HATE

In the last couple of weeks I've received some e-mails from long time friends that were filled with such hate for our new President it actually startled me. While his predecessor certainly caused my disdain like no other, I purposely avoided sending nasty-grams to people that I knew were staunch Republicans. Better to keep friendships than alienate people that I otherwise love.

I confess, however, that I did pass on newspaper articles and jokes about W. to persons of like mind. However, the articles were fact-based, and the jokes mostly dealt with his bumbling of the English language. The stuff I received about Obama - both recently, and going back to the early stages of his campaign for the Presidency - are filled with such vitriol and hate it is scary.

The beginning of these e-mails - way back when - dealt with the false rumors that he was Muslim; that he was sworn in using the Quran; that he was endorsed by the leader of the KKK; that he was financed by Hugo Chavez; that he "Urged citizens to change the greatest Nation in the world"; that the Book of Revelation described someone as having the characteristics of Obama; that Obama does not qualify as a natural born citizen; That he "blew off" soldiers during a trip to Afghanistan; and many others that were, of course, proven totally false.

Lately, his stances on bailouts for banks - initiated by President Bush; lies about the details of his orders regarding action in saving Captain Phillips during the Somali Pirate crisis; his stance on the legalization of marijuana use (he's against it); and, his shaking hands with Hugo Chavez are being blasted. Even his orders stopping torture are seen by many to be putting the United States in a weak position.

In a recent Newsweek magazine, I read that the Klu Klux Klan membership is rising in great numbers since his election. Rush Limbaugh - and others - call for him to fail.

And my friends - devout Christians, I might add - send such hate-filled e-mails about President Obama that I long for the days when we were all much more innocent and didn't care so much. Back then we didn't hate.

Old Fart Mike