Dear President Obama,

This week, a bill may arrive on your desk called the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012. I am requesting that you not sign this legislation for it contains a clause that allows the military to detain US citizens without a trial and hold them indefinitely. This clause in the NDAA for 2012 will do great harm to our democracy. This section of the bill is unconstitutional, and it’s easy to predict that it will be greatly abused. Today, Dec 12, 2011, Congress negotiated quietly to pass this bill with very small changes. But I quote Donna Cassata of the Associated Press… “The legislation would deny suspected terrorists, even U.S. citizens seized within the nation’s borders, the right to trial and subject them to indefinite detention. The lawmakers made no changes to that language.”

So please do not be lured into signing this bill. Even though many newspapers are all quiet about this this week. Even though the people of the United States are largely unaware of this bill as they prepare for the holidays. The people will eventually learn the truth, and they will be angry. And, likely, hopefully at least, hold those who pass this bill accountable with their votes during the next election.

So please do not fall into this Republican trap. Do not worry about not having reached a budget deal. Do not worry about Republican name calling. Let them belly ache away. Veto the heck out of this bill! Republican name calling for not passing this defense bill will not hold any weight during the next election if you save our civil freedoms. And certainly, most importantly, remember, even if they have enough votes to override a veto, and I suspect that they might this time, you must veto anyway. Do not worry about them reversing you publicly and your image and all that. Let that go. Do not let them brow beat you into signing the bill. We, the public, can deal with this legislation better if there is more publicity. Let them reverse away. The furor will cause a feast for the next election cycle, and US citizens will eat well. So, if you believe in Democracy, please do not sign this bill until Congress changes the clause about the US military being allowed to detain US citizens. This clause is an irreversible mistake. Irreversible.

I understand that the Office of the President would like to send everyone home for the holidays with a neatly passed budget, but your office will be violently raping democracy, and then smiling shaking and hands with Democrats and Republicans over the event as if it is the best thing for the people. It is not the best thing for the people. Please do not allow yourself to believe this in any way shape or form. Don’t be lured into thinking that we need, or that you must sign this military defense budget with this clause that destroys our public trust and violates our liberties. We do not need to exchange our beloved Constitution for dictatorial or fascist military rule in order to preserve our “security,”or, for a timely budget. In fact, giving into military rule is a process of giving up our security, and for what in return?

If this situation you are in, being our leader, and I understand that it may not always be a fun one, if this test your character, makes you think hard, makes you even nervous at times, these are all good signs. Please allow me to advise: Pray/Meditate about it. Talk to people outside of the government, the ones who elected you. Be very brave, and make the right decision. Let us remember you for doing great things for the people of our beautiful country.

Sincerely and with great respect,

Chris M. Gordon, a deeply concerned citizen