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From John F. Kennedy's Inaugural address:
So let us begin anew--remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.
Sincerity is what we look for more than anything else in our politicians. As we look, we are more often to find a lack of it than any measurable amount present. Even having spoken these words, we now know JFK to have been insincere to his family, but we still hold him irreverently in high regard because we felt he lived up to that statement where we, the American people were concerned…perhaps as we will continue to champion Tiger Woods because his "transgressions" take nothing away from our collective enjoyment of him as a truly great sportsman.
It is the second line in this quote that brings me to the subject of the sincerity of our new President. He actually used this line, but has since shown us anything but fear as a divining rod guiding his policy…whether it be the war in Afghanistan, or in being subservient to the wishes of the banks. He is either utterly afraid to upset either side of the political divide, or we would have to consider another…even more unfathomable reason for his lack of reason. Perhaps we will have to swallow a very acerbic pill, and do just that.
Fear first. My takeaway from his speech on escalating the war in Afghanistan was he was appeasing both sides of the aisle…escalating while at the same time, speaking of our exit in eighteen months. Escalating makes right happy. Leaving makes left happy. Here's the problem…as long as he is talking in terms of "winning" this war, there will be no exit. Not in eighteen months, not in a century. He knows this, which means he is being insincere in selling us on continuing this war…remind you of anybody? In fact, did his speech sound eerily familiar to our last President? If you answered "no" to that question, you are in denial.
We cannot win this war because by the mere fact we are sending in more troops, we are handing over victory to our adversaries…terrorists. They fight a different kind of war. Their ultimate goal is to bring down the American way of life…our economy. Everyday that we are there, they win. We cannot afford this war, they know that. They succeeded in making us desperate and foolish in regard to our economy after 9/11. President Bush told us to go shopping, and we did, oh yes, we did. Now we are spending money we don't have to continue our economic erosion…who is winning this economic war? The very people we want to defeat. Defeating them in my opinion would be to make our country prosperous again. Bring our troops home to protect us here. Give that money instead to entrepreneurs and businesses that want to hire our citizens. Now that to me would be our win against terrorists who hate us for our freedoms. Killing us is not their goal…taking down our nation, our spirit, our fearlessness is. You win a war like that by doing the exact opposite they want you to.
The only other reason we can consider for the actions of our President on all fronts…he has an insatiable thirst for power, coupled with the same hubris that possessed our last president…for that matter, the majority of our politicians. This is that acerbic pill I truly don't want to swallow, and never ever thought I would have to worry about with Obama. It is worse than fear, because fear is something we all can at least relate to in some way or at some level…power trips, ego driven, self centered power mongers make bad decisions and never learn from their mistakes.
Sincerity is always subject to proof. So, President Obama…quit lying to us. Quit making us weaker. Quit with your power trip. Remember the credit you gave the American people in your campaign, and realize we have the power to hold you accountable. Prove to us you meant what you said on the campaign trail…prove your sincerity. It is not too late to give us the man we voted for, and it is my greatest hope that you will change.
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