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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forumsmy questions to a member of the greatest generation.
Last edited Fri Jun 6, 2014, 07:17 PM - Edit history (1)
After reading here http://www.alan.com/2014/06/06/d-day-veteran-refuses-to-meet-obama/ about the WW@ vet. that dissed the presidents invite really got under my skin. I penned an email to him to ask a few Questions and get things off my chest. here is the body of the email.
Why now ,but not then
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Sent By stone family On:Jun 06/06/14 11:56 AM
To: To gciampa@sbcglobal.net
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hello sir, After reading about your snub of our President, I thought for awhile .What possible motive could have caused someone to disrespect the commander and chief the way you did.I get why fox news trashes this president for every move he makes. It`s their business model. when someone who has obviously lived through more bull shit than most , I expect a certain level of understanding. I don't understand how someone of high character can simply put out there " I disagree with his policies , so I am going to do everything I can to embarrass him on a world stage . You stating policy differences without any follow up details as your motive makes me wonder why you enlisted( or you may have been drafted, but you went anyways) , There was a Democrat in charge during your service who was so far to the left ,He made President Obama look like Barry Goldwater in comparison , Yet you served at risk of death, why?. My position is you showed more character at the beginning of your adulthood , Fighting even though there was a devout socialist running things, than you do now after 70 yrs. of life`s travails.
That seems to leave only a few deeply seated Beliefs that might be so deeply ingrained that they would make you OK with the most left president in history(FDR) ,but not with the black guy with the Muslim sounding name. Now Granted I don't know you personally , But I sense there are issues that has effected how you normally would act in this case. I am close to 60 yrs old and I am also a veteran of a foreign conflict. If lets say ,President Bush asked me in a cordial manner to attend a ceremony dealing with my service, I would not hesitate to oblige I WOULD BE HONORED, even though I was adamantly against the ham handed neocon war mongering . Even though I have voted Democrat since Jimmy Carter. I feel I am as patriotic about this country as anyone. I feel your patriotism also. Why is it that you cant put aside politics in order to highlight you greatest achievements . The civil/political discourse surrounding this time makes me sick. It makes people act in ugly ways. I want to believe Your not so swept up in politics to Hate our President. Unfortunetly, It seems the members of the greatest Generation in this case are not as great As I envisioned .
respectful of your service, D..... S..... , 2nd class petty officer USN. 1977- 1983
I have not received a reply . If he bothers I will update post.
= new reply since forum marked as read
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enlightenment
(8,830 posts)You impugn his character, question his intelligence, and all but accuse him of being a racist.
There were better ways to ask your question.
Swede Atlanta
(3,596 posts)enlightenment
(8,830 posts)Perhaps not assuming that one knows everything there is to know about the man would be useful, also. Civility is not a mystery.
tapermaker
(244 posts)By me stating that " granted I don't know you personally , But I sense there are issues that has effected how you normally would act in this case." I thought after reading that I had covered my ass about assuming I know everything about the man . I guess you read it differently.
enlightenment
(8,830 posts)I read it differently. That said; you are comfortable with your perception of your letter and uninterested in examining it from a different perspective. That is entirely your choice and I see no point in breaking it down, sentence by sentence, to show you how it can be perceived in a fashion very different from the way you see it.
tapermaker
(244 posts)honored his service , did not call him a name or insult his intelligence, but asked how he justified his stance. I did not call him a racist I asked a valid question pointing out his actions then vs. now .Are you looking for a fight over this ?
enlightenment
(8,830 posts)colored by what you think you said. Try reading it from his perspective - an elderly veteran receiving an unsolicited message from a stranger who presumes to know what he did and why he did it.
I'm not looking for a fight and you won't get one from me; I rarely waste my time with that sort of thing. You posted your letter for some reason - I assume you expected a different response - and are now not thrilled with how someone else thinks it sounds.
It's done; you sent it. If you are comfortable with it, so be it. My point is only that the recipient probably won't read it with the same appreciation that you have for your message.
Jenoch
(7,720 posts)cheering if a WWII veteran had refused to meet with W.
tapermaker
(244 posts)does that make them right?
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)Did I miss something? 
tapermaker
(244 posts)first question- What possible motive could have caused someone to disrespect the commander in chief ?
second question- I don't understand how someone of high character can simply put out there " I disagree with his policies , so I am going to do everything I can to embarrass him on a world stage .
third question-You stating policy differences without any follow up details as your motive makes me wonder why you enlisted( or you may have been drafted, but you went anyway).There was a Democrat in charge during your service who was so far to the left ,He made President Obama look like Barry Goldwater in comparison , Yet you served at risk of death. why?
forth question-Why is it that you cant put aside politics in order to highlight you greatest achievements? I know these questions splattered all over my post make them hard to find but sheesh.
