The recent election demonstrated overwhelmingly that the American people want to be rid of Bush and Cheney. We also want to get out of Iraq.

The Democrats, despite their majority in both Houses, have already demonstrated that they will not challenge Bush and Cheney's legitimacy, and they will not insist on withdrawal from Iraq. In fact, they allowed the lame duck Congress to increase funding and troops for that unfortunate country.

We the people got mobilized briefly and made our opinion known at the polls. Now we are being lulled back to sleep by Pelosi's sweetheart deal with Bush, by the Baker report, by our preoccupation with Christmas, and shopping, and our everyday lives.

Now is when we need to be pushing for impeachment of Bush and Cheney. Now, before the new Congress convenes January 4th, is when we need to let the incoming Congress know that they are on probation, that we the people want them to deal with our concerns about fascism, and national bankruptcy, and national guilt about our slaughter of innocents abroad.

Now is when we should be bombarding them with phone calls insisting on impeachment and withdrawal from Iraq and rescission of the Military Commissions Act. While they're home for holiday recess is when we should insist on meeting with them and telling them what we want them to do, how we want them to represent us.

In order to preserve our liberty, our economy, our Constitution, we need to put aside our lives and focus on the follow through to the election. The true spirit of Christmas is not about shopping and decorations, it's about truth and justice and peace.

Perhaps if we focus on who Jesus really is, the one who comes to forgive our sins and heal us from our paralysis, we will be able to do what needs to be done.

Lk 5:17-26

One day as Jesus was teaching,...some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed;...When Jesus saw their faith, he said,
"As for you, your sins are forgiven."...

Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,'
or to say, 'Rise and walk'?
But that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-
he said to the one who was paralyzed,
"I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home."

He stood up immediately before them,
picked up what he had been lying on,
and went home, glorifying God.
http://www.usccb.org/nab/121106.shtml

In the name of the Prince of Peace,

Carol Wolman