TERROR: FDR would know better

After listening to the president’s speech on the recent terrorist attacks in our country I couldn’t help contrasting it to the recent Pearl Harbor Day and the response of another president. What if FDR saw our country and the world through the odd prism Obama sees through? Perhaps he would have addressed the American people like this:

“My fellow Americans, as you will recall, a few days ago our country was subjected to one of the most heinous and wanton crimes of gun violence in our history.

“As I told Congress it was truly a day of infamy. I want to assure you all tonight that the act of a few extremists with guns will in no way change the peaceful feelings we have for the Japanese people as a whole.

“The only thing we have to fear is that we will overreact and once again not be able to hold back our imperialistic and racist tendencies and respond with our own extreme gun violence. I want to send the message loud and clear to Herr Hitler, now involved in extreme gun violence against our friend Great Britain and all of Europe, and to Mr. Mussolini, now involved in extreme gun violence in the Mediterranean. You have nothing to fear from us!

“You must remember our own nation was formed by the use of extreme gun violence less than two hundred years ago. We are in no position to confront evil when we ourselves have been so evil. It would be the height of hypocrisy.

“I am confident that once the people around the world see that they need not fear the rise of dread American Imperialism they will overthrow the extremists in their midst. Once peace is restored I will call all of the world leaders together and we can resume talking about the weather.

“Thank you and good night.”

Somehow I can’t see the greatest generation falling for this and FDR would never give this speech, because he understood the evil facing this country. He gave a speech that galvanized the people to confront the fascist evil wanting to enslave and harm their families and neighbors. They went forth as a country, not with enthusiasm for war or with imperialistic glee, but with resolve to remove the threat. We need leadership that understands the threat and it is not the weather.

KEITH KNIGHT

Hayden Lake