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Open Letter to Scott Ritter
Dear Scott,
I never thought I would have to take
issue with you when it comes to understanding or
defending the Constitution, but I do now. I have the utmost
respect for your intellect, integrity, and courage, but I
think on this one issue, your arguments are not well thought
out or considered.
I am referring to a recent article you
wrote entitled "A Call to Service." Reading your
article, I was almost ready to forward it to a few folks who I
thought might benefit from some of your observations. For
example, you point out that a great many Americans seem to
have time to become experts on certain sport statistics and
yet complain of having no time to become informed on the
operation of their government, and its impact on the
world, the rule of law, or on justice itself. As
citizens we seem to be unaware of the real threats that we all
face as members of the human family most of which are due to
our own ongoing ignorance and indifference. You didn't say it
quite that way, but still I applaud your willingness to point
these things out.
But then you go on to castigate Cindy
Sheehan for correctly pointing out what I might
euphemistically refer to as poor performance by Rep. John
Conyers and other members of Congress. I have no particular
need to point out the lack of courage on the part of any
individual at this point, but I have to say that in my view
Cindy Sheehan is doing more to defend the Constitution than
any current member of Congress is, at least as far as I can
tell.
Cindy doesn't seem to have a problem
identifying and naming the many impeachable crimes and
atrocities perpetrated by Bush and his administration, while I
can't find even one member of Congress who yet has the courage
to put his or her ass on the line to name even one. For if
they did name one, they would be hard pressed to explain why
they have yet to file articles of impeachment in defense
of the Constitution.
As a marine you always seemed to me to
have a good sense of what it means to fight for your country.
I don't for a minute doubt that you would face the heat of
battle without flinching even if you were uncertain that the
battle you were about to enter might be your last... even
if you were uncertain as to whether or not the battle could
even be won. You would fight because your love of country
would inspire you to put your life on the line at least to
try. You would fight and you would fight hard and you would
fight with honor, and you would fight with courage, and you
would fight to win... and you wouldn't look back fretting
about your own personal welfare or your own career. This
is how I see you.
Frankly, I don't see any member of
Congress doing that. But I think Cindy Sheehan is doing that.
I don't understand why you can't see that.
Bush and his team are liars, cheats,
murders and traitors. They have purposely demeaned the
Constitution and damaged the rule of law for their own power
and purposes. This Congress has stood by and allowed them to
do it... allowed them to betray their country, so far with
impunity. Congress' sloth and cowardice is responsible for the
untimely death and/or pain of millions of innocent
people. Every day more people suffer because they refuse to
fight.
Articles of impeachment have already
been drafted... unfortunately not by any member of the House.
To me this is unconscionable. I don't agree with everything
Cindy Sheehan says or does. I don't agree with everything
anybody does or says. But at least I can see she is
steadfastly trying to do her best to defend her country, if
for no other reason than to honor her son. I don't think you
can point at any one member of Congress-not one-and say the
same thing.
http://www.gpln.com/halfheartedattempts.htm
http://www.gpln.com/kucinichvscheney.htm
http://www.gpln.com/citizen.htm
Mark A. Goldman
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