Mr. Bush,
Nearly 220 years ago the forefathers of this great nation set forth empowered by the recent adoption of the
Many generations enjoyed and held this right as fundamental. Throughout its course when this nation has transgressed, those affected have been able to hold the nation and its leadership to task. This has been seen in the last century a handful of times. At the turn of the last century women united and rallied behind the common banner of suffrage. Fresh on the hills of the First World War, and the great depression the Bonus Army took up their grievances with the nation. Upset with race inequality in this nation both blacks and whites rallied against the injustice. When the drums of war beat the public expressed their growing displeasure. Now comes the time when a new generation is attempting to exercise their sacred first amendment right.
Many are able to exercise this holiest of rights, but many others are being denied this privilege. Those that are capable are met in the streets with violence. They are libeled and slandered by the government and its’ staunchest supporters. The real tragedy is not the pain and suffering that is being endured to exercise this right. That is a testament to the strength of their will. The real tragedy is those who are not able to rally behind their cause. Their restriction is not their totalitarian third world government; for they are counted among our brethren here in this nation. Their silence has fallen upon them in the battle field. A generation is falling silent at the rhythm of the war drums.
Everyday in which the status quo is allowed to perpetuate itself, this group grows larger. Today they number greater than 3300. Tomorrow and the day following that number will continue to grow. This is a group now denied the right to petition their government for a redress of their grievances. Truly what redress can possibly be offered to those patriots that tragically sacrificed everything for an unjust cause? What can you offer them or their families? So far you have not even been able to offer their families an apology. When their families do voice their anger and outrage you attempt to silence them. When that does not work you simply dismiss them and their cause.
How much longer are you going to ignore their cause and deny them? Every time you deny them you are denying the thousands of troops that you have wrongly placed in harms way. You must end this ideological campaign of terror now. You must end it before another individual is denied the right to petition their government.
-Jerry.