Letter to a Senator

Just to give a preamble to the letter below that I sent to Amy Klobuchar, I am very upset by the incident that has happened in Minneapolis and the media attention given to the structural stability reports as well as other, more political, spoutings. A friend of Neal’s brother is still missing, as I type this, and we are obviously upset and praying hard. But there is always a feeling of both hope and fear in the not knowing, and I can’t even begin to imagine what the families of those who are still missing are going through right now. Now, before we even know what is going on and what the finished verdict will be for these families, we do not need finger pointing and blame starting. We need prayer and support for everyone involved in this tragedy. We know nothing for sure, so let’s save the “updates” on past structural stability reviews and the “sound bites” of the politicians until there is actually something to say.

For now, can we focus on being a community of human beings who are willing to support and comfort our fellow humans? When everyone who is missing and hurt is accounted for, then I give you free reign to point fingers, blame, and scream stupid statements to your heart’s content. But for now…we need some moments of peace and quiet to reflect on what these families are going through—and to pray.

Ms. Klobuchar:

We are a little over 48 hours into a tragedy of proportions Minnesota—and, in fact, the entire country—obviously did not see coming. I find your politicizing the 35W bridge incident appalling and lacking in couth and tact. I do agree that issues regarding the bridge, including lack of funding and the disregard of the past reviews of structural stability, are very important items to be looked into–in the future. At this point in time, families are still struggling with hope, fear, and grief. People are still missing and families still are unsure of what might have happened to their loved ones, and your first message in light of what has happened is to politicize this and go on the attack of the war in Iraq. I think most people are sick of hearing this issue brought up whenever something happens, especially when people are injured, many fatally. People involved in this incident do not need politicians spouting off about how if we weren’t in Iraq, this would have never happened. Hearing this is not comforting, especially in a time when nothing much will probably comfort right now. In fact, I would think that hearing politicians start the “blame game” and point fingers at one another is exactly the wrong attitude to put forth this point.

I am ashamed to say that you are a Senator of Minnesota today; ashamed that you can find nothing better to talk about to MSNBC other than Bush’s Iraq policy (or lack thereof) as the cause of two recent tragedies in American history (the bridge and Katrina); ashamed that I am now associated, as a Minnesotan, with your words in the face of misery and pain. The families need to focus on their grief, anger, and pain with the death itself without having these other issues thrown at them so soon after losing a loved one.

Please, in the future, I adjure you to think more carefully about not only what your words can do for your political agenda but also what you words can, and indeed will, do to those of your constituents who are involved in the tragedy of which you are speaking.

Thank you,
[jess]

[Edit: Please note the response and my follow-up comments, which may be found here.]