Yes, Now You Know - An Open Letter To Congress

There are no excuses remaining.

There are no excuses remaining.

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.

About Dick Conoboy

Citizen Journalist and Editor • Member since Jan 26, 2008

Dick Conoboy is a recovering civilian federal worker and military officer who was offered and accepted an all-expense paid, one year trip to Vietnam in 1968. He is a former Army [...]

Comments by Readers

Abe Jacobson

Jan 08, 2021

Punto!

Read More...

Steve M. James

Jan 08, 2021

Spot on !

Read More...

Marc Pierson

Jan 08, 2021

Well said. Thank you for saying it.

Read More...

Geoff Middaugh

Jan 08, 2021

One of your best.   Thanks, Dick.  

Read More...

Stephanie Twiford

Jan 08, 2021

Thank you Dick excellent letter.

Read More...

David Donohue

Jan 09, 2021

Thank you.

Read More...

Tove Vine

Jan 10, 2021

Dick 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

Read More...

Dick Conoboy

Jan 10, 2021

Thanks 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. 

 

Read More...

Dick Conoboy

Jan 10, 2021

Tove,

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.

Read More...

Bernie Housen

Jan 10, 2021

Thanks 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…

Read More...

Dick Conoboy

Jan 10, 2021

Bernie,

Thanks.  Can you provide a link to the Snyder article?

Read More...

Michael Chiavario

Jan 14, 2021

Excellent Dick. Thanks.

Read More...
To comment, Log In or Register