Mr. Speaker, in February of last year, I blogged to the President of the United States with no expectations that it would cross his eyes. It was mostly an attempt to get a conversation started with the American people.  This blog is different, Mr. Speaker.  It’s called “Man Overboard,” attempting a conversation with you. To make an emphasis, I like to draw parallels . First and foremost, the words a person uses and how they are presented, written, or spoken can depict a person’s character. Sometimes, it’s not what you say but how you say it.  Unless you are a good actor, empathy is not something you can fake, and the president is no actor.  In 1963, I was serving as a Fly Talker on the Flight deck of the USS Forrestal (CVA59).  I communicated with Flight Deck Control and other Fly Talkers in real time about the physical positions of planes, personnel, and equipment.  In that job, I learned the valuable lesson of human/social cohesiveness.  A fellow shipmate fell overboard on a typical day of flight operations in the Mediterranean Sea. I immediately radioed to flight deck control, to flight deck control, “Man overboard!” “Man overboard,” port side!   As I watched him hit the water, the ship began to turn.  I was later told by my Division Officer the tone of my voice gave no hesitation in him notifying the Officer of the Day.  His words were true, for it was in seconds the Boatswain of the Watch repeated my words……”Man Overboard” “Man Overboard, port side!”   The 81-thousand-ton USS Forrestal began an immediate turn to avoid him being sucked under.  Mr. Speaker, you are third in line for the presidency.  As Commander in Chief, words can make or break the cohesiveness of a nation.  As the saying goes, “Loose lips sink ships.”  When will someone in this administration yell “Man overboard” to a one-man wrecking crew? My actions were instinctive to save a life.

N.C. Martin was my shipmate from the state of Ohio. I watched him hit the water belly first. He did not survive. Although his death was an accident, I learned something about human nature. I was 18 years old. For the record, Mr. Speaker, I am now 73, and my accounts of life and how I believe it should be is definitely not fake. Let’s not allow Charlottesville to be trivialized to a good people on both sides scenario with the death of Heather Heyer. Call it for what it is — “Man Overboard” when we have children dying from lack of gun control.  There is a big difference between lying and what the president calls fake news.  Now, we have top-level people working in the White House without proper security clearance.     When are you going to yell Man Overboard?  Our nation is drowning.