This is an update of yesterday's diary, hopefully improved.
Here's an open letter that I've sent to my local newspaper and to USA Today. If you agree with the contents of the letter, cut and paste it and send it to your own paper or wherever you choose.
I do this only for its ease for you if you want to do it, not for my brilliant writing. Please amend or throw in the trash and write your own if you want. Thanks.
December 30, 2004
An Open Letter To All Members of the 109th Congress of the U.S. (2005-2006), Vice President Cheney, and President Bush:
Would you be willing to donate the equivalent of one year's worth of your government salary to aid the victims of the ongoing tragedy in Southeast Asia?
I have determined roughly that if all Members of Congress, the Vice President, and the President donated so, the amount would be more than $85 million. It would not solve all the problems that this disaster has unleashed, obviously, but it would be of significant tangible aid to the millions of people who have been affected.
It would also be a timely and powerful symbolic gesture to people all over the world who need their hope rekindled. Hope, especially in this time of such troubled relationships all over the world, that the goals of the richest nations are at their core the same as the goals of the poorest. That we, as citizens and leaders of this nation, recognize that wealth should not be used as a tool for distancing and isolating, but for bringing nearer and unifying.
I want to emphasize that I believe the symbolic power of the move would live in the fact that you, as our leaders and in so many cases the most wealthy among us, made a personal sacrifice to help. (I do realize that not all of you fall into the "most wealthy" category. Perhaps those that do could pay your share.)
Thank you for your time,
Me
P.S. There are obviously many good places to give. My donation went to Doctors Without Borders (www.doctorswithoutborders.org).