Editor,
After reading Daniel Martinez's letter, I had a nice, long laugh at the pure foolishness that he was spewing as what, I imagine, was supposed to be some sort of argument. It absolutely baffles me that people want to somehow correlate a simple formality - a meet and greet - as some sort of demeaning process for the United States. Just because our newly elected president has enough sense to show respect and dignity to other national leaders that somehow equates to weakness?
The days of senseless political cowboy tactics practiced by the Bush administration are over, and a little humility would behoove Martinez and the rest of this nation. As of 2007, the U.S. accounted for 45 percent of the total military expenditures on Earth, so any fear of the U.S. succumbing to weakness is misplaced. There is an old saying from former President Theodore Roosevelt that President Obama is now applying to international politics: "Speak softly and carry a big stick."
Martinez would have us believe that Obama is wrongfully apologizing to Europeans for ignorance and indifference to their nations when he states, "He is not responsible to the peoples of any other country on Earth," and, "Our president does not bow down to anyone." Am I the only one who sees a blatant contradiction here? He attacks Obama for preaching the very First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution (separation of church and state), and somehow that makes him ignorant to the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence? Where is the rationale here?
It would be more appropriate to ask Martinez if he has read the Constitution. Maybe if you would have even done five minutes of research, Martinez, you would know that Obama was a lecturer of constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School before becoming a senator, but that would require you to use those important critical-thinking skills you lost while you were throwing a fit.
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You claim that Obama should stay true to the Judeo-Christian beliefs that supposedly represent the United States. Would you be referring to the same Judeo-Christian beliefs that state all men are equal before the eyes of God? Perhaps you were referring to the same Judeo-Christian beliefs that say all fall short of the glory of God and thus have no right to judge others? I doubt those were the same ones you're referring to as you have apparently left them by the wayside while you proceeded to belittle our president and his attempts to compensate for the international relationships that Bush destroyed. It is people with your mind-set that tarnish the reputation of this nation and the Judeo-Christian culture associated with it.
When you stop wielding your beliefs as a weapon to be used against fellow men, you may then understand the true teachings of the Lord. I don't agree with everything the president does, but when I formulate an argument, I usually think about what I'm going to say. I'd advise Martinez to do the same to avoid future embarrassment.
