slideshow

Bubba reeled backwards and with a sense of anger said – “Obama supports Muslim countries, he hates Israel, and he’s ruined our economy – without doubt we are on the ‘road to ruin’.” Whoa replied Jack, without anger and having sought out truth in the light-of-reason and not the darkness-of-politic – “Obama does value Muslim countries as any President should, he’s embraced Israel and has provided a ‘sense of democratic unity’ with her people, and sorry Bubba – what has caused this country’s economic-decline is not rooted in President Obama. Our economy’s down-turn is a process of changing world-economics, this country’s outsourcing for profit, and the divide of this country’s congress.” Putting both hands into the air, Bubba replied – “hell, he’s not even a citizen!” Jack just shook his head and whispered to himself – “wow – yet another illiterate Birther.”

Let’s all take a deep breath, now consider the following - should we not, as a nation and democracy, reach out to all nations of the world – including those who embrace the Muslim faith? It was not ‘Muslims’ that attacked our Republic – rather it was radical-religious jihadists. Come sit with me, calmly tell me the difference between the Jihadist who embraces Allah or the Arian Racist who embraces Christ - - there is none, for both have walked away from reason and love and both have embraced hate. This Republic should bring light into the world – for “we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men (and women) are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”. We should not look to control the world with our power – we should look to embrace the world with our freedom – perhaps that’s asking too much.

The president of this Republic should treasure the relationships of nations of similar interests, especially those found bound by freedom and the fullness of democracy. That said – the president should also recognize the senselessness of war and the sanctity and pride of being part of a ‘country’. President Obama has honored our relationship with Israel – instead of listening to Bubba’s burp of blind-politic, listen to Israeli President Shimon Peres in corroboration with comments from Defense Minister Ehud Barak - “President Obama supports Israel – more than any other president in the past”. But then again Bubba what does Peres or Barak know.

Examining the current condition of humanity (forever without peace) – what the next president should concentrate on most is our relationship with countries like China, and not embrace concerns with the insanity of many countries similar to Syria or Iran. China pursues the education and intellect of her people – Iran keeps hers illiterate and obedient, Syria kills many of hers in the name of “peace”. Whoever will be our next President I advise that he worry about the intelligent not the illiterate.

We may be on the “road to ruin” but it’s not a new road constructed by Obama – it’s a road carved out by the anger of politics, the pursuit of wealth and power, and the persistent embrace of self. This nation is driving at high-speed, slightly intoxicated, undereducated, and ‘texting’ while going down-hill. The road we call ‘Republic’ is being stripped of its surface (our basic life-principles) which is composed of the sanctity of family, the value of education, and the priceless value of freedom. And so it is that we are running over pot-hole after pot-hole – perhaps it’s time to change. Change from the enormous value of “me” to the equality of “we” – from the pursuit of personal wealth and power to the pursuit of education and the humanistic distribution of wealth.

“Huh?” What Bubba? Hey, here’s a tissue – wipe that drool off your chin…

Thomas H. Hunkele of Troup County is a certified fitness trainer and president of Lakeside Fitness.