We live in difficult
times and balancing our country’s need for security with our need to
maintain an open and free democracy can at times be challenging, but
it’s only commonsense that we ensure that Ohio’s taxpayer dollars are
invested in ways that will strengthen both our state and country. Our country's hard earned taxpayer dollars should NOT be used to benefit those who
would harm us. Investing our taxpayer dollars in Iran is risky and
it’s wrong-and it must be stopped.
As to the question,
“Does Iran pose a genuine threat to our nation’s security?” The answer
to that question is absolutely-YES. According to news reports, just
months after September 11th, chants of “Death to America” resounded
through out Iran during a demonstration in which demonstrators burned
the American Flag. USA Today reported that in Iran, “Shouts of
‘Death to America!’ rang out in the conservative-dominated parliament
after lawmakers voted to advance the nation's nuclear program...". So
much for Iran’s claim of wanting a nuclear program for peaceful
purposes only. Since then Americans have
seen numerous, hate filled news reports from Iran in which
demonstrators chant “Death to America” over and over again. The
question has never been, “Does Iran pose a threat to our country?” The
question has always been and continues to be, “What should we do about
it?”
There are some who say this issue "is not their responsibility". Think for a moment what would have happened if our Founding Fathers had
decided that establishing a free nation was not “their responsibility”.
We would not exist. There would be no “land of the free an
d home of the
brave to protect”. Consider also that the Constitution begins with “We
The People”. “We the people” means each and every American citizen. The
truth is that the safety and security of our nation is the
responsibility of each and every American, not just those who happen to
be in Washington. For you see, it is not by accident that our nation, a
nation of free people, has not only survived but succeeded.
And we
have succeeded as a nation because those that came before us were
willing to selflessly sacrifice whatever it took to give their children
a future guided by the light of liberty, grounded in the strength of
their convictions, and secured by the determination and courage of
their fellow citizens. How then, can we do less for our own children?
Sadly before the start
of WWII, we faced a similar threat, but we failed to act. Winston
Churchill referred to it as the “Gathering Storm”. Because we failed to
act, millions died and millions more suffered. Iran poses a grave and growing threat to the future of the ones we love the most, our children. While
we may not yet be able to agree as to what steps should be taken to
deal with that threat, we ought to at least be able to agree that we
should not use the hard earned tax dollars of Ohio’s families to
support a country that would harm us. For if we can not agree on at least that, then I truly fear for the future of our country, and for our children.
A great statesman once said that the “only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing”. As a Mom, I hope
and pray that Congress, along with every state legislature, will take a stand and do what is right. It's time that they showed not only our nation, but the world, that we care more about principle than we do about profit. For to continue to fund those who would harm us is to betray every single soldier that puts their life at risk every day so that our children might be safe-and free. And every single member of our armed forces deserve better than that.