"Hearing the ideas and concerns of the people of this nation is the lifeblood of our democracy, and the impact of personal communication with elected representatives should never be underestimated. Our government can only live up to its potential, if each and every one of us does his or her part. My job in Washington is to vote in the best interest of my District. I cannot know what those interests are, if I do not hear from the people who are affected by those votes. There is power in written correspondence, power to change the course of history, power to change a life.
As a young man when I first heard the voice of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on an old radio, I felt like he was talking to me. I was so moved by his words that I wrote to him to share my desire to become involved in the cause of civil rights and social justice in America. It made an indelible impression on me that Dr. King took the time to answer my letter, and his personal reply changed my destiny.
Writing your congressman is an act of faith. It means you believe in the democratic process." -Congressman John Lewis, 5th District, Georgia
No comments:
Post a Comment