Dear President George Bush,

I have been concerned about the safety and reputation of our country ever since we waged war on the Iraqi people 4 years ago. I take this war personally, because I was born in Viet Nam. I had to flee the country of my birth, under gunfire at 3 am at the age of 4. Because I was blessed with the chance to grow up in a democratic country, in a safe area, I am now able to assess the events of my life. War has torn my family apart. It wasn’t until the age of 18 that I met my biological father. While I am so glad to have a father, I am still angry sometimes about the years that we were separated. The war forced my family to flee separately in fishing boats, so it took 13 years of endless searching before my father knew whether I was dead or alive. I know by personal experience that war does not last for 4,5, or 10 years, it lasts a lifetime because it destroys lives even years later.
When I hear of the bombings, I think of the fathers—both American and Iraqi—who are killed and who will never see their wives and children again. I think of the terror of seeing bombs come from the sky and the horror of a gun being pointed at you. What is the meaning of “democracy”, when your brother, sister, mother, uncle, grandmother, grandfather, uncle, aunt, and cousin are killed?
Mr. President, I know you have a vision. You have a will that is strong. I admire your courage to follow through with your vision of things. All I ask is that you widen your vision to hold the effects of your policies. Who is an Iraqi? An Iraqi is a man, a woman, a son, a daughter, a neighbor. An Iraqi is a family, not just a cause.
Please reconsider your plans by reviewing the effects of your policies so far. A courageous leader looks at the consequences of his actions and then makes the appropriate changes to get the effects he wants. If you want democracy to flourish in Iraq, then stop killing people. This means no more bombs, no more aggression by our military personnel. Pull out the troops. Then, help the right people. Within every situation, there is always a core group of people who have a keen ability to sense what’s needed in their community, connect with the right people, and give the help that’s needed. Seek them out. Learn who’s really giving shelter, aid, food, medical care, access to gasoline and clean water. These are the real leaders.
Do not fool yourself that the appointed leaders you chose represent the people. Empower the leaders on the ground by giving them more aid. Let your help be quiet. Be glad when after the US troops have left, the people find themselves getting their lives back together seemingly unaided. Practice covert help. This way, if the Iraqi people succeed, it will be under their homegrown leadership and impetus. Every person has the will and the genius to bounce back. Aid this natural desire, and the Iraqi will regain his/her sovereignty.
In short, review your actions and see if military presence is really helping to gain the Iraqi man, woman, and child democracy. If it isn’t, choose the alternative. Leave quietly, and give unnoticed the help that is asked and wanted.

Many thanks for your ear,

Phuong Tran, American

ADMIT YOUR GUILT:
Al Velasco
 
Its time to admit your guilt
Regardless, of what you felt
When you told everybody time will tell
And the world gave you room to seal the deal
You were wrong, but you quickly turned the wheels
When the facts that we had they were concealed
Or suppressed by the men who could reveal
What we needed most, to help us heal
 
You chose to ignore the truth
You lied to the youth to get recruits
To sign on the line, to fight your muse
More military equals more armored troops.
But the proof is in the pudding and we all got duped
Used your power and deceit to corrupt our views
You harvested this war, what has it produced?
A lot of vegetables wearing size 12 boots
 
Maybe we should send you, to fight your war
We’ll be generous providing tank and air support
You’ll have night vision goggles to see in the dark
And a tent to keep you cozy when the night brings warmth
You’re going to need special protection and adaptive skills
When the desert strikes you hard, as I’m sure it will
If you’re lucky you will live and have a story to sell
At least you’ll understand the pain many soldiers felt
 
But when the soldiers fell, due to your mistakes
Did you cry?  Did you even blink an eye?
Did you care?  This is mother fucking warfare
Tearing families apart in Baghdad and Bellaire
 
AND WE DIDN’T EVEN ELECT YOU,
 
My anger may radiate deep inside my brain and veins
But you stole an election and for that I feel shame
Then Katrina came,
 
I’M AN AMERICAN AND MAKE NO MISTAKE
But our president’s a whore, he fucks us every day
He’s selling freedom, while he’s handcuffing the poor
Who need the freedom to be, believe and maybe be more
 
I recognize life may be hard, but this is wrong
I had to say it in this poem held tight in my palm
Sometimes I feel I’ve said too much.  Am I a bore?
I’m listening yall.  Do you want to hear more?
 
DO YOU WANT TO HEAR MORE?
 
Can you blame me for my anger?  We started a civil war
But I protested in Chicago before our troops were deployed
Maybe Bush played with GI Joes when he was a boy
Human beings aren’t toys, they’ll get fucking destroyed
 
You might like my poem or you might be fucking annoyed
But I’m pissed.  Does our constitution even exist?
Maybe it was written in invisible ink
And the Bush’s got a hold of it to make a profit
By filling in the blanks, like we know that they did
When they didn’t even ask for competitive bids
They just gave them out as gifts, to their favorite friends
And blame Bill Clinton for our problems cause he likes getting head
 
But one day they’ll burn in hell, with the devil and shit
Next to Hitler, Paris Hilton, and the man you call Dick
Cause the damage you’ve caused, the way you’ve broken our laws
I don’t want your applause, I want him locked behind bars.

