Dear President Obama,

I am writing you this evening to wish you a happy birthday.  I am a month late, and so I will not cower behind the term "belated".  I heard you chilled out in your crib with your peeps.  I also heard that a group of schoolkids sang you happy birthday from across the White House.  My hope is that you found inspiration and comfort in these moments of happiness.

My thank you is based mostly upon your character, President Obama.  The world has expected more of you in eight months then it has of any leader in the past thirty years.  In eight months, you have countered much of the damage of the past eight years.  You have maintained the peace, and the people will honor your peaceful intentions.

I am working to become a teacher Mr. President.  Your integrity has inspired me to invest in the future of this world.  You represent the people, as a president should.  And you have earned every penny of your salary.  There are many in this world whose families earn more than yours by producing less.  Thank you for respresenting the people.  I reject those who attack you.  They have dumped their own problems on your shoulders.  A captain cannot steer the boat and repair the hull.  Please know you have all the help you need. 

Thank you for being such a gentleman in your job as representative of the people.  You are a thoughtful man.  I read your book: The Audacity of Hope.  I listened to you take office as representative of the people.  You already knew you were walking into a big mess.  You did not complain; but rather sought to elevate our spirits.  From what I understand, you wrote two books before becoming president.  Our previous president was not a big fan of books even though he married a librarian.  Our previous president was angry at his father.  You wrote Dreams of My Father for a man you barely knew.  Your grandmother died when you made history.  I did not see you cry.  I saw you empathize with the others around you who suffered.  I watched you bring an old lady a cupcake on her birthday.  You are a class act President Obama.  We are lucky to have you as our leader.  The people of the United States of America are lucky that you are president.

President Obama, you have told the United States of America the truth.  You have not downplayed our difficulties.  In fact, you have prepared us.  I am grateful for your honesty; and inspired by your integrity.  The world needs straight talk.  Thank you for standing strong.  You have many standing strong behind you as well. 

Sincerely,

Tom Schimmel