Know history behind Obama's world view

Dear President Obama,

As of Nov. 20th You are in the 11th month of your presidency. This is my 11th letter to you. We enjoyed hearing the classical music workshop at the White House.

You have some tough decisions to make on Afghanistan. I noticed you are visiting Asia this month, Japanese and Chinese leaders.

Have your advisers told you about the Japanese Constitution made in 1945 at the end of the war in World War II. You probably know that during the spring and summer of 1945, our airplanes dropped bombs on Japanese Cities, destroying 90 percent of their costal cities even before the Atomic Bombs were dropped and millions killed.

Before 1920 in Japan the military dominated the Japanese Government until 1945. Then because of the war and the destruction of Japanese cities there developed a strong peace movement. They were against war. They put in their new constitution "Japan would not use war as a means of settling international disputes." When President Eisenhower was president in the sixties, he wanted to change the constitution. He was told by the Japanese leader you are welcome to come to Japan, but the people won't change the constitution. For many years our presidents have been trying to change their constitution.

You probably noticed in the Iraq war, they sent medics, and money to help but no military soldiers.

It is great that you visited so many Asian countries and that you are world-minded and strengthening the United Nations.

Robert Pendleton

Elk Grove Village