The Halls of Congress The Stench Of Shame

It seems that Tea Party Congressman Blake Farenthold (Texas) has no idea what a sacrifice is. During the government shut down and near default, Disabled American Veterans expressed concern over their loss of services and the loss of their VA disability checks. You know, the checks and services they EARNED by SACRIFICING years of their lives and in many cases limbs or mental health to serve the people of the United States of America? He told them they must LEARN to sacrifice.

He, of course, is "serving" the people of the United States of America in the House of Representatives. For which he earns a 6 figure salary and doesn't have to stand guard on a post in excessive heat, snow, or driving rain. He doesn't have to concern himself if the person walking towards him carries a weapon, nor does he have to worry that he will be blown up on the drive to another base where he has a job to do.

He doesn't have to live in some godforsaken outpost in the desert away from family or friends. He doesn't have to wonder how his wife is making out back home, whether he'll ever see his kids or her again. He doesn't have to wonder if the baby his wife will soon have will know him when he finally comes home. IF he comes home.

It's very easy for someone of his privilege to tell someone who suffered through those hardships that THEY  must learn to sacrifice. Something that he clearly doesn't seem too keen on for himself. He never served in the armed forces, and he obviously hasn't ever denied himself anything he wanted. Yet he seems to feel that disabled veterans who became that way because they put their life on the line to protect the Blake Farentholds of the world should be deprived of basic necessities of life because Mr/ Farenthold doesn't want to pay taxes.

Congressman Farenthold voted no on the bill to reopen the government and avoid default because every one but him and his cronies need to learn to sacrifice. People like Ted Cruz, Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann were all quick to use the veterans as a photo op to get their names in the papers and on TV, but none of them did a single thing to assure those self same veterans that they would be helped even if the government did default. No, making the news was the agenda of the day, not caring about those who sacrificed and served our country with honor even when the wars they might have been sent to weren't all that honorable.

All of these people who are unwilling to address the concerns of the disabled, the poor, the elderly claim membership in the Christian Religion. A religion formed by the teachings of the son of God. Teachings which in no way glorified the rich, suggested that taxes were unnecessary or praised the mistreatment of the poor. Yet that is exactly the path that the Christian Tea Party Republicans chose.

There is nothing I can do about that except cast my vote at election time. I'm not responsible for the behavior of anyone but me. For my part I can only be sure that I not demand something from others that I'm unwilling to sacrifice myself. And I can say to those Christians who think we don't see them behaving as less than they should, we see you, and so does Jesus.