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When Did Asking Questions Become Whining
In Our Country? --by Mary MacElveen, CLG contributing writer Parents who wish to see their children excel in life, must give them a tool in which to do so, and that tool is to constantly question in order to get the correct answer. In school, our children raise their hands, and ask their teachers the questions needed in order to learn their lessons. In fact, if little Johnny or Janey does not raise their hands, their teachers will often have a conference with their parents to see why they are not doing so. And based upon this one small act, the act of asking questions, becomes the very foundation of their learning experience, and ultimately, their grade. As children grow up, and take with them the ability to ask questions, they will succeed in their educational careers. They have been given the tools, and those tools are asking the how, the why, the when, the where, and the how. Do we dare tell our children that asking questions is whining? No, we do not, and if we do, we are remiss in our parental duties. If a teacher fails at answering a question, he or she should be fired. What leads me to write this article today on Father's Day, is a letter that I wrote and posted on many political groups that I belong to. That letter was to Senator Pat Roberts, who along with his supporters, pushed aside any inquiry into whether or not Iraq had or has any weapons of mass destruction. A statement made by this administration and to date has not been proven. Where many are now asking those questions, where President Bush [sic] along with his supporters, such as Senator Pat Roberts, do not wish to answer any questions. Thereby dishonoring those dead soldiers. Where some were fathers, and through duty to country, left their children behind. Fathers who will no longer be around to instill such valuable tool upon their children. That tool is asking questions. Here is my letter to Senator Pat Roberts: To Senator Pat Roberts,
I am extremely disgusted to see a man such as you serving the American people in the senate. I am also extremely angry at you for stating this concerning any investigation into how intelligence was handled regarding the Iraq War. You stated this, "some of the Democratic criticism of the handling of the intelligence has "been simply politics and for political gain." You then went on to say this, "I will not allow the committee to be politicized or to be used as an unwitting tool for any political strategist," HOW DARE YOU SAY THIS?? Below are the names of our military personnel that sacrificed their lives and will no longer be with their families or loved ones. This is not a Republican or Democratic issue. It is an issue to do what is right by these brave soldiers. They were told Iraq had these weapons, went over there believing their commander and chief, and were killed. You also stated this, "that routine oversight should suffice." Which in my opinion is code for sweeping the whole damn thing under the carpet and allowing George W. Bush to get away with lying to the American people, and to our military as well. While I am a Democrat, I am an American first and foremost, and I am damn angry that the GOP wishes to sweep yet another investigation aside, like you are doing so with any investigation into September 11th. Where Bush received warnings, yet did nothing. I want to know why these men and one woman are dead. Their families have the right to know, and I want you to read every single name, and ask yourself this question. Why should I protect George W. Bush, when these men and one woman were sent over to protect me? How Bush can land on that carrier, surround himself with our troops and bold face lie to them, and the American people is a slap in the face to every dead soldier listed below. They sacrificed their lives, what are you willing to sacrifice for them? I also sent him a list of our dead soldiers to date. This country has always endured inquiries into any action by a past president. We did so through Watergate, Whitewater and many others. Did we as a nation say to those asking those questions, that they were whiners? No we did not. In fact, we demanded such questions be answered. We witnessed wall to wall coverage in both the print and broadcast media. In Watergate, this phrase became famous, "What did the president know, and when did he know it?" Are we living up to those same standards today? No we are not. Some may say, well George W. Bush is a war time president [sic], well so was Richard M. Nixon. Why is it okay to ask one Republican president the tough questions, and demand the answers and it is not for the present Republican president [sic]? Isn't that being hypocritical? We as Americans can do better, and we must. But, there seems to be a real disconnect between this administration and previous ones. Where any question or questions put to the present one, we are branded whiners, or worse off, traitors. When we ask such tough questions concerning the warnings that President Bush [sic] received prior to September 11th, and that horrific act itself, we were and are called 'whiners'. Well, we 'whiners' have the right to know the answers to these questions, since this was the most horrific security failure in our recent history. After all, many on that horrific day were fathers, and they left their children behind, and will never get the opportunity to instill in their children to use the tool of questioning. When we asked to see exactly what was being discussed in those secret energy task force meetings presided over by Vice President Cheney [sic], we were called 'whiners'. In my opinion, any task force discussing our energy needs, should be an open book to all of America. Or were they discussing future plans to get their hands on the Iraqi oil fields within those secret meetings? There I go whining again. There are just so many secrets within this administration, yet if we dare to ask questions, and hard ones at that, we are treated as whiners. Just ask Helen Thomas, the dean of the White House reporters, who has been ignored by this administration for asking the tough questions. Do we dare call her a 'whiner'? Well, some are, and that is frightening. In closing, if we just follow any actions put forth by this administration, without asking and demanding our questions be answered, what message are we sending our children? If we dare say to anyone that asks questions that they are 'whiners', aren't we being hypocritical to our children? Are we not leaving them behind? Since when did asking questions become whining in our country?
*Opinions in CLG contributing
writers' essays do not imply an endorsement of those views or candidates
by Citizens for Legitimate Government
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