Have We All Gone Hysterical
January 6, 2010 by Brian Jenkins
Filed under Be Risen, Featured
First thing is first, there is obviously no extent that I would not go to in order to protect and keep my family safe. I also understand that the principal job of our Commander in Chief, the President, is national security and keeping Americans safe. After September 11th, 2001, it became obvious as to how tough a job that was for a sitting U.S. President. Insert President Obama, who has on his foreign policy agenda a belligerent Iran’s quest for nuclear weapons. Then there is the ongoing terror threat, the drawdown in Iraq & surge in Afghanistan, a deeply troubled Pakistan, Yemen and the list goes on.
When talking about the President, former VP Dick Cheney said “Why doesn’t he want to admit we’re at war?” “We are at war and when President Obama pretends we aren’t, it makes us less safe.” Are we living in the same America, because he seems strangely off key? In his inaugural, the President said “our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred.” Accepting the Nobel Peace Prize, President Obama said, “We are at war, and I am responsible for the deployment of thousands of young Americans to battle.” At West Point, President Obama told the nation why it was “in our vital national interest” to send an additional 30K U.S. troops to fight the war in Afghanistan. President Obama added that as Commander in Chief, “I see firsthand the terrible wages of war.” It makes you wonder who REALLY doesn’t understand the wages of war Mr. Dick Cheney.
But, why are we so reactionary? Why have we lost so many freedoms in an attempt to stop terrorism? This too seems strange. While American, like all human lives are precious, let’s put the numbers into perspective. On September 11th, 2001 we lost around 3000 Americans, on December 25th, 2009 we could have lost close to 300. But each year we do lose 45,000 to the lack of health care. So, why do we have to be strip searched at airports for such small numbers, when large threats like health care or a war on Cancer are not swiftly attacked in the same way?
All Presidents are criticized for their vacations. Lincoln’s critics blasted him for spending ¼ of his time away from the White House. FDR was secretly taken out of the White House to what is now Camp David for long visits; Truman took long breaks in Key West. Eisenhower took long summer breaks in Denver and spent almost every single weekend at Camp David. JFK rarely spent a weekend in the White House, staying at family homes in Palm Beach, Hyannis Port and in Virginia. LBJ and Reagan spent weeks at a time at their ranches in Texas & Calif.; Nixon had homes in Key Biscayne and San Clemente. Most recently, Bush spent 490 days of his Presidency at his ranch (77 visits) and another 487 days at Camp David (149 visits). Obama, so far, went to Martha’s Vineyard for a week in August & now 10 days in Hawaii. He has been to Camp David 10 times (22 days). Take your break Mr. President.
I want a fresh President that will come back and sync up with the real concerns of the people. What will be the topic next year? It was health care when we cared about jobs. On November 4th, 2008 America went to a feel good movie and voted for Barack Obama. We left the theater, and our cars were towed. This past decade we brought houses we couldn’t afford, and spent recklessly as if money didn’t matter. Change is hard, and the status quo doesn’t yield its power easily, but the path right now is not yet clear.
It is time to give Americans back our rights, taken away in an attempt to fight terror. It is also time to fight for jobs at home, fight against Cancer, crime, poverty, failing schools, social prejudices, build infrastructure, etc. We have an America that needs to get their cars out of the tow, and we need another feel good story. It is time to stop the hysteria, get our heads back, and address the things that really matter to us.
- Brian Jenkins
Twitter: @Brian_Jenkins
“Change is hard, and the status quo doesn’t yield its power easily.”. You said it perfectly brother! I love that fact you pointed out to your loyal readers. Also thanks for blasting former VP Cheney and his scared and hypocritical viewpoints. Obamas opponents seem to have distorted an selected memories and try to find any flaw in obamas armor. It’s amazing how people see things that aren’t there!
Dick Cheney is off point now. He is playing politics with international issues as serious as war that concerns American lives. How do you think soldiers feel when a former Vice President comes out and say the President does not recognize we are at war. Former VP Dick Cheney has, for lack of a better word, lost sanity and seems to be on the edge of dementia.
Wow! I just got snapped back into reality after a wonderful Holiday Season with this blog … Oh well, back to high unemployment or underemployment, low to no health insurance and to add to those knocks, the reality of terrorist willing to kill themselves wearing tools/bombs of destruction in their underwear. Life “sucks”… I’ll adjust soon… It’s just that reading your blog was like listening the the 6:00 pm news in Atlanta.
