Friday, December 29, 2006
The tale of TWO pardons.
In the 1970's two different presidents issued two different pardons to attempt to help heal the deep differences within this nation.
The first was Gerald Ford who felt that by pardoning Richard Nixon he was helping the Unites States and it's people move forward from the nightmare of Watergate which had paralyzed the government and nation for the past two years. He felt it was time to move forward and deal with the energy and economic problems we faced in those days, and he might have been right. President Ford took a large amount of grief for this pardon. Some say he might have lost in 1976 partly as a result of this pardon, but he felt it was the right thing to do FOR the nation. So he ignored the political approach and followed his conscience which is what we ask of all of our politicians.
The second pardon was issued by Jimmy Carter in the very beginning of his term in office. It was much more far reaching, and very few can name anyone Jimmy Carter pardoned today. President Carter issued a pardon to each American Citizen who because of their conscience had forgone their American citizenship, and went to Canada or another country to refuse the forced draft into the military service which usually meant service in Vietnam and that war. This pardon was Jimmy Carter's attempt to heal the country from some of the deep divisions of that long war. President Carter wanted to allow people to return to families and friends who they had to leave as a matter of conscience. That pardon did play a role in some people's minds when they attacked Jimmy Carter, and decided to do what it took to defeat him. It was a small part of the reason he lost in 1980.
Both men in that office in the 1970's followed their conscience, and ignored the political consequences. They both put the good of the country ahead of their political future, and never looked back once they decided what was right for their time. They were fearless in the face of the political consequences, and put the good of this nation and it's people ahead of their own desires. Too bad we are lacking political people today who have the magnanimity to follow their example. We as a nation really do need men or women of their character and resolve to do what is right for the country and it's people no matter the political consequences.
May you rest in peace Gerald Ford.
May God continue to Bless you Jimmy Carter.
The first was Gerald Ford who felt that by pardoning Richard Nixon he was helping the Unites States and it's people move forward from the nightmare of Watergate which had paralyzed the government and nation for the past two years. He felt it was time to move forward and deal with the energy and economic problems we faced in those days, and he might have been right. President Ford took a large amount of grief for this pardon. Some say he might have lost in 1976 partly as a result of this pardon, but he felt it was the right thing to do FOR the nation. So he ignored the political approach and followed his conscience which is what we ask of all of our politicians.
The second pardon was issued by Jimmy Carter in the very beginning of his term in office. It was much more far reaching, and very few can name anyone Jimmy Carter pardoned today. President Carter issued a pardon to each American Citizen who because of their conscience had forgone their American citizenship, and went to Canada or another country to refuse the forced draft into the military service which usually meant service in Vietnam and that war. This pardon was Jimmy Carter's attempt to heal the country from some of the deep divisions of that long war. President Carter wanted to allow people to return to families and friends who they had to leave as a matter of conscience. That pardon did play a role in some people's minds when they attacked Jimmy Carter, and decided to do what it took to defeat him. It was a small part of the reason he lost in 1980.
Both men in that office in the 1970's followed their conscience, and ignored the political consequences. They both put the good of the country ahead of their political future, and never looked back once they decided what was right for their time. They were fearless in the face of the political consequences, and put the good of this nation and it's people ahead of their own desires. Too bad we are lacking political people today who have the magnanimity to follow their example. We as a nation really do need men or women of their character and resolve to do what is right for the country and it's people no matter the political consequences.
May you rest in peace Gerald Ford.
May God continue to Bless you Jimmy Carter.
Comments:
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Bush is always saying that everything he does is for the good of the country, but the difference is, there's no proof or reflection that mirrors that!!
The whole Bush Cabal hates America. They don't like what it is and they have worked feverishly for over 30 years to try and change her. It's no accident that former Nixon, Ford, and Bush Sr. cabinet members are currently working for Baby Bush. This is their only planned strategy for the last 6 years: to use their power to make America what they've want her to become. Cheney & Rummy have waited years for this moment and as we know...they used it for the good of their own pockets and egos!!
I spit on them!
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The whole Bush Cabal hates America. They don't like what it is and they have worked feverishly for over 30 years to try and change her. It's no accident that former Nixon, Ford, and Bush Sr. cabinet members are currently working for Baby Bush. This is their only planned strategy for the last 6 years: to use their power to make America what they've want her to become. Cheney & Rummy have waited years for this moment and as we know...they used it for the good of their own pockets and egos!!
I spit on them!
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