Yes we can! (An Open Letter to Barack Obama)

 

Dear President-Elect Obama,

 

IÕve always been rather skeptical about the hype, but I do think itÕs great that youÕre going to be our next President. And I did contribute to your election, in my own small way. Now I want to join those who are saying, ÒCongrats Barack, now get the hell out of Iraq!Ó

 

I know youÕll say we canÕt just pull U.S. troops and mercenaries out of Iraq within a few short weeks. But we say, ÒYes we can!Ó

 

YouÕll probably say we canÕt just withdraw from Afghanistan and shut down our 800-plus military bases all over the world. But we say, ÒYes we can!Ó

 

And you'll probably say we can't expect to see justice for the Palestinian people. But we say, "Yes we can!"

 

And youÕll probably say we canÕt actually honor the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty, which we signed forty years ago, in which the United States and other nuclear nations agreed Òto pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a Treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control.Ó (Article VI) But we say, ÒYes we can!Ó

 

And youÕll probably say we canÕt have a single payer health care system like our neighbors in Canada, must less even consider the health care system of our Cuban neighbors to the south. But we say, ÒYes we can!Ó

 

And youÕll probably say we canÕt just tear down the walls on the border, abolish the ICE, and welcome immigrants (the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free, and the homeless, tempest tossed) into the United States, But we say, ÒYes we can!Ó

 

And youÕll probably say we canÕt have a moratorium on all evictions and layoffs, so workers donÕt lose their homes and jobs because of the greed of the bankers and financiers. But we say, ÒYes we can!Ó

 

And youÕll probably say we canÕt have a Special Prosecutor to investigate the crooks in Wall Street and Washington. But we say, ÒYes we can!Ó

 

And youÕll probably say we have to be patient, that change takes time, and we canÕt expect real revolutionary change in this country. But we say, ÒYes we can!Ó

 

Anyway, thatÕs what I think. Have a nice day and enjoy your new puppy.

 

Eugene E Ruyle

Emeritus Professor of Anthropology

Peace and Freedom Party Candidate for Congress

CaliforniaÕs 10th Congressional District

(parts of Contra Costa, Alameda, Solano, & Sacramento  Counties)

(over 8000 votes in 2008)