I am not a politician and I do not like to get involve in politics. In fact, I try to stay as far away from politics as possible. However, this is a wonderful story you probably do not hear or see in the news.
Above is a picture of Mike McNaughton of Denham Springs, LA. He stepped on a land mine in Afghanistan Christmas 2002. President Bush came to visit the wounded in the hospital. He told Mike that when he could run a mile that they would go on a run together.
True to his word, he called Mike every month or so to see how he was doing. Well, last week they went on the run, 1 mile with the President. Not something you’ll see in the news, but seeing the President taking the time to say thank you to the wounded who risk their lives for to protect us is special.
Now I hope that the President and the First Lady will also help us promote “Chess and Education” for the benefits of young people in this country.
Are there plans to elicit the First Couple’s help in promoting chess? If so, what are they?
I have no plan to ask the President and the First Lady to promote chess. However, I would like to present to the President and the First Lady the facts about the educational benefits of chess for young people.
I have asked a number of educators who potentially have access to the President or the First Lady to pursue this possibility.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.SusanPolgarFoundation.org
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
Well, first he sends them to war and most probably war kills them, whoever left injured he shows symphaty to them like this!!!!
Why not stop war in the first place!!
Thank you for the reply to my question. There are so many positive things that chess can bring to the education process. I think very highly of your efforts to popularize the game among young people and to promote it in the schools.
This is a nice story. Let’s keep the politics out of it.
James
A better (or easier) route might be to go through Congressmen and Senators. Anything the President does carries a high degree and visibility and press. Chess, sad to say, isn’t high on the radar for the President. If enough of Congress is getting letters and calls (and money) from their chessplaying constituents then the President’s approval is just a formality. State governments may also be easier to reach than the Federal Government. Certainly the larger states (New York) ought to be able to budget something for Chess education.
Well I think if you can catch the presidents ear and get him to support chess then he will pass this down the line and much more can be accomplished quickly.
I say try to contact the president. I hope you are successful.
maybe try contacting all of the former presidents.
Very nice story. Thanks!
Every time I find a story like this on the internet, I check it out to make sure it’s true. It turns out this really did happen, though some of the facts have been embellished to make for a better story.
(1) Mr. McNaughton was injured on January 9, 2003, and not on Christmas of 2002 as the letter states.
(2) President Bush first met McNaughton when he visited Walter Reed Medical Center on January 17, 2003. President Bush happened to be a patient of one of the doctors who treated McNaughton, and it was through this doctor that McNaughton was able to contact Bush. It does not appear that Bush spoke directly with NcNaughton on a monthly basis.
(3) According to the story, it was last week that they went on a 1-mile run together. Actually, this took place on April 14, 2004. The story first appeared on the internet in 2004; at the time, this information was correct.
Sorry if this seems nitpicky, but when these stories get passed around the internet, errors tend to accumulate.
Politics ruins everything, you know that… Bush would nix Chess and Education plus Chess for Peace??
yeah,
I fully agree. They protect us, our beloved America in Irak!! That’s why the world is so secure!
George W. Bush is a great man. Thanks for sharing the photo and story with us, Susan.