Son,

The movie “American Gangster’ is based on a true story. The story of heroin being imported into this country from Southeast Asia. The mode of transportation was primarily aboard United States Military aircraft. This was not sanctioned in any way by the U. S. Government - but by individuals in the military serving in the Vietnam War zone.

Our country is presently engaged in a ferocious war in Afghanistan - the country that produces more opium than any other country in the world. To assume that the ‘American Gangster’ story is an anomaly, unique to Vietnam, is naive.

Son,

When Columbus left Portugal over five hundred years ago it was with the hope of finding a water route to Eastern trade. He found a new land. When the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock, it was with the hope of freedom of religion. When Jamestown was founded in 1608 it was with the hope of free trade. When our Founding Fathers ventured into the world of western liberal government - it was done with hope for the future. America defines the word - Hope.

Son,

I was in my late teens, sitting on a Missouri River levy. There were three of us, drinking Kansas beer. 3.2 Alcohol. We were too young to drink in Missouri. My 56′ Chevy was parked on top of the levy, we were sitting on the bank of the river. The doors on my Chevy were open and the radio was on. While Don McClean sang ‘American Pie,’ we pondered life.

It was in that moment that my alcohol fortified courage and daring sprang the idea. I told the others, “I bet I could swim across this river.” They laughed, “How would you get home, your car is on this side of the river?”

Son,

We are in a time of flux. This is a difficult time for statisticians. The Media Pundits are dissecting the election statistics, trying to make sense of demographics and results. Some say Obama is about generational issues. Clinton is about gender. Edwards about populism. Huckabee about evangelism. This is not a time when these statistics are predictors - they are merely interesting after-the-fact notes.

The assumption by pundits that they can predict based on demographics is flawed. Flawed because this election is not about the selfishness of demographic affiliation - it is about rescuing the future of America. It is about the Demographic of Justice, of Domestic Tranquility, of Common Defense, of General Welfare, and the Blessings of Liberty.