm from the so called peacefull Europe, and maybe it's because i'm young. But I know there are people who have the same dream like I. At the moment I'm listening to michael Franti and Spearhead and their song "Bomb The World". And I'm sad because it's the truth. I'm all most crying from hearing the music and thinking about those people who are so brave. I'm talking about all the people who are infected by the war. If my letter would win and there is somebody speaking it out loud, I would like to do a call too all the people in the room: Don't vote the Republicans. Vote for democraty and vote for peace. I say too you all believe in peace and believe in yourself. I hope you liked my letter. Power to the peacefull!! |
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| How ya doin'? Everything OK? Mr. President, I would like to ask you something for some people who can't.... This is asked for the thousands of American military personnel killed in Iraq. This is asked for the thousands of people still without jobs and shelter in New Orleans and the rest of the gulf Katrina. This is asked for the tens of thousands of orphans who wait for parents here in America, while the media is fixated on 2 orphands being adopted by quasi-talented celebrities in 3rd world countries. This is asked for the thousands of volunteers who work day and night to help the ecology and make the world a better place, while the government is supported and bought off by corporations doing everything they can to destroy it. This is asked for kids sitting in jail for possession of a joint, while tobacco companies make millions from cigarette sales and killing millions of people at the same time. This is asked for the same sex couples who love each other as much as any heterosexual couple, and who contribute just as much to society and family values, yet are denied the same legal rights. This is asked for the millions of illegal immigrants who do the work that no one else will do for almost no pay just for the right to live in this country and be proud Americans, yet are treated like a social pariah and an invisible majority. This is asked for all those people, Mr. President.... Just how the hell do you sleep at night? ~Brett |
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| Mr. Bush I am writing you this letter to offer some heart-felt advice from my perspective; that of a white, low to middle class, working, educated, soci-economically-minded, female. What have you been doing? I ask this because I kind of gave up back in 2000 when the election was somehow swayed toward your side, and then again in 2004 when the country re-elected you based on fear, lies and corruption. But I guess I feel like I simply cannot keep quiet any longer. 2008 is just around the corner and I hope and pray every day that the country wakes up to you and your administration?s deceptive façade and votes with a clear conscious. I say conscious because I cannot understand a government that allows thousands of innocent victims to be murdered in Darfur, the Sudan, Israel, or Palestine, while focusing energy and efforts on a ?war? based solely on a suspicion that WMD existed. It seems so trite that I cannot even imagine what you must be thinking. What kind of a government spends billions of dollars in a foreign land to kill, occupy, and steal in the name of democracy when here in our own country almost 40% of us continue to lack affordable/accessible health care? What about our children? The teachers and the schools are in very sad shape; but yet your administration sees the need to send our tax dollars over to Iraq to educate their children, who, may grow to hate us regardless of your efforts, simply based on the daily truth of living and surviving in your so-called post 9-11 world. This congress was just named to most ?do-nothing? congress in history. They bickered amongst themselves failing to address the needs of the citizens of this country that are so much fed up with the corruption and blatant disregard for justice. I am so ashamed of what my country has become. At one time I was proud to be an American. My family has a history of fighting and defending this nation, its ideals, its people. But I see how the world sees us. I read international magazines and journals and understand the world?s disbelief that our nation's leaders can go on pretending like we are still a super power, when in fact, we are no different than Russia in the 1980?s before communism fell. It is a big lie that is not so hard to decipher any more. I ask you, Mr. Bush, to finally admit when things have gone wrong and make some necessary changes to turn the tides towards a brighter future for America. I assure you that people like me would respect you more if you admitted your mistakes instead of ignorantly pretending no one has noticed. In the name of this nation for whom so many have died, I ask you to give up your pride and do the right thing by standing back in 2008 and allowing truth to prevail. Allow democracy to flourish here, in its very birthplace and let the people decide. Sincerely, Jill |
