| |
Last Modified: Oct 1, 1995 |
An open letter to Mr. Bob Dole |
|
| Dear Mr. Dole, | |
|
First off I would like to tell you that I have the utmost respect for
what you have done for your country. It is not everyone that would give
what you have given for the somewhat ephemeral concept of "freedom."
Secondly, I would like to say that, from all indications, you seem
like an, intelligent, decent man. You seem to be the sort of person
that would be cool to go out and have a beer with, maybe tell some
dirty jokes. That being the case, you might think it odd that I've no
intention of voting for you and will in fact do everything I can to
see to it that you do not become President of these United States. You
see, Mr. Dole, you have the albatross of the republican party hanging
around neck like a piece of rotting meat. The things that the right
wing of your party believes quite frankly, frighten me. I don't think
that you personally care about what adults do in the privacy of their
bedrooms, Mr. Dole. I also think that you don't care about praying in
school, or what a woman decides to do with her own body. I applaud you
for realizing that these things have nothing whatsoever to do with
being the President.
|
|
|
The right wing of your party however - they are altogether a different
story. They not only care about these issues, they actually think that
you ought to as well. What is really frightening to me though, Mr. Dole,
is that I think you are going to tell them that you do care. I think that
if elected, you will attempt to prove to them that you care. We can't
have that, Mr. Dole!
|
|
|
You see Mr. Dole, what the religious right does not understand is that
when the constitution gave us freedom of religion, it also granted us
freedom from religion. They are on a holy crusade, Mr. Dole, and holy
crusades have no place in a government of free men and women. If they
wish to start their children's day off with a prayer, that's all well
and good, but they've no right to start the neighbor's children off with
a prayer as well. If they believe that abortion is murder, then they
have every right to protest against clinics and attempt to convince
women not to have them. They do not however, have the right to legislate
their religious beliefs into law, not in this nation at any rate. If
they believe homosexuality is wrong and immoral, then certainly they
shouldn't interact socially with homosexuals. What they cannot do is
attempt to keep homosexuals from living their lives as they see fit,
even if that includes marrying and raising children.
|
|
|
It's very simple, really. Mr. Dole, no matter how decent a man you
are, you represent something foul and unhealthy. You represent the
people who honestly believe they know more about how I should live my
life than I do. That is a dangerous belief in a free and democratic
society, Mr. Dole. The whole premise of this great and wonderful
country of ours, Mr. Dole, is basically that I'm just as capable of
deciding what to do with my life as you are, and that is a glorious
thing. That is the single most important issue in this campaign, Mr.
Dole! You can talk about tax cuts, and budget balancing, and foreign
affairs, and all the rest all that you like. The single solitary issue
in this campaign is that you have chosen to lead this religious crusade
against the constitution and that you cannot succeed. It doesn't matter
if you lead it willingly or not, you are still at the head and you are
responsible. You have said that you possess the quality of leadership.
If that is so, prove it to us Mr. Dole. Tell the religious right of
your party that you have no time for moral crusades because you have
issues to discuss and a country to govern. Tell them that they will
have to depend on God to mete out punishment to the sinners, because
the government of the United States has no business enforcing religious
laws. It's funny really, when you consider how few there are of the
religious right. I suppose it is a case of the squeaky wheel getting
the grease. Well, let me explain something to you Mr. Dole, there are
many more of us than there are of them. If they want to use presidential
politics for a religious crusade so be it. Remember though, we will beat
you; we have no choice.
|
|
|
Good Luck to you in the Fall, Skippy |
|
|
Hey kids, the ol' Skipster here! Sorry I had to get all serious on you
there - the old snide and irreverent skip-man will be back next week.
Skippy |
Skippy
Skippy's Columns:
Generations
Skippy Looks at the TV Season
An Open Letter to Mr. Bob Dole
Responsibility
Friends
Let us Bow Our Heads in Prayer
The Family Column
Random Ideas
Why is Skippy Here?