Dear Editor:

In 1962, the 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy, in a speech at the White House, stated, "those who would make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."

On Feb. 10, 1959, I raised my hand and swore and oath to defend, with my life if necessary, the Constitution of the United States and my country against all enemies foreign and domestic. Ten years and nine months later I has honorably discharged from the military and returned to civilian life.

The oath that I took 50 years ago is, in my mind, just as valid and binding on me today as it was 50 years ago. I did not stop owing allegiance to the Constitution and my country just because I no longer wore the uniform.

Today, we have a government run by a president and representatives and senators, by Republican and Democrat, that is out of control. Their objective, as evidenced by their unconstitutional actions concerning spending of our tax money, illegal immigration, health control-not health care, energy, our constitutional right to keep and bear arms and a host of other socialist programs is to destroy our Constitution in order to destroy our freedoms and enslave the American people by making everyone dependent on the largess of any ever-expanding and tyrannical government and re-make our Constitutional republic into just another socialist European style nation.

These senators and representatives that were elected by the people also took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution and the people against all enemies foreign and domestic and the majority of them have failed miserably to faithfully uphold this sacred oath.

In November 2010, the people will have another opportunity for a peaceful revolution by remembering those senators and congressmen who have violated their oath of office and hold them accountable for their actions against our Constitution and our freedoms and removed them from office.

Peaceful revolution or violent revolution — it is up to the people. If a peaceful revolution cannot be accomplished at the ballot box, then a violent revolution will be inevitable and this is one old veteran who remembers the oath he took 50 years ago and will die standing on his feet fighting against a tyrannical socialist government rather than on his knees crawling before it.
Sam Teague
Gaffney, S.C.