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| Mr President Who are you truly huh? A leader? A head? A seat? What does it mean? Or not to you U scare the bejeezus out of me And I know I'm not alone If and *if* not merely I would be living in your country Consider me; President Enemy A Number One Thank the Energy Not your God Cause he only blesses America Does he not? Or perhaps just you? Hopes and dreams Won't do Your extinction Would But Then again In your place Just Another bloodcurdling Incoherent fool Only some of the death Would have made A change Don't get me wrong Mr President I would not want to be in your shoes Running a world leading country Like the States Should Could Not Be allowed in Lesser brains Of one man Like yourself Mr President Count your days Breathe your last You are not a hero, Cowboy man You are an imminent danger To human kind And consecutive generations Proven Guilty Of Not only Although Foremost Stupidity ~Maya |
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| Wars in this world and wars in our homes Wars over politics and politics to come I just cannot believe what humanity has become I don?t see why our men and women have to die Why they fight and never get to sleep at night Just because they?re soldiers don?t make it right We got our soldiers dyin? over seas We got leaders lyin? in their own countries Men of greed and power will come and go as often as the sun, rain and snow Power and greed will devour our seeds before their fully grown Our nieces and nephews, daughters and sons . . . all of our young to come It makes me sad and so mad that children know how to pull the trigger of a gun and how to kill someone and that they will probably die before they even know how to tie the laces in their shoes We put the decisions of a country in the hands of one man Afraid and confused we ran . . . hoping someone could help us understand but instead they taught us to hate the culture of a man Occupying someone else?s land will not help us understand Man has war Man has love Man has hope Man has choice Choose peace Peace in this world and peace in our homes Peace in politics and politics to come I really can believe what humanity can be can be can be Choose peace ~Nico and Sebastian |
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| The song is entitled `The Global People Super Power' `There is only one power that you got to let go Its the one inside everyone, Power To Us All. Send it up, missile like, to the ones who need to know Its The Global People Super Power, get ready for the show! Stop the next war, before it starts. Let the love flow, like blood inside your body parts, Its the Global People Super Power, coming to your town, On our way to Texas, to put the fascist down! The Global People Super Power, will expose your shams, never ending freedom flood, dismantle all the dams! Its time to live our surrealist dreams, act out loud and free. All else is miserableism, a dead end for you and me. Liberate your neighbours, live and let be. Tired of being dumbed down, hunt down and kill your TV! Its the Global People Super Power, coming to your town, On our way to Texas, to take the fascist down. Stop the next war, before it starts, Lets SHOCK AND AWE them, with our hearts!!!' Power To Us All - Freedom From Fear For All, douglas |
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| Dear Mister President, Happy Presidents Day. I’m a fellow resident Of the ol’ U.S. of A. Me and my family Were enjoying The time of our lives, Earning well In the high-fives. But we lost our jobs, our house, our cars Now you try to steal my drive? I saw you on TV the other day, “The economy is strong,” I thought I heard you say. “Joblessness is down, A percentage point of five,” You looked right into the camera With your dark squinty eyes. I hate to burst your economic bubble, Many families like us walk The ruins of financial rubble. Found a new job, Earning only low-fives. Work twelve hours a day, Swallowin’ my pride. Jobs like this come with a cost, Health insurance, we also lost. My infant is sick, Can’t get help to find out why, You say I make too much to qualify. Hate to bother you on Presidents Day, But there are days when we go hungry. Our numbers don’t crunch, What’s left in my net, Is too gross for lunch. O, say, can you see, Home of the Brave Land of the Free, Sing it with me: “Our credit is ruined, Un-intention-ally, Turn off our lights, Turn off our water, Late with payments, We’re out of order!” Mister President, |
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| Dear Sire, It is with profound regret that my urge to express my sheer disappointment with your mishandling of the Iraqui War, whether due to anxiety performance or some type of mid-life crisis, can no longer be controlled. Certainly, as a Yale campus celebrity never hesitant to engage in some frat house frivolity, you know how difficult it is to restrain yourself from filling the next available silo with your short range missile, and fire you did. A little Jack Daniels for lubricant and Mother Nature for that hazy ambience and life was mighty fine for you, wasn’t it. Well, guess what Dr. Hackenbush, though Groucho could pass himself off as a medical doctor at an exclusive hospital for the privileged, though he was a veterinarian and that was a movie (reality check), you’re a