An open letter to Congress:
Yes, now you know.
Now you know what it is like to be under assault like the governor and legislature of the State of Michigan.
Now you know what the children of Columbine know.
Now you know what soldiers experience daily for months on end.
Now you know the fear that lives in synagogues and Black churches across the land.
Yes, now you know.
Now you know the stark fear of being under fire and wanting to piss and shit in your own pants.
Now you know what you ask our police and military to do but who are then forgotten by you, left to suffer mentally and physically.
Yes, now you know.
Now you know what that vote for war will produce.
Now you know the results of your votes and your tweets and your town halls.
Now you know.
Now act like you do.
Comments by Readers
Abe Jacobson
Jan 08, 2021Punto!
Steve M. James
Jan 08, 2021Spot on !
Marc Pierson
Jan 08, 2021Well said. Thank you for saying it.
Geoff Middaugh
Jan 08, 2021One of your best. Thanks, Dick.
Stephanie Twiford
Jan 08, 2021Thank you Dick excellent letter.
David Donohue
Jan 09, 2021Thank you.
Tove Vine
Jan 10, 2021Dick you are my hero. Excellent - short and to the point. Love it. You are the smartest person I know - I am honoured to be your long time friend. since Berlin (almost) 1968
Dick Conoboy
Jan 10, 2021Thanks to everyone for the comments. I have sent a copy of this to our two US senators, Murray and Cantwell. I understand a copy has already been sent to Rep Larsen. I ask that you all do the same and add your commentary.
You must go directly to their web pages to send an electronic communication which is limited to constituents only.
Details that have been emerging indicate that the assault on the Capitol was worse than the glimpses we had that day or the day after. This is not over. If you believe that the violence will end at noon on the 20th, I submit that you are not paying attention.
You will notice that I did not direct my message to the Republicans but to ALL members of Congress. Even those who served in the last 3-4 decades must examine their contributions to the current situation. This did not come about overnight.
Dick Conoboy
Jan 10, 2021Tove,
Thanks for your note from far off Australia. Nice to know I have an international audience!
This act of violence and hatred shows that the guardrails we think are there on government leaders are mostly made of toothpicks.
Bernie Housen
Jan 10, 2021Thanks you for the excellent posting. I would urge anyone who cares and is concerned with this to read the essay by Timothy Snyder in the current issue of the New York Times magazine. I also recommend one of his short, pocket sized books, On Tyranny. They are enlightening for both the present, but also for what we want the future to be.
ps, it helps to be able to spell tyranny, which proved elusive on first posting this…
Dick Conoboy
Jan 10, 2021Bernie,
Thanks. Can you provide a link to the Snyder article?
Bernie Housen
Jan 11, 2021Here it is.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/09/magazine/trump-coup.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage§ion=The%20New%20York%20Times%20Magazine
Michael Chiavario
Jan 14, 2021Excellent Dick. Thanks.