Yes We Can — An Open Letter to Barack Obama

November 11, 2008

I’ve always been rather skeptical about the hype, but I do think it’s great that you’re 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, “Congrats Barack, now get the hell out of Iraq!”

I know you’ll say we can’t just pull U. S. troops and mercenaries out of Iraq within a few short weeks. But we say, “Yes we can!”

You’ll probably say we can’t just withdraw from Afghanistan and shut down our 800-plus military bases all over the world. But we say, “Yes we can!”

And you’ll probably say we can’t actually honor the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treat, which we signed forty years ago, in which the United States and other nuclear nations agreed “to 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.” (Article VI) But we say, “Yes we can!”

And you’ll probably say we can’t 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, “Yes we can!”

And you’ll probably say we can’t 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, “Yes we can!”

And you’ll probably say we can’t have a moratorium on all evictions and layoffs, so workers don’t lose their homes and jobs because of the greed of the bankers and financiers. But we say, “Yes we can!”

And you’ll probably say we can’t have a Special Prosecutor to investigate the crooks in Wall Street and Washington. But we say, “Yes we can!”

And you’ll probably say we have to be patient, that change takes time, and we can’t expect real revolutionary change in this country. But we say, “Yes we can!”

Anyway, that’s what I think. Have a nice day and enjoy your new puppy.

Eugene E Ruyle
Emeritus Professor of Anthropology,
CSULB Peace and Freedom Party
Candidate for Congress
California’s 10th Congressional District
(parts of Contra Costa, Alameda, Solano, & Sacramento Counties)
(over 8000 votes in 2008)

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