spoiled frat boy who evaded military service yet you’re President and Commander-in-Chief. As a result, you’ve sent some 3,500 brave soldiers to an early grave, crippled and maimed close to 100,000 more and are responsible for hundreds of thousands of Iraqui civilian deaths. And it all started under the pretext that Hussein had weapons of mass destruction which may have been hidden under his pillow, the one place we failed to inspect. You’re sucking all the oxygen out of the air leaving the world gasping for breath and making the United States the most despised country on earth. It’s time to listen to the American public and Congress, and not to Dick Cheney whose fingerprints are all over the death, destruction and corruption that is our Middle East policy. However, since you are the President the dried blood of the deceased is primarily caked upon your hands and the wailing of bereaved families and the screams of burn victims and amputees echo in your ears. The blood will only be partially washed away and the horrific sounds diminished if you withdraw from this madness and diplomatically seek a resolution that must ultimately be decided by the Sunnis, Shiites, Kurds and nations in the region. A Bush clenched tightly in hand is worth more than a thousand others in the bush, even with Cheney, his shotgun and Rice on the hunt. Sincerely, Ronald |
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| Mr. Bush, First, I would like to thank you for personally murdering everyone who died in the so-called “War on Terror.” I have met some of these soldiers, and they are clearly evil mercenaries, brainwashed to the point where they would probably eat live babies, given the chance. I realize that you are stupid so I will keep this short. If you would like a tip, just smoke lots of stinky green buds, grow some fly dreads, and drop out of school to live in a gnarly VW van by the ski-hill where they will give you a season pass if you just watch a chairlift for a few hours a day. It really is kick-ass. Ever since I did this I have felt so much more free of the laws of man. Thanks again, Mark PS. Thanks for giving us a break on the hurricanes this year. Last year sucked and it was nice to have a break. |
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| To you, Mr. President of the fifty great states of this republic- You’re like the kid with all the marbles that no one wants to play with. You lie and cheat. You manipulate, and you hustle. I often wonder what the heart of this matter is to you. I know that to the hundreds of thousands of victims of this massacre, it’s a matter of life, love, death, terror, destruction, fear, violence, sadness, and torcher. To the other hundred thousand observers, it’s a matter of shame, fear, and sadness too. We the people would like to give you the benefit of the doubt—that you’d steal an election, but that you’d do your best. That you’d rack up some debt, but that you’d take care of your countrymen/women, stateside and abroad, but that you’d do your best. We hoped that your hustling and your manipulating was only your most base human instinct to win your post, and that you’d do your best to represent the ideas and desires of the people. We the people would like to know whose beliefs you are representing. We are certain you do not represent Iraquis. We are certain that you don’t represent the soldiers, or the families of both American and ally forces. We understand that you have executed an order to fight. First it’s kill the Sunnis, fight the Shiites, kill the civilians in the way, and add to the mess that has been laid out even before you began your Reign of Terror. You are a true terrorist. We were hoping that you’d get your jollies and enjoy your “victory,” and leave everyone out of your sadistic games. Saddam is dead now, you’ve got that to keep you warm now too. Maybe you’d tell us that you had nothing to do with it. That’s probably the same argument being made by the thousands Iraqui people whose blood is being shed daily for your cause. We know what you’re thinking. You start small looking for Osama. We won’t even open that can of worms. A search turns into a war. That war continues and gathers steam for the Iraq war, which seems like it’s gathering steam for Iran, North Korea…soon you’ll be fighting the world…and why? Because someone blew up the buildings that you couldn’t be bothered to protect—you went fishing and ignored some important memos. Or maybe the person assigned to read and analyze for you got took the day off? Don’t you realize you have all the marbles? You’re the leader of the richest country in the world. You’re from a wealthy New England family. You’ve got your hands firmly in all the pots. You’ve got more money than you need, and want for nothing. You take more vacations than a hotel heiress. You’ve got friends all over this country covering for you, speech writers who help you sound like you aren’t a baboon, and a first lady that can get away with vehicular homicide and perfectly ice a cake. You’ve done well for yourself and made your family proud. We the people would like you to take your marbles, and go home. We the people would like to live in the world, not in the fantastic. lunacy of an ego maniac.We the people would like the mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters of the world to be able to go home safe and sound. Let’s all just get out of this, and call it a day. Nobody wants to play anymore. ~Nathalie |
