For what it's worth
Following this morning’s events I wrote a letter to Paul Ryan. But I don’t live in his district or his state, and given the news coverage about the failure of mail and other messages to actually arrive at his desk I decided to share the letter openly. Herewith:
Sir,
Like all Americans I am horrified by the shooting of Representative Scalise and others. Your remarks in the House well conveyed the sentiments of the nation. Most especially I noted your observation that “an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us.” It is because of my agreement with that observation that I ask you to refrain from confining it to this one tragic event.
Consider, please, your many legislative efforts that negatively impact our most vulnerable citizens — seniors, the working poor, the disabled, the homeless and hungry, the chronically ill. Consider some of the remarks that have been made about them to justify your efforts. Consider that diminishing the least among us diminishes us all. Consider, also, that the converse has a decidedly different outcome, that a boon to those who are already graced with great wealth rarely conveys blessings for those in need, that the leftovers that manage to trickle down are often too tainted to be of any significant benefit to anyone.
As we all continue to hope for the healing of the wounded and frightened, I ask that you reconfigure your efforts to more closely adhere to the humane principles enshrined in our founding documents. It’s not yet too late to act on the meaning of those most cherished phrases of equality and unalienable rights, for to do less would make a lie of “an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us.”
This is the moment, sir. Take it, and do what’s right. For all of us.
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