Where Is Our Champion?

April 4, 2002

BuzzFlash,

The following is a copy of I letter I wrote to my congressman and senators - all Democrats. I urge everyone to take a few minutes of your time and write your representatives. I suggest that you send it normal mail as I believe email has a tendency to be ignored. If enough of us (and it won't take that many) were to do this, perhaps these men would gain the courage to protect us.

I am embarrassed to say that I have left my name out on this copy. While we have no money to take care of our own people, I'm sure someone has a lucrative position somewhere to gather these names.

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March 22, 2002

Senator Robert Torricelli
Senator John Corzine
Congressman Rob Andrews

Sirs:

I write to you as your constituent, as a lifetime voting Democrat, and as a frightened and concerned citizen of New Jersey and of the United States.

My teenage years were spent in the 1960s, a time of uncertainty and turmoil in this country. I saw the birth of the civil rights movement. I experienced the moral torture of our participation in Vietnam. I was in the first group of young men whose future would be determined by the draw of a lottery ball. I witnessed assassinations and riots, and protests in the streets.

I lived through the Nixon years, unable to comprehend why those around me didn't see the danger there. I have survived the Reagan years, when our great nation shifted policy away from its citizens, and embraced a business-at-any-cost philosophy.

But now, today, in this climate, I fear for my survival. And more importantly, I fear for my children and for their children.

I see our constitutional rights as Americans being chipped away, day by day, and I ask, "Where is our champion?"

I see our treasury being plundered. I see any and all available money being funneled to those who already have more than they could ever use, and I ask, "Where is the voice of opposition?"

I see our nation, so often before the shining example to the world of what could be, if those within would be free to rise to levels ever higher, become a selfish bully -- an embarrassment and a danger to the entire world community, and I ask, "Why is this allowed to go on unabated?"

You are intelligent men. I do not need to list the atrocities which have taken place, nor the ones presently being attempted, nor the ones to come. You must see and know them as well or better than I do.

This present administration is arrogant, brutal, self-serving, dangerous, greedy, and most importantly, illegitimate. We are on a course that, if allowed to proceed, may have no options for recovery in the future.

The time to speak up is now. The time to act is now. I respectfully suggest that the time to represent us is now.

A history of the birth of this wonderful nation, this great experiment, reveals many men who risked everything in their quest for basic freedoms. Where are the men of our age? Are you doing everything you can to stem this tide?

Do you have any idea how many people are out here, waiting for someone to rise up and prevent this madness from going any further?

Please, be our voice. Please, be our conscience. Please be our hope.

Ask yourself every night -- "Have I done everything in my power today to secure what these self-serving, corrupt men are trying to take from my people?" If you can't answer "Yes" to that, every time, then it is your duty to step aside and let someone in who will meet these tragic times, with the courage that is required.

It is that serious. You know that. People are ready to follow. But we need someone to speak out.

The only possible, viable, pragmatic hope we have now, as a people, as a society, is the Democratic Party. It is all that stands between our democracy and the fascism being foisted upon us.

Our Executive Branch is populated with oil-stained opportunists. They are squatting in their respective positions, raping our environment, stealing from us, our progeny, and plundering the entire world. The tragedy we experienced last September is being exploited to its fullest. We now live in a state of perpetual war without any goal, other than to militarize our business interests.

As brick upon brick of this scenario is laid, along each step of the way, we wait in horror for someone to speak out and say, "Enough!" But save for a couple of brave men, men like Mr. Waxman and Mr. Hollings and Mr. Kerry, the voices of opposition are silent.

We have not forgotten that the presidency was stolen, not won. But I ask how we are to resist this ruthless commandeering of our country and our lives, if there is no one to lead the charge?

I follow your voting records carefully, and for the most part they are exemplary. However, it is not enough anymore to vote properly. You must speak, you must initiate legislation, you must turn us away from this futile and dangerous course.

Not too long ago, a sordid and shameful period of our history was ended with one simple phrase spoken at the right time. "Have you no decency, sir?" turned a dangerous man aside and exposed him and his movement for what it was.

It's time for someone to speak up again. Will you accept this challenge?

Respectfully,

(Your Constituent)

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