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| Dear Mr. President Long years since you took office 2004 my tears overwrought me More suffering from each of your administrators and policies Me a health car provider: I have seen a broken system break more at your helm Privacy and Freedom desecrated Basic health services abolished Your smiling face while signing unconstitutional legislation based in your own beliefsA Prescription for you Read to completion “Our Bodies Our Selves” Special attention to Chapter 13, Sexual Anatomy, Reproduction, and the Menstrual Cycle Notice Chapter 14, Safer Sex Because you need a basic tutorial in family planning Commit to understanding Chapters 17-20, Reproductive Choices You will then realize “Abstinence Only” has no basis in science or human behavior Debunking of the health myths you proselytize Don’t you know that contraceptive use prevents unplanned pregnancy? Don’t you know that family planning services and sex education protect people? Next, a lecture series in ethics and human rights This includes a historical and international overview Where were you for this portion of your political education? And finally, quality time at a community health center _ day per week Intensive hands-on study of a major mechanism and cause of disease: poverty How preventive services and education may indeed improve the overall health of Our beautiful nation Witness struggles of real people fighting with your busted system Trigging of empathy to put you in touch with the people you serve My prescription requires that you open your eyes, rather than your own constituents’ agenda which would put a physician in prison Too bad your needs are so much greater than this one prescription Will your successor require such an intensive healing remedy? Sarah |
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| Mr. President Why is it so hard for you to hear us? We say it every day, bring our people home- fix our nation here. Our shelters are full and we were turned away. I wonder if your children ever went hungry? Have you ever had to explain that you don't have enough $ for them? No because our blood =your money. You've had Saddam hung and given the bin Ladens a free trip home We know their money lines your pocket... You think we don't know,that we are brainwashed- asleep but not all of us are and we are spreading the word...no fighting for peace Shannon |
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| Dear Mr. Resident, Are you really, fairly, squarely, barely, rarely our President? There's a heart in there somewhere, though I confess it's hard to see You have me searching deeply for your humanity How would you feel if a child cried out for your hand 'Cause their legs were missing and the pain was too much to stand? How would you feel if your brave soldiers were dying 'Cause they were so damn broke, they couldn't help applyin? How would you feel if your grandsons had to gasp 'Cause the air was so polluted, it was plain for all to grasp? How would you feel if your people couldn’t take a drink 'Cause their water was so tainted, they couldn't stand the stink? How would you feel if you were a bear on the icy tundra Couldn't barely feed your cubs or keep from going under? How would you feel if you were born in Iraq Just tryin to pay the rent and always under attack? Do ya think your God would thank you for all you’ve done in his name Stop right now, turn around, now it’s time to refrain Stop right now, it’s not too late, to listen ta this refrain Listen to the planet, it’s time to make a change Listen to the people, it’s time to end the pain Let yourself be human and let your heart be free Liberate your spirit and then we’ll finally agree Even if you don’t believe in your humanity Even if you don’t believe in your errors Even if you don’t believe in your divinity Even if you don’t believe in your forgiveness I do. Peace, brother. Daniel |
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| Words of Peace P:paz, pace, patcha, pax, paix, paco, pau, papayatik, peoc'h, páqja Purely protective psychic propulsion provides plateaus passing privileged prospectives. Passively promising profoundly progressive, perfect prayers. Positivity perceptibly penetrates promoting a peaceful planet. Permitting prophetic proof. Pulsating purity. Prodigious processes, prolific purpose. Potent possibility. E:Earth, earthlings, Eden, ecstasy, exalted egg. Earth, eternal embrace, enchanting emerald epiphany. Earth, enormously energizing, exquisite example. Earth, eloquent enriching elder. Earth, encouraging enjoyment, empathetic entity. Emergency! Enough Emissions! Extreme egomania, excessive expenditure, endangered everglade eagle eggs. Earth. Egregious eavesdropping economist embezzlement's. Elaborately embellished embarrassing elections. Embargo, Embargo, Embargo. Engorged economy. A:Aloha Amigo. Awaken astounding allies. Agape arrival. Allow Almighty awareness absolute alignment again. Access Ahimsa. Amplify