Dear Mr. Bush,
In more than five years, since the day you first sent troops illegally into the nation of Iraq, more than 1,000,000 Iraqi nationals have died due to the actions of this war. In addition, over 4,000 American men and women have been killed by war-related injuries, as have hundreds of other individuals from around the world¹. This number does not count those who have been seriously injured yet still live—itself a number that is likely comparable to the first. Despite the fact that you are in large part responsible for this travesty, I expect no remorse from you, no apologies. That’s not the kind of man you are, even though you claim to be a Christian and Christians are supposed to be honest, humble, and full of love for their fellow human beings².
I would, however, like to share with you the following excerpts of poetry. I believe that even a person with a mind as simple as yours should be able to understand them, and I hope they may cause within you a change of heart, that you may finally stand up and be the man the American public hopes you can be and the man your God expects you to be.
Here, then are the excerpts from “Epitaphs,” composed by Rudyard Kipling and published shortly after the end of the First World War, which also claimed millions of lives:
I could not dig: I dared not rob:
Therefore I lied to please the mob.
Now all my lies are proved untrue
And I must face the men I slew.
What tale shall serve me here among
Mine angry and defrauded young?
* * *
If any question why we died,
Tell them, because our fathers lied.
Let me close by ensuring you I expect nothing from you, nor do I bear against you any ill will; I have nothing but pity for you in my heart, and I only hope that you live a long and prosperous life that you might come to see the light and learn to live as a true Christian should.
Sincerely,
Travis King
1. “Casualties of the Iraq War.” Wikipedia. May 22, 2008. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Accessed May, 22 2008.
2. See, for example, Exodus 20:16, Luke 14:11, and John 13:34.
Poor Mr. Bush. I’m not even sure the whole Iraq War was his idea. I guess we can’t judge someone by what we see.