Colin Powell

On both sides of the war, all the deaths, maimed humans, ruined families, and the continuous violence might not have been if one man had taken a stand. I’ll think of this with others during the R.N.C. Like many I knew that Colin Powell had within his reach a courage waiting to be tapped to tip that scale of reason for going into Iraq. Instead there was a 180% turn around from the self proclaimed “Reluctant Warrior”.

That political courage John Kennedy mentioned in his book, “Profiles In Courage” escaped Colin Powell. “I have been interested in problems of political courage in the face of constituent pressures and the light on those problems by the lives of past statesmen”, John F. Kennedy.

If Mr. Powell had resigned rather than have faced the U.N with dubious evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, I don’t believe what many see as a fraud on the American public, would have held together. I believe the media would not have been as mute, and would have vigorously questioned the wisdom of the pre-emptive strike.

Some of us feel that, had Mr. Powell taken the resign course of action, he would have generated more love in the world than hatred. In my opinion, that would have been the type of courage exemplified in “Profiles Of Courage”. It’s that type of courage that brings tears to all eyes that witnessed it.

Of course many would have felt betrayed and probably would have branded Mr. Powell as a coward. I suspect those are the ones that have a problem with the word sensitive.

It seems there is almost a split division in this country concerning whether it was right or wrong to invade Iraq. No one can ignore the fact that the war in Iraq is draining an enormous amount of resources and blood. There are those that say the Iraq war is connected with 9/11. There are those that say there is no proof. This same argument existed before the war when Colin Powell gave his presentation to the U.N.

A question of timing on going to war

The following letter was published on August 18, 2004 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

The question concerning which presidential candidate will be willing to pull the trigger should not be the question. The question should be: Who has the wisdom to know when?

Many of us know why John Kerry voted to give George Bush the power and tool, if needed, to go to war. Many of us would like to hear something like the following from John Kerry:

"As a war veteran, I voted for the president to go to war to strengthen his hand. As a senator and a veteran, I had hope he would have played his hand wisely. George Bush's rush to war was not out of wisdom. It was out of arrogance."

A letter to John Kerry

Dear John, Many of us that would like to see Bush gone are influencing others through conversations and writings. We are not just looking for security and freedom. We are looking for someone to articulate the error of the Iraq war. Since the shock and awe pre emptive strike, over 900 americans have died and thousands of Iraqis. The maimed and mentally damaged ones are permanently scarred along with families of all. Unlike what we saw in 1968 when Robert Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, Dr. M. L. King and others took strong positions against the Vietnam war, In 2004, empathy for the dead and maimed from the politictians is a ground lightly treaded. Dialoque with the Terrorists, to speak of helping the poor,and making Bush and his administration accountable are all swept away in the illusion of polictics. The direction of this goverment is compared to a house with a roof leaking really bad while the occupants concern themselves only with keeping the floors waxed. Inspite of this analogy, my efforts and vote will stay with the democrates. Sincerely, Alfred Waddell

Inspired by speakers at the Boston convention

The following letter was published on August 2, 2004 by
The Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

The performance of Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention reminded so many of us of John Kennedy, Dr. M. L. King, and Robert Kennedy.

Obama’s spirited speech July 27 transcended and radiated a kind of hope that was lost in the assassinations. Those of us who admire Ted Kennedy knew he would speak his mind. We were not disappointed.

Like Obama, Teresa Heinz Kerry was a pleasant surprise. She spoke with wisdom and sincerity. She left many thinking how lucky John Kerry is, and how lucky the country would be to have her as a first lady.