ancient astral adaptive artistic ambitions. Advocate agrarian anarchy. Ascend amid amazing azure apparitions. Ad-lib ambidextrous aerobic activity and abstract acappella Aboriginal academia alfresco. Applaud atonement's. Avoid anger and apathy, also awkward accusations. Accost all accountants as-well-as abashing abrasive abysmal anti-abortion advertisements. APPALLING APOCALYPTIC APPETITE! Alert!! Amazon Ablaze! Attention Atlantic, Apache and Aztec ancestors, Archangels, Apollo and Athena. Alleviate angst. Accelerate awesome abilities. Attract auspicious abundance, adjust accuracy, and adopt authentic, affirmative action. C:Cosmic collective consciousness creating clever concepts continually calibrating cerebral cortex cellular configuration. Calm, courteous, complex chemical choreography. Concentrate, Contemplate. Communicate. Celestial Convergence, Comet's Crescendo, Collaborative Climax. Clutch chronic combinations. Compiled charm. Classic crystalline curiosity. Comfortable chakra circulation. Central Communal Credence. Care Code. Coexist Counsel, Careful Committee, Coloration Coalition. COURAGE COMPANIONS! Conclusion. E:Emit Emanations. Emancipate. Extend ethnic equality. Elevate Ecology. Encourage Education. Energize Eardrums enthusiastically. Entertain. Evolution enhancing extrasensory emotional endurance. Engender Enlightened Expression. Now President Bush how do you spell peace? Thank you so much Michael Franti. You are a true inspiration. Power to the Peaceful. ~Jeroch |
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| Dear Mister President The paramount message of the scriptures is a message of love. As the leader of our nation at the beginning of the twenty first century no one has had a greater chance to spread this message around the world. Instead you have tried to send your message of so-called democracy through bombs, torture, and economic mass murder. Garish as that is, you still have time to redeem yourself. I love you Mr. President. Your family loves you, even your billionaire handlers love you. More importantly, the children of America are counting on you preserve their future. Our educational system has been brought to its knees by the economic ideals of the Republicrats. Supply and demand cannot be used as an excuse to abandon the future of 15 million children in America. Mr. President I call on you to fully fund our schools so that all children, from Appalachia to East Texas, from Central Florida to North Dakota, from Watts to Bellingham, have not just a chance at an education, but the promise of a haven where development is creative, ethical and excellent. I won't argue with you Mr. President; but a trillion dollars spent on our children will bear greater fruits than any super secret submarine program or police action on the other side of the world. Mr. President I know you like to talk about your support for the culture of life. I beg you to stop covering our collective hands in the blood of American Men and Women. The death penalty is a racist policy that besmirches us all. Vengeance belongs to the god above, not a jury of flawed human beings. Stop the death penalty now - IT Doesn't Work. Think about yourself for a minute, imagine the balls of avoiding direct service to our country through means of entitlement and advantage, then later sending hundreds of volunteers off on a wild goose chase where thousands are killed. Our shameful past has come to life in front of us over the past 3 years of the war in Iraq. Let our troops come home Mr. President. Do not let your Ego cost one more American life. Finally George, for once in your administration take the long view. Our greatest national heritage is these beautiful lands we live in. In Portland, Oregon I am never more than 2 hours from lonely desert, lush rain forests, proud mountain tops, and churning oceans. Surely Americans at the dawn of the 31 st century deserve the same. This spiritual heritage, should you choose to protect it, might save you from the disgrace that now awaits you. Save the trees Mr. President, yes I said it, save the trees. Mr. President, these are only three things you could do to protect Americas future. Wake Up Mr. President. Wake Up! Throw off the shackles of the Billionaire Cabal! Do what you know in your heart is right. Do what you can do! Speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, protect those who cannot protect themselves, and love your neighbor as yourself. Ya see… "We don't mind see we've been doin' it all the time but if you want us to you sacrifice you will not get it without a price we don't mind see we've been doin' it all the time but if you want us to you sacrifice you gotta give something back to life" ~Wade |
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| I have no respect for you in any way. That is hard for someone
