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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJohn Dingell: My last words for America
By John D. Dingell February 8 at 4:03 PM
John D. Dingell, a Michigan Democrat who served in the U.S. House from 1955 to 2015, was the longest-serving member of Congress in American history. He dictated these reflections to his wife, Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), at their home in Dearborn, on Feb. 7, the day he died.
One of the advantages to knowing that your demise is imminent, and that reports of it will not be greatly exaggerated, is that you have a few moments to compose some parting thoughts.
In our modern political age, the presidential bully pulpit seems dedicated to sowing division and denigrating, often in the most irrelevant and infantile personal terms, the political opposition.
And much as I have found Twitter to be a useful means of expression, some occasions merit more than 280 characters.
My personal and political character was formed in a different era that was kinder, if not necessarily gentler. We observed modicums of respect even as we fought, often bitterly and savagely, over issues that were literally life and death to a degree that fortunately we see much less of today.
Think about it:
Impoverishment of the elderly because of medical expenses was a common and often accepted occurrence. Opponents of the Medicare program that saved the elderly from that cruel fate called it socialized medicine. Remember that slander if theres a sustained revival of silly red-baiting today.
Not five decades ago, much of the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth our own Great Lakes were closed to swimming and fishing and other recreational pursuits because of chemical and bacteriological contamination from untreated industrial and wastewater disposal. Today the Great Lakes are so hospitable to marine life that one of our biggest challenges is controlling the invasive species that have made them their new home.
We regularly used and consumed foods, drugs, chemicals and other things (cigarettes) that were legal, promoted and actively harmful. Hazardous wastes were dumped on empty plots in the dead of night. There were few if any restrictions on industrial emissions. We had only the barest scientific knowledge of the long-term consequences of any of this.
And there was a great stain on America, in the form of our legacy of racial discrimination. There were good people of all colors who banded together, risking and even losing their lives to erase the legal and other barriers that held Americans down. In their time they were often demonized and targeted, much like other vulnerable men and women today.
Please note: All of these challenges were addressed by Congress. Maybe not as fast as we wanted, or as perfectly as hoped. The work is certainly not finished. But weve made progress and in every case, from the passage of Medicare through the passage of civil rights, we did it with the support of Democrats and Republicans who considered themselves first and foremost to be Americans.
Im immensely proud, and eternally grateful, for having had the opportunity to play a part in all of these efforts during my service in Congress. And its simply not possible for me to adequately repay the love that my friends, neighbors and family have given me and shown me during my public service and retirement.
But I would be remiss in not acknowledging the forgiveness and sweetness of the woman who has essentially supported me for almost 40 years: my wife, Deborah. And it is a source of great satisfaction to know that she is among the largest group of women to have ever served in the Congress (as she busily recruits more).
In my life and career I have often heard it said that so-and-so has real power as in, the powerful Wile E. Coyote, chairman of the Capture the Road Runner Committee.
Its an expression that has always grated on me. In democratic government, elected officials do not have power. They hold power in trust for the people who elected them. If they misuse or abuse that public trust, it is quite properly revoked (the quicker the better).
I never forgot the people who gave me the privilege of representing them. It was a lesson learned at home from my father and mother, and one I have tried to impart to the people Ive served with and employed over the years.
As I prepare to leave this all behind, I now leave you in control of the greatest nation of mankind and pray God gives you the wisdom to understand the responsibility you hold in your hands.
May God bless you all, and may God bless America.
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/john-dingell-my-last-words-for-america/2019/02/08/99220186-2bd3-11e9-984d-9b8fba003e81_story.html
dalton99a
(81,516 posts)WheelWalker
(8,955 posts)UpInArms
(51,284 posts)You will be missed
madamesilverspurs
(15,805 posts)that he was not the last of his kind.
.
essme
(1,207 posts)He will be missed dearly in this age of stupidity.
malaise
(269,054 posts)Wonderful
spanone
(135,844 posts)Thank You Sir. RIP
LovingA2andMI
(7,006 posts)RIP Dean Dingell.....
TygrBright
(20,762 posts)THIS is the essence of democracy.
Thank you, Sir.
respectfully,
Bright
yonder
(9,666 posts)DirtEdonE
(1,220 posts)They MUST be held accountable or there is no reason to honor that trust.
pubicans are rarely held accountable. That's why we're in the shape we're in today. I'm all for bipartisanship but a famous pubican so-called braintrust, Grover Norquist of no-tax fame, once famously said, "Bipartisanship is another name for date rape."
How many times are we Democrats going to be date raped before we realize there is NO such thing as bipartisanship with these traitors?
I feel terrible having to put this into these terms in light of the inspiring, brilliant, inclusive words of Rep. Dingell but we can't be lulled into thinking the pubicans will EVER be worth dealing with.
They've shown their true face and it's an ugly face that will never be forgotten. Or forgotten only at our own peril.
Ferrets are Cool
(21,107 posts)mcar
(42,334 posts)Godspeed, John Dingell.
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)They don't make many like that anymore.
Dem2theMax
(9,651 posts)What an incredible human being. We were so lucky to have him.
sellitman
(11,607 posts)His like is scarce.
kentuck
(111,103 posts)"In democratic government, elected officials do not have power. They hold power in trust for the people who elected them."
Hekate
(90,714 posts)SCantiGOP
(13,871 posts)His Dad, who held the seat before him, introduced a universal single-payer health care bill every year, and it became the core of the Medicare law that passed in 1965.
I just hope the next generation of radical progressives is as true to the cause as he was for almost a century.
Duppers
(28,125 posts)demmiblue
(36,865 posts)Blue_true
(31,261 posts)keithbvadu2
(36,829 posts)But he never loved America enough to give a free trillion dollar gift to the rich, did he?
riverwalker
(8,694 posts)😢. What a loss for our country when we need people like him the most. 🙏.
FakeNoose
(32,645 posts)Sir, I salute you and thank you for your service!
Fresh_Start
(11,330 posts)A model of what we should hope for in government.
WestLosAngelesGal
(268 posts)I got choked up reading this. What a meaningful farewell.
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)pazzyanne
(6,556 posts)He was one of my first political heroes. His legacy is amazing!
Rest in peace, John!
ZeroSomeBrains
(638 posts)2naSalit
(86,647 posts)Thank you!
k8conant
(3,030 posts)May his memory be eternal!
DownriverDem
(6,229 posts)Now his very capable wife, Debbie, is my rep. When my Mom retired, she volunteered 3 days a week in Mr. Dingell's Dearborn office. So many memories... I am planning on going to his funeral.
MaryMagdaline
(6,855 posts)He was much loved in our family
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)Judi Lynn
(160,545 posts)Thank you.
murielm99
(30,745 posts)his father, and now his wife.
Don't tell me there is something wrong with political "dynasties." Some families are born to and dedicated to public service.
RIP, sir.
xxqqqzme
(14,887 posts)man. If you were fortunate to have him as your representative, what a gift you enjoyed.
c-rational
(2,594 posts)SWBTATTReg
(22,137 posts)Power 2 the People
(2,437 posts)RIP Congressman.
UniteFightBack
(8,231 posts)Worth repeating often. Thank you Sir. You are a fine example of why there IS more good than bad in America.