The confidence that I have in President Obama is not measured by how many daunting items he has on his agenda but by his intellect and ability to successfully navigate on the World Stage. For me he is currently the BEST President we have had in my lifetime. He is the Michael Jordan (I would say the Tiger Woods — but Tiger is having a few problems)of his particaular arena. I agree that he does need to take some time off so that he can continue to be energized to handle his job that includes my life and the lives of my family.
I feel that the President needs to govern, and be allowed to govern. But we still need to hold him accountable, and make sure it is the direction that we supported in electing him. The opposition party (Republicans) were needed for fiscal responsibility, but have lost credibility as the loyal opposition. Government is for and by the people, but the people have to exercise those rights too!
You make some great points and I agree with you! Unfortunatley there are a lot of close minded and ignorant people in the world who don’t think long enough to realize some of the real issues at hand. I agree that we need to consider all of the ailments that America is suffering from instead of simply focusing on the most convenient. Great blog!
Its time to get them to start thinking about these issues now though! There is too much out there going on to be closed minded.
“On September 11th, 2001 we lost around 3000 Americans, on December 25th, 2009 we could have lost close to 300. But each year we do lose 45,000 to the lack of health care. So, why do we have to be strip searched at airports for such small numbers…”
Profit is the answer. In fact just recently FDA approved drug which will prolong life by 2 weeks but also will cost extra $100,000. Therefore why rush to fix something that can make you so much money? While at the same time we require the public to believe their safe to travel to maintain tourist coming in, as in the same instance giving the public the impression that we are in safe hands from any threat foreign or domestic.
Furthermore who are we to comment on the President taking time off for himself? Despite the fact that he has the livelihood of over 300,000 million people that he is severing 24 hours a day, & days a week. There are only four other people alive in the world that knows the stress that he has to endure. It should be understandable that he needs to get away from a while; no one else has to be at work 24 hours a day so why should the leader of the free world not be able to get away. Again 300,000 million people, some of us can’t even keep up with our children.
Great points Ram, and that is very true that profit is the answer. But I do difer on why. A while ago when I was in an Econ class in college, a proffessor broke down why it was so hard to find a cure for AIDS. Its not as much of a conspiracy. The fact is that, people don’t communicate findings as easily because the first person to find the cure is an instant billionaire. The fact is, even extending life can make you rich, so why work with other labs?
You brought some much needed facts into light. People fail to realize that our President is HUMAN and is not captain save-all. I can appreciate President Obama taking a break it means he is in tune and not just going with the motions!
“RAMSEY” said it best.. As far as the #of deaths in relation to a reality of people dying daily from cancer and lack of health care (I like to call it Helpcare maybe it will soften hearts). But, “why rush to fix something that is making you sooo much money”. I researched some things on cancer and scared myself half to death… A man long ago invented the “Rife Machine” said to cure cancer in 1hr and 30mins… He was murdered shortly after presenting it to Govt officials… And everyone who tried to carry on his legacy…. killed. Its a scary thing to think, what if they actually presented this cure… Do you realize how much money they will lose out on?! The millions that go toward research let alone the billions people pay out to doctors for treatment and therapy?!???!! Food for thought.
I enjoyed reading. Good stuff Brian, you have my full attention.
What all Presidents of the United States have on their plates have in modern times become the financial stability and security of the free world. It may just be too much, especially in its current form. So we have to appreciate what Pres. Obama has done by reaching out to other nations, something Bush refused to do. It has even worked, after he announced aa 30K troop escalation in Afghanistan, the world commited 7K more troops. I haven’t seen that in my lifetime.
Very true. The acceptance of President Obama’s announcing the deployment of 30k more troops was much better than I expected. In comparison, each time Bush announced anything on war I think our hearts cringed. President Obama’s approach, and tactic puts me in awe. I heard people say, “but he promised to get our kids back home!!” And someone cuts in and says “he explained to what extent this war has gone, and the tactic we must implement”. The conversation ceased with acceptance. Amazing (to me of course).
I agree! The hard reality is that I am so preoccupied with my daily struggles but still believe in and echo praises to President Obama and his family who are well equipped to handle the job that he signed on for. Tough times call for tough decisions……..I’m working on handling my concerns and firmly believe that President Obama is working together with others to keep our nation a viable place for all citizens. There is no rest for the weary, and our battles (employment, healthcare, etc.) require 24/7 effort.