of my religion, Indian Shaker, to feel that way. We have been taught our whole lives that there is good in everyone, and that every human being has a right and reason to be respected. I clearly understand that as human beings we sometimes make tremendous mistakes, and sometimes we make simple lapses in judgement. To earn respect my Father taught me to take responsibility for my errors and to make amends. "It is not about how you mess up Son, it is about how you undo the things you have said or done, that is how you will be remembered". My biggest problem with you Mr President is you accept no responsiblity for the things you have done. Every decision you make, something or someone else has to take resposibility for it. For your No Child Left behind, schools, teachers, districts, and children have suffered the consequences of not keeping up with your standards. And the Lord knows we should not be taking advice on education from a guy of your intelligence level. On environment, you have scripted laws clearly protecting polluters, thus damaging and contaminating land, water, and the very air we breathe. Once again the communities who are being polluted have to take responsibility for it. Your unconstitutional surveillance of Americans shoulders the burden of responsibility on to families. Innocent men, women, and sometimes even children, are harrasses by the federal government for things that are not criminal, suspicious, or illegal in any way. Those people are accepting responsibility for your paranoia with there own feeling of safety and security. Who do these families trust now? It is not for fair for innocent Americans to be subjected to that kind of policy. Now Iraq. Gosh where to begin. We all know that you lied about WMD about 3 million times. We all know that Saddam never tried to buy uranium in Africa as you stated in your speech. We all know now that Saddam never had any ties to Al Qaida as you have stated also 3 million times. You have literally blown hundreds of billions of dollars trying to secure oil supplies, put America in debt, and destroyed a middle eastern country who never once phyiscally provoked the US. So, who takes responsibility for all of this? It is the Iraqis people and the US soldier and their families. American bombs have killed over one hundred thousand innocent Iraqi men, women, and children. We have lost 3000 brave men and women, and wounded 25,000 more. Husbands, have lost wives, wives have lost husbands, and children have lost mommys and daddys. That is the part of this that absolutely breaks my heart. To think of one little boy or girl whose parent has been killed in Iraq, puts me on the edge on madness. I get so angry to think that those little hearts will never be right, never have a shot at life with their loved ones, all so you and your thugs can get oil rich. Horrific, is the only word that comes to mind right now. However, I do find comfort in one thing, you will be held responsible eventually. There may not be a man or woman on this planet that will ever be able to make you stand and be accountable, but you lousy motherfucker, God will be waiting for you, and at that moment, I think you will experience responsibility in a way most of us are will be lucky enough to avoid. Paul |
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| Dear Mr. President, A letter from We The People of Lake Tahoe With slogans and speeches to keep your motives from the light, You bombed their country to pieces under darkness of night. And once it was leveled, "Mission Accomplished" was your line, While the pirates of Halliburton moved in to pillage and dine. But now, your high horse wounded, your rhetoric less strong, The whole World knows your war reasons were wrong. It's time to stand up, stand down, march, and sing songs, Leave people's blood in their veins where it surely belongs. To the pleas of millions you're blind and you're deaf, But i was so glad to read you've got a new pastry chef. That's enough you say, when will i quit these tormented rants? When you keep your dick (Cheney) in your own goddamned pants. But i don't want to leave you with negativity and bile, I'm not here to hate you, i write to make you smile. Even tho you're the Prez, i know you're only a man, So i've come to offer this simple 3-part recovery plan. Part 1, Be Sorry Be Sorry Mr Prez, spend some time with your soul. Dig deep in your heart, move beyond machismo. Feel the suffering of others and all that it means, to the people of Iraq, Palestine, and New Orleans. Part 2, Say You're Sorry It's time to gather the people of all religions, faiths, and colors, Gather them all, all your sisters and brothers. Admit your misdeeds, apologize for your stubborn wrongs. And leave other people's oil in their ground where it belongs. Part 3, Acknowledge Legitimate Grievances The poor aren't your enemy, nor are the people of color. The fundamentalist Muslims are your sisters and brothers. Get out and go there, talk and listen to them. Find out what they need to survive, and to mend. As you do these three things, and the healing begins, Let go your press man with his darts and his spins. Speak the love and the truth, and share your wealth all around, And bury your guns down deep in the ground. Yes do these three things, and please do them soon. This occupation could be over as early as June. And when the war's over, you can take a long bow, Just suck up your ego and Bring the Troops Home Now !!! ~Tom and Alia |
