When I was at the doctor's last week, I had the rare opportunity to meet a true American Hero from World War II - a Tuskeegee Airman. Of all the escort groups to fly with our bombers, they are the only ones that never lost a single bomber. They were so successful that bomber pilots began requesting them - even though they were black and the Army was still segregated - and highly bigoted. (If you want to learn more, do a search on 'Tuskeegee Airmen".
The next time I go back to the doctor, I would like to take a handful of thank you notes from anyone who understands what those brave men sacrificed for us. If you would like to express your appreciation, like I did at the time, please email me at sunshine1953a@yahoo.com with "GREETINGS, AIRMAN" in the subject and I will print off your replies and take them in with me. I will be going back at the end of march, so if you want to say something, you don't have much time.
When I told this elderly, refined gentleman "God Bless You", HE thanked ME for stopping and speaking to him. We are the ones who need to be thanking him. These fine men are few and far between, and the way they were treated at the time was disgraceful. It's long past time we let them know exactly how much they mean to this country.
Just to clarify my position regarding the UAE and our ports: I do not trust any country that has previously supported terrorism and/or terrorists, and who subsequently claims differently, until they have spent a minimum of a generation putting their money where their mouth is. In other words, I will believe that Saudi Arabia is our 'friend' when my Great-Great-Grandchildren have Great-Great-Grandchildren. Maybe the UAE is benign in this instance, but I need to see a lot more of them standing by us instead of against us before I trust anything they do that involves any American interest.
Are you out of your ever loving mind? How can you even consider turning management for our ports over to the United Arab Emerates? Several main ports - Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami, Washington D.C., Boston - are positioned in the middle of the city, putting them at risk for any attempt to destroy them from the sea. Is this the next move for our airports? How much air travel do you think we would have in this country if people had to be scanned by an Arab before getting on a plane? How secure do you think our air space would be if middle easterners were responsible for making sure the luggage was x-rayed prior to being loaded on board? A single ship loaded with biologicals or chemicals could take out several major cities. A coordinated attack in several ports at once could cripple our entire country by restricting imports and exports to air travel. Rebuilding these ports could take years, further hindering our international trade. And I haven't even addressed the cost of a successful attack, to our economy, our environment, and our socitey. The loss of life could make 9/11 look like a small plane crash.
You say that this is a fight we are in to win. Well, this sure as hell is not a winning move. You do this, and you might as well give al Quaeda the key to every major city in the country. It's bad enough that people who want to wipe us out are coming over the borders like water over a dam; don't make it easier for them by opening our ports to them, too.
I am so disappointed in your recent decisions I could spit nails. When you were elected, I believed that you were a man of character and strength, that you held to your beliefs and would refuse to compromise your principles. I am finding that I may be wrong on those beliefs. I understand that it is important in politics to compromise your positions on some issues, but there is a limit to how much you can compromise without surrendering your honor, and as much as I hate to say this, I believe you have done just that.
After the attacks of September 11, your attitude was amazing. You showed you had a pair. You appeared to be of a singular mind to find and destroy those who would destroy us. However, your stance on illegal immigration makes me wonder just how dedicated you are to that end. We have had an amazing economy, especially considering the attacks and their financial impact, but you have managed to limit the financial windfall this country could otherwise have enjoyed by refusing to veto a single spending bill. Sometimes what comes across your desk NEEDS to be vetoed, like the Campaign Finance Reform bill that you signed, in spite of the fact that it was, and is, unconstitutional as it abridges free speech. You may remember I wrote you prior to your signing the bill; apparently, my letter never reached you.
I voted for you in 2000 and 2004, and I believe it was the right decision, but if you were elligible to run again, I would have to rethink my vote. I am EXTREMELY disappointed in you, both for your apparent inability to protect us from those who would gladly slaughter us, and for your decisions to cave to those who would destroy us from within. It has been shown throughout history that you cannot negotiate with or appease a tyrant, not even when they are home grown, and a lot of the so called leaders of our government have shown themselves to be just that.
Some people are so rigid you simply cannot get along with them no matter what you do. To continue to attempt to do so is simply a waste of time and resources. It should be obvious by now who can be persuaded and who can not. Stop wasting your time - and our resources - and stand up for those principles you showed when you were first elected. You know what you have to do - SO DO IT ALREADY!! Or do I need to send you a pair of basketballs???
This is to clarify my position on the military. Some of the comments in my tribute sound as if I do not appreciate what they do. Nothing could be further from the truth; it is simply my way of acknowledging that others may not, even though they, too, benefit from the efforts of our servicemembers. Having spent over 30 years married to a retired soldier, I have a perspective many do not. Other family members also understand this. We see what the troops go through, what they do without, how people treat them, and the discipline necessary to keep from spitting back at those who revile and despise them.
People don't understand that being a member of the military is an honor, in spite of the fact that it is the only job in the country where your boss can order you to go get shot, and if you refuse, you can go to jail. It is also the only job in the country that exempts you from the protection of double jeopardy. If you are tried and convicted of a crime as a member of the military, you can be sentenced to a prison in a military facility, then when you are released, you can be tried, convicted and serve time in a civilian prison.
It's time we took another look at what the military does for us, and really support them in deed as well as in words.
How can you even consider turning management for our ports over to the United Arab Emerates? 
Several main ports - Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami, Washington D.C., Boston - are positioned in the middle of the city, putting them at risk for any attempt to destroy them from the sea. Is this the next move for our airports? 
How much air travel do you think we would have in this country if people had to be scanned by an Arab before getting on a plane? 
A coordinated attack in several ports at once could cripple our entire country by restricting imports and exports to air travel. Rebuilding these ports could take years, further hindering our international trade. And I haven't even addressed the cost of a successful attack, to our economy, our environment, and our socitey. The loss of life could make 9/11 look like a small plane crash. 
When you were elected, I believed that you were a man of character and strength, that you held to your beliefs and would refuse to compromise your principles. I am finding that I may be wrong on those beliefs. I understand that it is important in politics to compromise your positions on some issues, but there is a limit to how much you can compromise without surrendering your honor, and as much as I hate to say this, I believe you have done just that.
