A person's conscience is their most important attribute. A country's conscience is its greatest force for good.
Mr. President,
I am neither a compelling orator nor a prestigious scholar. I am not a shrewd businessman nor visionary entrepreneur. I don't even know if I'm a man of conscience. I am a sinner, like all of us, and firmly believe that forgiveness and the will to do better are our only hopes for a better world.
I need not go into the details of the situation with Private Manning. I'm not here to grandstand nor lecture you or anyone else on any subject. I'm here to beg for this person's freedom. This person is suffering. They have suffered enough for what I truly believe was, however misguided, an act of conscience. Please free them. Show America's mercy. Show us that we're good.