Yes, Nataline died.
Though she is gone, an immense piece of her proud legacy will be that through her untimely death, she gave us a glimpse of our collective strength.
Yesterday was a great day for people-powered politics.
So, thank you, Kossacks.
I want to be very clear on an important point. A lot of you are saying I did something. This is wrong. I did only one thing. I brought this travesty human rights violation to your attention. You did everything. You, a group of thoroughly outraged American citizens, finally said: ENOUGH.
You, dear Kossacks, made the ground tremble.
We stood up. Imagine, we made this awful, murderous company--a pillar of American capitalism--cave, collapse, crumble. You did it.
Every one of you who called CIGNA, who took a few moments from your busy lives, whether you know it or not, enlisted as a fighter in a battle which will determine the future of our country.
Though Nataline died, we can celebrate through our tears.
Last night I wrote in acquittal's diary , that a moment like this I am reminded that the Talmud says "To save one life is as if you have saved the world."
I want to share an email I received yesterday before Nataline died from Bedig Sarkisyan. You should know that a while back, Bedig donated a kidney to her.
MY NAME IS BEDIG SARKISYAN AND I AM NATALINE'S BROTHER.I SAW THIS AND I REALLY LIKE WHAT IM READING AND SEEING WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND CANT WAIT TILL NATALINE GETS GOOD ENOUGH TO SEE WHATS BEEN GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES WHEN SHE WAKES UP FROM THIS DREAM SHES HAVING.
I HAVE BEEN UPDATING PEOPLE ON MYSPACE AS MUCH AS I CAN MOSTLY DAILY AND I SEE THAT MY POSTS HAVE BEEN MAKING THERE WAY AROUND THE INTERNET WHICH IS NICE. I TRY TO ANSWER AS MUCH AS I CAN.THIS IS A VERY TOUGH TIME FOR NATALINE AND ALL OF US AND YOUR PRAYERS AND CONCERN MEAN A LOT SERIOUSLY, NO ONE SHOULD EVER GO THROUGH WHAT MY 17YR OLD SISTER IS GOING THROUGH, BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO WE HAVE TO ACCEPT IT AND STAY STRONG AND POSITIVE.
THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FROM PEOPLE WE DONT EVEN KNOW IS EVEN MORE OF A BLESSING.THERE IS SO MUCH I WANT TO SAY RIGHT NOW BUT ITS JUST NOT ALL THERE..... THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I WANT TO MENTION RIGHT NOW IS THAT TODAY, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2007 AT 11AM IN FRONT OF THE CIGNA HEALTH HEADQUARTERS(GLENDALE,CA 400 N. BRAND BLVD) THE CALIFORNIA NURSES ASSOCIATION IS PUTTING TOGETHER A MARCH/RALLY TO GET HER STORY HEARD AROUND THE WORLD THROUGH DIFFERENT MEDIA OUTLETS. WE WANT TO MAKE THAT BUILDING SHAKE! THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO DENY MY SISTERS CLAIM OR ANYONE ELSES, WHEN ITS CLEARLY COVERED IN THE POLICY AND IS RECOMMENDED BY FOUR DOCTORS AT UCLA TO HAVE THE TRANSPLANT.C'MON...WERE NOT ASKING FOR A SHOE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE OF A BROKEN HEEL. THIS IS A LIVER WERE TALKING ABOUT, SOMETHING THAT CONTROLS OVER 500 PARTS IN YOUR BODY.
SHES SERIOUSLY FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE. SHE DOES NOT LOOK LIKE MY SISTER RIGHT NOW, AT ALL. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REACH ME DIRECT MY MYSPACE IS MYSPACE.COM/FREEKOBE. AGAIN THANK YOU ALL FOR CARING AND I WANT TO SEE A LOT OF YOU IF NOT ALL OF YOU TODAY. KEEP THOSE PRAYERS COMING NATALINE NEEDS THEM.
THANK YOU
BEDIG SARKISYAN
Perhaps Markos Moulitsas is beaming like a proud father. People-powered politics came alive yesterday in a vivid display of the power we can wield against the corporate criminals who threaten our survival and the survival of our nation.
Though we mourn Nataline, and our victory is bittersweet, I hope you'll take great pride in what you accomplished. You should also recognize for the battles we'll be fighting together in the days, weeks and months ahead, that people-powered politics will change this country.
People-powered politics is real, it works, it's here to stay, and and we are stronger than them.
I've received a bunch of emails asking what's next, how do we leverage this victory.
What next? Plenty.
But today our hearts are with a grieving family.