Truth a Casualty of War
The election of 2004 is crucial to the course of history for the United States and the next generation. I have recently read a book title "Franklin and Winston: An Intimate Portrait of An Epic Friendship," by Jon Meacham.
In it, I’ve read several passages for which I could not erase from my thoughts. What was true sixty plus years ago is also true today for President Bush and those who follow him. As a veteran, I hold a strong conviction and feel passionately about this war [Iraq] which leaves me in turmoil with myself to see young troops died or maimed for political gains; all wars are political.
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill perhaps the two greatest leaders in the last century [even with their disabilities and faults, respectively]; this is what they said. In the winter of 1942 after the attack on Pearl Harbor Churchill said:
“They [British people] deserved the truth. There is no worse mistake in public leadership than to hold out false hopes soon to be swept away. The British people can face peril or misfortune with fortitude and buoyancy, but they bitterly resent being deceived or finding that those responsible for their affairs are themselves dwelling in a fool’s paradise.”
And Roosevelt expressed similar views:
“The news is going to get worse and worse before it begins to get better. The American people must be prepared for it and they must get it straight from the shoulder.” And quoting the author: “People respect candor if they are confident their leaders have a plan for moving forward. They do not like being talked down to or misled. It is the covenant of modern democracies: Tell it to us straight, and we will do what is takes.”
In contrast to the war in Iraq and too 9/11, I encourage President Bush put this book on his reading list while he wages his war on terror. We should never forget the lessons of history. I am currently reading a book title Franklin and Winston: an intimate portrait of an epic friendship by Jon Meacham. In it, I’ve read several passages for which I could not erase from my thoughts. What was true sixty plus years ago is also true today for President Bush and those who follow him. As a veteran, I hold a strong conviction and feel passionately about this war which leaves me in turmoil with myself to see young troops died or maimed for political gains; all wars are political.
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill perhaps the two greatest leaders in the last century [even with their disabilities and faults, respectively]; this is what they said. In the winter of 1942 after the attack on Pearl Harbor Churchill said, “They [British people] deserved the truth. There is no worse mistake in public leadership than to hold out false hopes soon to be swept away. The British people can face peril or misfortune with fortitude and buoyancy, but they bitterly resent being deceived or finding that those responsible for their affairs are themselves dwelling in a fool’s paradise.”
And Roosevelt expressed similar views: “The news is going to get worse and worse before it begins to get better. The American people must be prepared for it and they must get it straight from the shoulder.”
And quoting the author: “People respect candor if they are confident their leaders have a plan for moving forward. They do not like being talked down to or misled. It is the covenant of modern democracies: Tell it to us straight, and we will do what is takes.”
[In contrast to the war in Iraq and to 9/11,] I encourage President Bush put this book on his reading list while he wages his war on terror. We should never forget the lessons of history.
In it, I’ve read several passages for which I could not erase from my thoughts. What was true sixty plus years ago is also true today for President Bush and those who follow him. As a veteran, I hold a strong conviction and feel passionately about this war [Iraq] which leaves me in turmoil with myself to see young troops died or maimed for political gains; all wars are political.
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill perhaps the two greatest leaders in the last century [even with their disabilities and faults, respectively]; this is what they said. In the winter of 1942 after the attack on Pearl Harbor Churchill said:
“They [British people] deserved the truth. There is no worse mistake in public leadership than to hold out false hopes soon to be swept away. The British people can face peril or misfortune with fortitude and buoyancy, but they bitterly resent being deceived or finding that those responsible for their affairs are themselves dwelling in a fool’s paradise.”
And Roosevelt expressed similar views:
“The news is going to get worse and worse before it begins to get better. The American people must be prepared for it and they must get it straight from the shoulder.” And quoting the author: “People respect candor if they are confident their leaders have a plan for moving forward. They do not like being talked down to or misled. It is the covenant of modern democracies: Tell it to us straight, and we will do what is takes.”
In contrast to the war in Iraq and too 9/11, I encourage President Bush put this book on his reading list while he wages his war on terror. We should never forget the lessons of history. I am currently reading a book title Franklin and Winston: an intimate portrait of an epic friendship by Jon Meacham. In it, I’ve read several passages for which I could not erase from my thoughts. What was true sixty plus years ago is also true today for President Bush and those who follow him. As a veteran, I hold a strong conviction and feel passionately about this war which leaves me in turmoil with myself to see young troops died or maimed for political gains; all wars are political.
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill perhaps the two greatest leaders in the last century [even with their disabilities and faults, respectively]; this is what they said. In the winter of 1942 after the attack on Pearl Harbor Churchill said, “They [British people] deserved the truth. There is no worse mistake in public leadership than to hold out false hopes soon to be swept away. The British people can face peril or misfortune with fortitude and buoyancy, but they bitterly resent being deceived or finding that those responsible for their affairs are themselves dwelling in a fool’s paradise.”
And Roosevelt expressed similar views: “The news is going to get worse and worse before it begins to get better. The American people must be prepared for it and they must get it straight from the shoulder.”
And quoting the author: “People respect candor if they are confident their leaders have a plan for moving forward. They do not like being talked down to or misled. It is the covenant of modern democracies: Tell it to us straight, and we will do what is takes.”
[In contrast to the war in Iraq and to 9/11,] I encourage President Bush put this book on his reading list while he wages his war on terror. We should never forget the lessons of history.
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