An open letter to our legislators in DC
Mar. 22nd, 2005 12:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jaunthieWarning Note to readers: If reading political commentary gives you hives, I suggest you skip this post. Here endeth the warning.
Dear Congressfolk, specifically all of you who voted to approve the travesty of law in the Terri Schiavo matter:
SHAME ON YOU.
Shame on you for failing the most basic test of your sworn oaths to support the Constitution of the United States.
Shame on you for your complete ignorance and/or utter trampling of the separation of powers.
Shame on you for extending the agony for Terri's family. All of them.
Shame on you for extending Terri's agony (but that's another rant).
Shame on you for exploiting the terrible tragedy that has dragged on for fifteen years.
Shame on you if you are a Christian (or member of any other faith which includes the tenet of thou shalt not kill) who supports the death penalty, yet voted to approve this legislation in the cause of "a culture of life". Hypocrites, each and every one of you. Triple shame on you if you are a Christian who implied that somehow Terri's immortal soul might be jeopardized by the removal of her tube. Less shame to you, if you are a Christian who objects to the death penalty too; at least you are not a hypocrite. You're still violating your sworn oath, but you have a moral leg to stand on.
Shame on you if you are a Democrat "going along" to avoid the potential for even uglier congressional violations of the separation of powers and interferences in our lives, or to avoid "offending" some portion of your constituency. Take a stand. It's what you're there for.
Shame on you if you are a Republican "going along" to avoid retaliation from your colleagues and President, or to avoid "offending" some portion of your constituency. Take a stand. It's what you're there for.
Shame, shame, shame, shame, shame!!! May you be called to account for your actions ASAP - and painfully so, by the voting populace, by your own consciences (assuming you have any), and in the afterlife you obviously don't have faith in.
With no respect for you at all,
A truly aggravated voter
P.S. For those of you readers who don't have a living will, get one now. Talk to your family and friends about your wishes ASAP. Don't leave your loved ones in the position of having to guess what your thoughts on this matter are. And DON'T let Tom DeLay make this choice for you! EDITED to add: I'm not saying you shouldn't want to be kept alive, mind you. That's your choice. Just be absolutely clear up front about what you DO want your loved ones to do in such cases, and put it in writing, so folks aren't left to guess and fight and rip themselves up over it.
(I not only have a living will, but my wonderful Dad helped set it up for me and my whole family. He understood years ago how important this was, and how necessary it is to have these conversations. My parents, siblings, and husband are well aware of my wishes.)
Dear Congressfolk, specifically all of you who voted to approve the travesty of law in the Terri Schiavo matter:
SHAME ON YOU.
Shame on you for failing the most basic test of your sworn oaths to support the Constitution of the United States.
Shame on you for your complete ignorance and/or utter trampling of the separation of powers.
Shame on you for extending the agony for Terri's family. All of them.
Shame on you for extending Terri's agony (but that's another rant).
Shame on you for exploiting the terrible tragedy that has dragged on for fifteen years.
Shame on you if you are a Christian (or member of any other faith which includes the tenet of thou shalt not kill) who supports the death penalty, yet voted to approve this legislation in the cause of "a culture of life". Hypocrites, each and every one of you. Triple shame on you if you are a Christian who implied that somehow Terri's immortal soul might be jeopardized by the removal of her tube. Less shame to you, if you are a Christian who objects to the death penalty too; at least you are not a hypocrite. You're still violating your sworn oath, but you have a moral leg to stand on.
Shame on you if you are a Democrat "going along" to avoid the potential for even uglier congressional violations of the separation of powers and interferences in our lives, or to avoid "offending" some portion of your constituency. Take a stand. It's what you're there for.
Shame on you if you are a Republican "going along" to avoid retaliation from your colleagues and President, or to avoid "offending" some portion of your constituency. Take a stand. It's what you're there for.
Shame, shame, shame, shame, shame!!! May you be called to account for your actions ASAP - and painfully so, by the voting populace, by your own consciences (assuming you have any), and in the afterlife you obviously don't have faith in.
With no respect for you at all,
A truly aggravated voter
P.S. For those of you readers who don't have a living will, get one now. Talk to your family and friends about your wishes ASAP. Don't leave your loved ones in the position of having to guess what your thoughts on this matter are. And DON'T let Tom DeLay make this choice for you! EDITED to add: I'm not saying you shouldn't want to be kept alive, mind you. That's your choice. Just be absolutely clear up front about what you DO want your loved ones to do in such cases, and put it in writing, so folks aren't left to guess and fight and rip themselves up over it.
(I not only have a living will, but my wonderful Dad helped set it up for me and my whole family. He understood years ago how important this was, and how necessary it is to have these conversations. My parents, siblings, and husband are well aware of my wishes.)
