An open letter to Congressional Democrats:

[babylonsister]

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/3/20/848165/-An-open-letter-to-Congressional-Democrats:

An open letter to Congressional Democrats:
by that other guy

Sat Mar 20, 2010 at 07:50:50 AM PDT


On Sunday March 21, 2010 at somewhere around 2:00 pm EST, for better or worse, history will be made. This is when the US House will bring up the vote upon the healthcare reform. History is an interesting force it can move beyond the present spin and perceptions to expose the true heroes and villains of the time. To those wavering Democrats let me tell you the eyes of history are upon you.

The Ojibwe Indians have what is called the "Seven Generation Rule." Basically, the Seven Generation Rule is that you consider the effect and consequences of your actions seven generations out. Seven generations from now your great-great-great grandchildren may be looking at their family tree. Doubtless that they will be excited to find out that they had an ancestor who was in congress. They will study you. What do you want them to find out? Should they be ashamed that when push came to shove you did not do the right thing? Or do you want them to look at you in pride and say that you helped to make history and did the right thing? Your place in their eyes awaits your decision and action.

In the 1950’s John F. Kennedy wrote a book called Profiles in Courage. The subject of this book was all about people in political office who rose above the pressure to do what was wrong did stood up and did the right thing. They did this even if it meant ridicule and the end of their careers. Today these people go down in annuals of history as heroes. Those who gave in just went along and got along are long forgotten.

Many of you decided to run as Democrats in predominately Republican districts. If it had been about ego, you would have taken the easy way out and run as a Republican. You did not, obviously there was something that you saw wrong with the system or else you would taken the path of least resistance.

At one time you had the courageous profile. Most people who get that wild hair and decide to go through this process did so because they had that spark that they help change things for the better. I ask you to remember back to that time when you made that decision to run for office the first time. Did you really want to get in there just so that you could get re-elected? Or was there some sort of idealistic fire that propelled you? What motivated you to get into all this in the first place?

Now is the time, this is the place and healthcare is the issue to stand up and be counted on. We all know that millions are suffering, the system is screwed up and everyone truly knows this. This pure speculation but, I truly believe that there is absolutely no one in the US who has not been, has had a family member, or knows someone who has been viciously crapped upon by the present system. This issue is truly universal. You know this is right, so stand up.

snip//

The voters are much more savvy and smarter than anyone thinks. Voting for healthcare might not be an act of falling on your sword; it could be the thing that insures your re-election and opposing it could be your downfall.

You have a chance to put your stroke on the canvass of posterity. Will you do what is right and shine or fall into the great sea of anonymous mediocrity? What will your spot on the canvass look like? The eyes of history and your decedents await your choice.

If you are not going to make a stand here then why are you there?