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| Dear President Bush, I just sang my precious Rosie to sleep. Hush little baby. Somewhere in Baghdad, a daddy is sobbing in the street, holding his heart in his hand. She was walking into school when the car exploded. How many deaths will it take til you know that too many children have died? I heard you on the radio the other day talking about creating a culture of life. Without a hint of irony. If Iraq is a culture of life in action, I?d hate to see what you mean by a culture of death. When you were running for President you said your favorite philosopher was Jesus. Did you read where he said love your enemy? I don?t recall love being amended with bomb and torture. Love is what we need, Mr. President. How many enemies would we have if instead of spending $650 billion more on weapons and war, we spent that much to provide healthy food, clean water, medicine and health care to every member of the human family who is sick, suffering or in need? How many enemies would we have then? What if we really were promoting a culture of life as a superpower for the good of all, a superpower for peace, love and healing on the planet? How many enemies would we have then? Would we need to study war anymore? Love is what we need, Mr. President. Not invasions and occupations masquerading as liberation. Not new military bases in the sand and inflated defense contracts. Not fear stoked by phony code orange proclamations. Not wars against fictitious weapons of mass destruction masked by weapons of mass deception. Love is what we need. Mr. President, as I lay my baby down to sleep, I prayed her soul be hers to keep, that no children should die from violence before they wake. I prayed that when this nightmare ends, she will see children in every country not as enemies but as friends. Hush little babies, don?t say a word. Your families are going to leave you a better way. And hush Mr. President, you?ve tipped the world over, and time is short for you and Karl Rover. Do the right thing! Peace, John |
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| Dear Mr. President, It is with Hope in my Heart that I write this letter.... As we celebrate President’s Day 2007, there remain only 23 months of your presidency on which you can establish a Legacy beyond Iraq. While this does not leave much time, there is still time to escalate yourself into the great risk takers of past presidents such as Lincoln, FDR and LBJ? It is with God in my Heart that I write this letter.... A Legacy beyond Iraq… how can this be done in such a short amount of time? By reading the Bible… specifically Genesis 1:12… “The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.” And one seed-bearing plant that the Lord put on this earth for each and every one of us is Cannabis… Marijuana… Ganja… It is with Truth in my Heart that I write this letter.... Marijuana is probably the safest known drugs in all of history, and there has never been a recorded death due to marijuana at any time in US history. Yet, tobacco claims 390,000 lives and alcohol another 80,000 in a typical year... yes, just one year. A Legacy beyond Iraq could become yours, if you have the courage to face the truth, and stop a drug war that has created the same problems that alcohol prohibition once created: an illegal market for unregulated and untaxed drugs, crime syndicates, corruption, and violence. It is with Compassion in my Heart that I write this letter.... Medical research now quantifies the beneficial qualities associated with marijuana and the ill. These benefits include relief for pain, nausea, spasticity, glaucoma, and movement disorders. Marijuana is also a powerful appetite stimulant, particularly beneficial for patients suffering from HIV or cancer. One of the tragic consequences of marijuana prohibition is that it keeps it from the sick patients that would benefit most. It is with Stewardship in my Heart that I write this letter.... It is now estimated that marijuana is our nation’s leading cash crop. And yet, there is no tax revenue being generated by it. If it were regulated and taxed, coupled with the savings in fighting the drug war, we would see a conservative savings estimate of $37 billion annually. It is with Justice in my Heart that I write this Letter… But how… how could you accomplish this task in your remaining months? With a simple directive to the Attorney General that marijuana no longer meets the criteria as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act, and that it should be rescheduled as a Schedule III or IV drug. Doing so will allow marijuana to then be used as a treatment for the ill, and subsequently allow it to be properly regulated and taxed. It is with Optimism in my Heart that I write this Letter… Mr. President, I challenge you to consider this bold step: A Legacy beyond Iraq awaits you… if you have the courage to face the truth, and stop this drug war. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Marihuana Tax Act, which effectively outlawed cannabis across the nation. What a momentous occasion this 70th anniversary would become, if your Legacy were that it was the last. It is with Sincerity in my Heart, I sign this Letter… Mike Houston, Tx |