POEM FOR THE PRESIDENT
 
Dear Mr. President
What will your Legacy be?
 
Listen to the people
They say give up the arms race
Its time for this nation
To have a new face
 
Quit warring for oil
You will only spoil
The work of the many
Who toil and toil
 
Its time to come forth
And lead all the nations
In powering the world
With a whole new creation
 
Something clean
And not so mean
That will give us the power
In this crucial hour
 
You have spent America’s money
To militarize and terrorize
Bringing tears to the eyes
Of all the war torn children
That never had a chance to rise
 
You have taken water
From our Rivers
Killed our salmon
And sold our ancient forests
 
When the oil is all gone
The ozone is blown
And the water is sour
The environment will
Crash like the towers
 
Then Mr. president
What will your legacy be?
 
The president that squandered
America’s riches on torture and killing
In the name of cheap oil
To power our waste full machines
So all Americans can wear Wall Mart Jeans
 
Dear Mr. President
You could still turn it all around
 
 Let the New World Order be Global Cooperation
Let the sons and the daughters
Bring forth the seeds of the next generation
 
Your Legacy could be
 
The president who led this world
On a campaign of conservation
New technology and inspiration
 
The president who made good relations
With all nations
Who left a world suitable for habitation
For the next 7 generations
 
Mr. President
What will your legacy be?

David She'om Rose

Dear President George W. Bush,

While war wages around you, I have some good news for you on the home-front.
You are President of the United States, which means that you still have the
time and the power to do good in the world. It astonishes me how much good
you could do. Are you and your conscience ready to go down in history as a
president that did nothing, save perpetuate a bloody war where thousands of
innocent lives were needlessly lost?

Here are a few ideas of how you could turn things around: Listen to your
Heart. End the war in Iraq, for until you do, your life will continue to be
a living hell. All you have to say is, “Fellow, Americans, I do not want to
see another mother, father, sister, brother, or child die in the war in
Iraq. The people of Iraq want their country back. It is time for our
troops to come home.” Every sane American would agree with your decision,
and those that disagreed would be exposed as the confused, crazy people they
have sadly become. Sign the Kyoto Agreement, and reinstall President
Carter¹s concept of solar panels on the White House roof. Go from a
malevolent to a benevolent world leader, and make billions in supporting and
developing renewable energy, while at the same time, respecting the Earth
that sustains all of us. In the meantime, you could legalize the
cultivation of hemp, the fast growing, fibrous plant that could be used as a
paper product alternative to clear-cutting hundreds of thousands of acres of
forest each year. Ironically, America¹s first president, also George W.,
watched hemp grow while hundreds of slaves worked in his fields. Everyone
makes mistakes, especially presidents.

I realize that it will be dangerous for you to go against the fierce
business men that run the White House. You will have to be bold, and
surprise them at a press conference. Write your own speech, and announce
that in the remaining months of your presidency you intend to do positive
things for humanity and this small beautiful planet that we all call home.
Then, go down in history as a man of courage that could admit his mistakes
and try to remedy them. It is never too late to become a good guy. Here is
a simple philosophy I live by; perhaps, it will work for you as well: Be
Good, Do Good, Feel Good.

Wishing you, and your family, peace, love, joy, patience, compassion, and
wisdom in the New Year.

Unconditional Love from,

Your sister upon Earth,

Brandy de St. Phalle

On A Day Such As This

On a lazy day, a sparkling day, I dreamed in a beloved place
A park filled with children, open fields, flowering space
With a hand on my belly I thought of my child
Still sleeping inside, not arriving for awhile.

"On a day such as this," I heard a gentle voice say,
"the One gave me my light, my son, on that day."

She spoke, this sad woman, often stopping and weeping
Her hands moving,describing, eloquently sweeping.

"On a day such as this, I remember it so well
My little man skidded, turned and proudly yelled.
"Look Mom, I've got my soldiers cause today's Show and Tell"

Years pass, race by, the boy became a man
Fiery buildings, a war and a patriotic demand
"Ah Mom, don't worry I'll be back soon on pass
But, right now, I've got a job to do.
I'm gonna kick some Iraqi ass."

Foul smell, diesel hell, Greyhound rumbled from the place
Where exhaust burned my eyes
And my tears burned my face.

The back of that bus, it mocked me
As it rolled on taking my boy,
Making my boy, disposable Army property.

Days crawled, months passed, regret-filled letters weekly
Til somber men with platitudes
With patriotic attitudes
Took the heart from me.

Young lady, teach your child to love
Not to differentiate
We were born to share our souls, never to hate
Never to hate.

On a day such as this, the Army returned me my son.

On a day such as this, I gave him back to the One."

Thank you.
Love,
Marlene Harris