Open Letter to the President

Dear Mr. President,

What happened to you? Today this country sits on the precipice of great change. Citizens are protesting. Legislation is pending that holds the potential to strip Americans of their rights and you remain silent.

Tens of thousands of Americans are engaging in protest around this country and there is no response from the White House. Local governments are using nuisance laws to suppress First Amendment rights. From the women’s suffrage movement to the civil rights protests there is a long history of those who oppose freedom using such laws to suppress free speech. So where is the community organizer, who fought for the rights of individuals, that we elected?

What happened to you Mr. President?

Our Congress is considering laws that will give sweeping powers to the military. This legislation, as written, will not prohibit these powers from being used internally against Americans. The military establishment says that this is not the intent of the legislation, yet we all remember Janet Reno telling Americans that forfeiture laws were only for “drug lords” like “Ortega”. Today these laws are used to confiscate the possessions of those convicted of even minor drug offenses. Government will abuse its’ authority if given the opportunity. Where is the great orator we elected who spoke to the nation about individual liberty?

What happened to you Mr. President?

There is also pending legislation that would empower the government to exert control over the Internet. These powers could eventually include censorship of internet content and the ability to “shut down” parts of this bastion of free speech. Where is the candidate who engaged with Americans and promoted freedom of expression? Again I ask,

What happened to you Mr. President?

The hard won rights of women are under assault by extremists who wish to return to a time when men mandated the actions of women. Yet when these draconian proposals are made there is a deafening silence from the administration. Where is the individual who eloquently established his support for the rights of women, people of color and members of the LGBT community as he campaigned around the country?

What did happen to you Mr. President?

Are you so encased in the world of lobbyists, political pendants and pollsters that you have lost the very humanity that served you so well in the past? I urge you come out of the White House, speak to protesters, publicly address legislation that threatens the rights of Americans, support those under attack from the majority and most of all return to being the man we all so respected for his incredible ability to articulate the dreams and aspirations of average Americans.

What happened to you Mr. President?

Peter Dybing
A Citizen