Civility
As 2016 comes to a close, I want to take this time to say thank you. Thank you to everyone reading this newsletter. Thank you for your time, your comments, and your support throughout this year. We have had an eventful year, tackling several important issues. And I didn't do it alone. It was a collective effort, from both parties, to bring significant and meaningful results to the 5th District and to the citizens of this country. |
The ancient Greek rhetorician, Isocrates, not to be confused with classical Greek philosopher, Socrates, taught his students the following: "Do not do to others that which angers you when they do it to you." Confucius, the influential Chinese philosopher, is credited with having said, "What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others." Epictetus, from the School of Stoicism said, "Do unto others whatever you would like them to do to you." There are similar precepts found in The |
Dear Friends,
Believe it or not, during my high school years, I was a squeaky tenor in the Harry T. Burleigh a cappella choir, named in honor of the African American composer, arranger, and baritone soloist. The director of the well synchronized choir was Mrs. Gwendolyn Jackson, an accomplished contralto in her own right. Mrs. Jackson use to tell us during rehearsals, "Boys and girls, if you can't hear the voice of the singers around you, it means that you are too loud."
As we watch President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence begin their selection process of the next White House administration, one can only hope that the future cabinet is a representation of the interest and benefits of all Americans.
The American people have spoken. The country has elected Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States. Election Day is now over and the job before us is to keep America moving forward. The only way to do that is to work together with humility and respect for one another despite our differences. I’ve talked many times about civility. Now is the time to practice that very act of decency and respectful conduct.
This week, I joined twenty-nine of my Congressional colleagues in sending a letter to President Obama, which you can read here, expressing our concerns about the dramatic increase in the cost of prescription medications.
Dear Friends,
During the seven years my family spent in public housing, my buddies and I had some of our greatest adventures in a wooded area we called “The Pasture.” We had an opportunity to play war and jungle games because there were unlimited hiding places and if we had a moment of bravery, we could cross the creek and never be found.
Perhaps our thrill was to sneak a potato, an egg or two, and a chunk of Spam from our parent’s kitchen and cook an extravagant omelet. The rich people never had something so good.
Dear Friends,
There is absolutely nothing that stunts the momentum of a democracy and hammers the heart and soul of the body politic like political absolutism. It is scary when anyone suggests that they understand and that they are doing God’s will in public office. My certainty is that there is great annoyance in Heaven when we, Members of Congress, view ourselves special agents of God.
Dear Friends,
A woman walked up to the supervising pharmacist in a major drug store and said, “You are the top guy here are you not?”
“Yes,” said the man, wearing a long white hospital looking coat.
“Well,” said the woman, “I need a big bottle of arsenic.”
“Ma’am, arsenic is a very dangerous substance so I must ask you – why do you need it?” he said.
“To poison my no-good cheating husband,” she replied.