Hi. I just sent this to my reps, also to half the newspapers in the state.
My 4th of July: An Open Letter to John McCain, Jon Kyl,& Jim Kolbe
The 4th is big in my town. It's hard not to get caught up in some part of it- the cute small-town parade, the events downtown, the fireworks at night.
Never have I felt less like celebrating the anniversary of our democracy's birth- it feels like celebrating the beauty of a building under demolition. Never have I felt less secure in my rights as a citizen of this country.
If you'd told me 6 years ago that our government would be torturing people, I'd have scoffed. If you'd told me that anyone in America could be swept up by the government, held indefinitely without charge, counsel, or trial, I'd have scoffed. If you'd told me that the president would give himself the right to pick and choose which of our laws to obey, I'd have scoffed. I'd have said, those things don't happen here. Not in America.
I can't celebrate our freedom while it's being assaulted.
So my 4th won't be barbecue, flags, & fireworks. This letter is my 4th of July. On that first 4th of July, a group of people rejected an illegitimate and abusive authority. They said no to King George. I say the same today.