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| Dear President Bush, I am writing you as a concerned citizen of the United States of America, as a student of the public school system currently at California Polytechnic State University, and as a person whose future is immensely affected by the actions of the United States government today. The condition of our country in domestic affairs and international situations seems to on a steady decline in many areas in recent years, some of which I would like to express to my views to you about now. A clear example of the decline is the war in Iraq, which has descended into civil war and a terrorist breeding ground from a relatively stable nation. This decline was clearly induced by our invasion. With over 100,000 lives lost (and counting) and the level of violence constantly increasing regardless of the troops we have there, it is clear that our military solution to this problem doesn't work. We have tried flooding the streets of cities with our troops, only to find that is does not help the underlying problem. We shouldn't risk the lives my generation in a military solution that will not work to solve the problem in Iraq. We need to withdraw our troops from Iraq, but we need to provide all diplomatic support possible for the avocation of peace and stability. Another war we are unnecessarily fighting is a war against a non existent enemy, and we are fighting this at home. This is a war that has been going on for decades and is the result of propaganda from the 20's and 30's and it is costing the US billions of dollars every year. The war I am speaking of is the war on marijuana. Marijuana is nothing of the inherent evil it is made out to be by the media, our government, and traditional bias' in our society that stem from the propaganda the influenced thought in the early 1900's. Pot is a medicine for many in need that can successfully treat problems from ADHD to insomnia to glaucoma to arthritis. It has also been shown that marijuana decreases the inflammation of the brain that is associated with Alzheimer's disease. Not only does marijuana have great medical uses, but it can have enlightening effects for the average user. Although all drugs have different effects on different people, marijuana can create a creative and innovative state of mind that can lead to a different mental approach to political situations as well as anything else. It can lift latent biases and enable a person to see a situation from a different view point, overall increasing their understanding of a situation. Not only are the effects of consuming marijuana distorted by the media, government, and societies biases, but the other uses of the cannabis plant are largely unheard. For every 10,000 acres of cannabis grown, we could save 40,000 acres of trees harvested for the production of commodities such as paper and lumber. The hemp plant produces the strongest fiber found in nature, which could be used to make longer lasting clothing and other goods. Through the legalization of marijuana and the ending of the war on marijuana, our society could benefit from all these uses of the cannabis plant, the use of medical marijuana, the positive effects its consumption, and well as save billions of dollars that we spend on the war, the legal battle to convict offenders (costing on average over $100,000 per offender), and the subsequent incarceration of the prisoner. We would free up space in the overcrowded prisons which could halt the construction of the prisons being built and that are planned to be built. The war on marijuana should be dropped immediately. Another domestic issue that is very relevant to me is public education. The technology and educational gap in between the US and some other counties is dwindling, because the quality of the public school system is deteriorating. This is happening as the cost of a college education is rising. The attempt to address this issue with the "No Child Left Behind" Act failed, and continues to do so. It failed because the problem with schools is not that there isn't enough testing, it is the lack of fund as wells as the lack of quality experienced teachers. The "No Child Left Behind" Act mandates standardized testing, and doesn't provide schools funds to test with. It also releases the names and birthdays of students to military recruiters, unless the student explicitly writes a letter to the school or signs a for that has to be requested, which the public is largely unaware of. A solution to this problem is to drop the "No Child Left Behind" Act, and use the extra billions of dollars freed up from legalizing marijuana to invest into the school, increasing teachers pay and providing schools with better funds to supply the students with all the materials they need to provide the students with the best education possible. By investing all this money in the schools, we would not only be doing a great duty to the future generation but we could save other funds used in the judiciary system. Studies have shown that for every dollar we spend on education, we save 2 in the judiciary system. We could save many by helping the future United States. Although some things seem to be in a serious decline, it is never too late to change directions. We need to withdraw from Iraq and try in implement a peaceful solution with | ||