State of the MumboJumbo Speech
I'm utterly incensed and furious. What about? Well, about this. How angry? Angry enough that within 10 minutes I'd written and sent the following to the White House comment e-mail and copied my US Representative (couldn't fine e-mails for my senators or I'd have sent it to them, as well). If you agree with me, please take 5 minutes to send along something with similar sentiment. Perhaps if enough of us demand an explanation we'll actually get one.
In fact, even if you disagree with me- please contact the government. If they don't hear from us, they don't know what we the people want. I don't really care what it is you care about in the end (well, I kind of do, but) - what I'm most afraid of is a society where our politicians are so removed from the people that our voices no longer count for anything besides a little check on a ballot slip, and there's only two things you can say there ("yes, you", or "no, not you"). I've sent along letters and requests for information or explanation that go completely unanswered. Seriously- I haven't even gotten back a form letter saying "Thanks for contacting us- we can't respond to all comments individually, but someone is actually reading or pretending to read and pay attention to you" from some of the letters. That pisses me off...
Anyway, here's the letter I sent:
[Edit: I decided to pass this along to my Senators through their online contact forms. Who knows if they'll deign to respond this time, but at least I've expressed myself to them.]
Mr. President,
In yesterday's New York Times article, "Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Abortion Procedure", you (President Bush) are quoted as saying that the ruling is "an affirmation of the progress we have made over the past six years in protecting human dignity and upholding the sanctity of life."
I ask you, in all seriousness, to explain your sentiment. The past six years have seen thousands of our nation's men die in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as many thousands more among the populations of those sovereign nations. How can you claim we are "upholding the sanctity of life" when we hear more and more about the deaths taking place there every day? And how can you claim that our great nation is upholding the sanctity of life when we still permit criminals to be murdered as punishment for their crimes?
I am confused by the confluence of opinions you espouse, and, as a citizen who has voted in every election I've been old enough to take part in, respectfully request clarification.
Your response would be much appreciated by both me and all of my fellow citizens. Remember that just as the attorneys your office recently removed serve at your pleasure, so too do you serve at ours.
Sincerely,
Adam [last name elided]
[home address elided]
CC: Congressman David Price
In fact, even if you disagree with me- please contact the government. If they don't hear from us, they don't know what we the people want. I don't really care what it is you care about in the end (well, I kind of do, but) - what I'm most afraid of is a society where our politicians are so removed from the people that our voices no longer count for anything besides a little check on a ballot slip, and there's only two things you can say there ("yes, you", or "no, not you"). I've sent along letters and requests for information or explanation that go completely unanswered. Seriously- I haven't even gotten back a form letter saying "Thanks for contacting us- we can't respond to all comments individually, but someone is actually reading or pretending to read and pay attention to you" from some of the letters. That pisses me off...
Anyway, here's the letter I sent:
[Edit: I decided to pass this along to my Senators through their online contact forms. Who knows if they'll deign to respond this time, but at least I've expressed myself to them.]
Mr. President,
In yesterday's New York Times article, "Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Abortion Procedure", you (President Bush) are quoted as saying that the ruling is "an affirmation of the progress we have made over the past six years in protecting human dignity and upholding the sanctity of life."
I ask you, in all seriousness, to explain your sentiment. The past six years have seen thousands of our nation's men die in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as many thousands more among the populations of those sovereign nations. How can you claim we are "upholding the sanctity of life" when we hear more and more about the deaths taking place there every day? And how can you claim that our great nation is upholding the sanctity of life when we still permit criminals to be murdered as punishment for their crimes?
I am confused by the confluence of opinions you espouse, and, as a citizen who has voted in every election I've been old enough to take part in, respectfully request clarification.
Your response would be much appreciated by both me and all of my fellow citizens. Remember that just as the attorneys your office recently removed serve at your pleasure, so too do you serve at ours.
Sincerely,
Adam [last name elided]
[home address elided]
CC: Congressman David Price