A Letter To My Grandson

Background on the author: He came from a broken home of divorced parents. He worked hard in menial jobs to get through school. Without any government assistance, he became a professional. He has relatives and friends who have served in almost every war the U.S. has been in, starting at the Revolutionary War. He was an idealist in that he believed that if everyone worked together, the world's problems could be solved by what each could offer, not by what could be taken from others. In December 2008 he welcomed his first grandson with joy and sadness..





Dear Aiden,


I want to first tell you how happy I am to have you in my life. Each day with you and your smile are truly a day of sunshine in my heart. I want the best for you as you grow and I want you to realize your potential and do your best. It is in this regard that I write this letter.


I want to apologize to you for the country we are giving you. It is not the same country that was founded in 1776 and that has been defended for the last 233 years. It used to be a land of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. A land where a man's word was taken as gospel and a handshake sealed the deal. A country where helping your neighbor was as important as caring for your own family. A country where you could aspire to become anything you wanted and realize that dream with enough hard work and determination. A country where everyone had the opportunity to be the best they could be. A country where every one's vote was sacred, valuable, and anonymous. A country where you worked hard to earn a living and you gave of that money to charities you deemed worthy. A country where respect for each other bound us together through good times and bad. A country where it was okay to disagree with those who are in power and speak it aloud. A country where it was okay to have winners and losers. A country where the government worked for the people and protected our rights and freedoms. A country where success or failure was of our own accord and we took responsibity for our actions and decisions. A country that was founded on the belief in God and set up under Judeo-Christian morals and law.


Unfortunately, the world we have left you is filled with perils and pitfalls. The world you know is one of selfishness, greed, and limited freedoms. The government tells you what you will become, how much you will make, where you can go, what you can do, and what you can say. The world where everyone feels they deserve everything and the government should provide it to them at all costs. The world where God is taboo and Christians are persecuted. The world where the minority sets the rules and the majority must obey. The world where life is meaningless and easily disposed of. The world where you work for the government and your vote and voice are open for discussion and ridicule. The world where there is no incentive to become anything or accomplish anything. The world where you are told that you cannot do anything or become anything without government support. The world where your failure is seen as someone else's responsibility and soceity must pay for those trangressions. For these things I am sorry. However, may God instill in you the strength, passion, and morality to overcome these abuses and make a change in the world around you. May you instill in others the desire to become the best they can become so that they may also change the ways of the world. May you stop the injustices and persecutions of those who have morals and belief in God as the sole Almighty Power. May you stand up to those in absolute power and bring them down for their wickedness. May you return this land to its roots and beliefs that made it great and for which your relatives fought for. May you understand that life is precious and unique and should be nurtured to its fullest potential. May you never cease in your quest for righteousness, thirst for knowledge, and selflessness as you live each day to its fullest. May you never be afraid to try and fail, for failure brings strength and knowledge. May you keep your faith strong and may you never waiver from the path God has chosen for you.





May God be with you now and always,


Your loving and caring Grandfather