Obama Insult Comparing the Campaign to the Bataan Death March

Obama Insult Comparing the Campaign to the Bataan Death March
reader guest post by JB

My grandfather retired from Mare Island Naval Base after 30 years of service.
Grandpa Arneldo Bumatay came to the United States as an immigrant farm worker
with his cousins from the Philippines. Growing up, he constantly told me stories
about the Japanese War Crimes, atrocities which killed his own parents and
family members. Meanwhile, he constantly reminded us children that we are Americans
and that we should be Proud Americans. I am appalled and insulted by the follow
remarks Senator Obama made about the history of my family relations and their
service to and with the Armed Forces of the United States of America. At a recent
fundraiser, Senator Obama is quoted to say, “For those of you who are
just weary of the primary, and feeling kind of ground down or that it’s like
a Bataan death march, I just want everybody to know that the future is bright.”
Senator Obama compared his campaign tour of the U.S.A. to the War Crime of the
Bataan Death March which effected my family in the Philippines. I am appalled
that Senator Obama carelessly referred to the surrender of Filipino-American
soldiers who were tortured for nearly a week by their captures.

On the dehumanizing if those who fought and died for Americans, I would like
to ask the media these questions: 1) Why did the media not mention that Senator
Obama compared his campaign to acts of War Crime? 2) Why did the media spend
so many days on just words that Senator Clinton stated about her own personal
memory about Bosnia while Senator Obama made a flippant comment which is the
equivalent to comparing the Holocaust with his experience of running against
Hillary Clinton. Is he comparing her to War Criminals? 3) Why does the media
allow Senator Obama to reduce the deaths of thousands of people who fought with
and for the United States Armed Forces to a mere statement which deemphasizes
the fact that General Taguba’s own father marched in the Death Bataan March.
Does Senator Obama intend to insult General Taguba who is among the Flagged
Officers who endorse Senator Clinton? In light of the sensation which the Bill
Clinton made today, I would like to add to that anger that I feel whenever Senator
Obama is allowed to discriminate against persons not of his personal influence.
The First Amendment guarantees us citizens the freedom of speech yet it does
not guaranteed that no one else can challenge our speech.

In my view, Senator Obama owes General Toguba a public apology for comparing
his campaign tour through the United States of America to General Toguba’s father’s
Death March in Bataan.

UPDATE: Letter to senators and superdelegates:

Dear Senators and Superdelagates: Senator Barrack Obama has insulted myself and my relatives in the Philippines. Today is the annual anniversary of the Bataan Death March. Mr. Obama reduced the race toward the Democratic Nomination for President to the Bataan Death March during WWII in the Philippines: “For those of you who are just weary of the primary, and feeling kind of ground down or that it’s like a Bataan death march, I just want everybody to know that the future is bright.” – Sen. Barack Obama (NYC, NY 3.27.08) To Senator Obama, my relations are not impressed. I am not impressed. I firmly believe that if you are going to compare War Crimes of torture to your campaign that you are not aware of the pain and suffering which real people experience and endure under extreme conditions which are not under their own control. Traveling around these United States of America and having breakfasts, lunches and dinners with people and politicians of influence does not equate to the same torture under War Criminals. For that reason alone, I will not vote or support voting for Senator Barrack Obama for President, Commander in Chief, of our United States of America. General Taguba is the second Filipino American to become a General in the U.S. Army; Filipinos and Filipino-American men and women have been serving in the United States Armed Forces since President Roosevelt. It is already an historical insult that the United States government promised citizenship to those soldiers but the 1946 Rescission Act passed by the U.S. Congress deprived Filipino veterans of their rightful U.S. military status and benefits. Singling out Filipinos as a national group for denial of their eligibility was blatantly unjust and discriminatory. Allowing a U.S. Senator to further insult the Filipino Veterans of the Bataan Death March is not a celebration of unity under the cause of ending racism but the beginning of a demonstration of ignorance of history. My first and foremost interest is in the security of our country on this matter. Whereas Senator Obama has made several immature comments and statements regarding Foreign Policy that I believe his awareness and discernment is not only immature but biased towards those persons who influence him vs. his own hard won research efforts. I feel that Senator Obama does not take advantage of using his own mind yet does take advantage of others. He seems to act as if his “street smarts” can “out smart” other leaders. That might have been true in Chicago but that is not true in these United States of America and abroad. Please do not endorse Senator Obama. If you endorse anyone, please consider the interest of our country is not to endorse someone because of racism or sexism but for the cause of leadership with experience which matters to and for We the People in order to form a more perfect union.

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