Dear President Bush

Dear President Bush,

I know you don't know me, but I have had the honor, albeit from afar, of getting to know you over these past eight difficult years. I was standing somewhere in the distance with silent encouragement and in the darkness I prayed that you would be given the wisdom and courage to lead our nation in a way that would make us proud.

You didn't let me down.

I was raised back in the old days, when our parents taught us to hold the office of the Presidency in high regard and to give due respect to the individual who was esteemed enough to have earned his place there. I have remained loyal to that which I was taught, even when the man sitting in the oval office led in a way with which I disagreed.

When I cast my vote for you on those November days, I was hoping that you, not only as President, but as another person of faith, would use what power that was afforded you, to uphold certain social values that many of us find so crucial in sustaining the blessings that God has continued to bestow upon this great Nation. In that respect Mr. President, you have not let me down.

Over the years, you have had made some tough decisions, and sometimes I didn't always agree. But I knew that they were well thought out and more importantly, I know that you felt they were the right thing to do. Never once did I think your actions were led by what might make you popular, but instead, your conscious was your guide even though the outcome would feed the hatred and fury of those whose purpose was to degrade and insult you at every opportunity that arose. Your hand remained steady, and you didn't let me down.

You stood upon that mound of rubble that just hours before stood erect amidst one of the most beautiful skylines in the world, and you sent a message that warned of retribution and for a brief moment, the entire country was filled with pride and awe like I had never seen. And throughout the world, showers of tears made their way down our paralyzed faces as we were forced into a state of numbness and shock like we had never known. You promised us there would be justice, and you sought to see that a day of reckoning would meet with those that introduced us to these acts of terror and of hatred that left our nation in this great state of mourning and distress. I must tell you of my disappointment that the mastermind of this great murderous scheme has not been made to account for this horrendous act of evil, but I have no doubt in my heart, Mr. President, that there was nothing you wanted more than to bring all that were responsible to face the justice they indisputably deserve. I know that you did everything in your power to seek accountability from those that would hold the lives of our loved ones in such low regard.

They heard us, and for that effort, Mr. President, you didn't let me down.

There were no stories of marital affairs or credible sources that would question the love and honor you share with your lovely wife, Laura. We were privileged to have learned of such a complete and unfaltering love. I cannot recall one single time that you didn't regard your position with the utmost integrity and respect and your tenure reflects nothing but that which is appropriate and suitable for a President of the United States. I am inspired to know that such great love found it's place in our Nation's highest home and that it was furnished with the stateliness that it was built to surround, and for that Mr. President, we are eternally thankful that you didn't let us down.

You sent our sons and daughters to fight a war that many of us didn't understand, in a far away country, based on information that most of us will never know. Many will look back on this decision with angst and hatred, and many will accept your decision because we understand that we didn't walk that mile in your shoes. And in some of those places where the blood of our nation's sons and daughters have been courageously shed, there will be people shouting your name with honor and with utmost gratitude, and those that will chant 'murderer' amidst burning effigies and tattered American flags. But you held fast, and despite the ambivalent opinions of such a diverse nation of people as ours, one thing is for certain. Over 8 million citizens ambitiously exercised their new privilege to vote, for the first time, and they turned out in droves to dip their finger into the inkwell; even a higher percentage of citizens than in our very own nation. I can't help but to wonder, if the soldiers that now watch our world's happenings from somewhere beyond the sky, are doing so with feelings of tremendous worth, to see that their sacrifice had such great purpose.

Because of you, and our soldiers, fallen and active, an evil dictator will never again have the power to brutally murder and rule a country's people with certain fear and injustice, but instead, at this very moment, and for years to come, there will be celebrations of a new birth of democracy and freedom, and because of that Mr. President, you didn't let them down.

And last of all, Mr. President, I know that you have been mimicked and you have been the subject of relentless jokes because you are not quite the charismatic speaker that people have come to correlate with greatness. It is true that some people captivate us with beautiful, well rehearsed words and promises, but no matter how studied and impressive their speeches may seem, they cannot compare to the eloquent simplicity that is spoken from a sincere and trustworthy heart.

And for your eloquence Mr. President, thank you.

You didn't let me down.

Jennifer

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