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The Dead Hand That Rocks The Cradle
Nov 2nd, 2011 | 8 responses
These are starving children.
And this is a dead congressman.
Dante Bruno Fascell
(March 9, 1917 – November 28, 1998)
H.R.3792
Latest Title: Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 [emphasis added]
Sponsor: Rep Fascell, Dante B. [FL-19] (introduced 11/21/1989) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 2/16/1990 Became Public Law No: 101-246.
And this is the law by the dead congressman that forced the US to withdraw from UNESCO, and take its 20% budgetary contribution:
Public Law 101-246.
Bill Text
101st Congress (1989-1990)
H.R.3792
Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 (Enrolled Bill [Final as Passed Both House and Senate] – ENR)SEC. 108. RESTRICTION ON FUNDS FOR NEGOTIATIONS WITH CERTAIN PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATIVES.[...]
Section 1302(b) of the International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1985 (22 U.S.C. 2151), is amended by inserting before the period at the end thereof the following: `, except that no funds authorized to be appropriated by this or any other Act may be obligated or made available for the conduct of the current dialogue on the Middle East peace process with any representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization if the President knows and advises the Congress that that representative directly participated in the planning or execution of a particular terrorist activity which resulted in the death or kidnapping of a United States citizen’.
And this is the story about UNESCO:
UNESCO votes to admit Palestine; U.S. cuts off funding
By Colum Lynch, Published: October 31
The Washington PostNEW YORK — UNESCO voted Monday to admit Palestine into the organization as its newest member, and the United States promptly responded by cutting off funding for the agency.
Acting under a legal requirement to cut U.S. funds to any U.N. agency that recognizes a Palestinian state, the State Department on Monday announced that the United States has stopped funding the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization because of the vote. Department spokesman Victoria Nuland told reporters that the Obama administration would not make a planned $60 million payment to the agency due this month….
And this is UNICEF, that tries to help those starving children, but is now punished by a dead congressional hand.
This is a starving child that may soon join that congressman in death.
You can help pick up the slack, here
That the dead hand of a congressman, 21 years ago, could stretch itself out to withdraw aid for so many who will now never live to see twenty one years, well …
What a lovely story for All Hallows Day.
Meantime, the GOP-controlled House of Representatives of that selfsame congress fiddles while Rome burns.
Courage.
=============
A writer, published author, novelist, literary critic and political observer for a quarter of a quarter-century more than a quarter-century, Hart Williams has lived in the American West for his entire life. Having grown up in Wyoming, Kansas and New Mexico, a survivor of Texas and a veteran of Hollywood, Mr. Williams currently lives in Oregon, along with an astonishing amount of pollen. He has a lively blog His Vorpal Sword. This is cross-posted from his blog.
8 Responses to “The Dead Hand That Rocks The Cradle”
Another excellent article making another excellent point.
As the Republican controlled lower house is doing absolutely nothing, maybe they’ll take up this matter and correct the current situation… Right after hell freezes over!
Sorry to say, this sort of epic moral hypocrisy isn’t exactly unfamiliar territory for today’s GOP.
Our staunch, unconditional support of Israel has clouded our ability to make proper judgements in foreign policy. We need to treat them based on the merits of their actions, not some baseless, inertial loyalty.
Barky said it first.
But I have to give the House a hand for their recent passing of the non-binding resolution that reaffirms “In God We Trust” as the national motto, sponsored by Representative Forbes. It was put on the agenda because president Obama suggested that “E pluribus unum” was the national motto.
Now THAT’s some real legislation!
Thanks for the poignant post, Hart.
As to one of the comments on “In God We Trust”: If that’s truly our national motto, then how about not letting God’s children starve to death (because of our politics).
Fortunately JeffP your tongue was noticeably pressed into your cheek…
It’s times like this that the “Let’s scare the bejesus out of the folks” faction of Congress (aka the Republican Party) usually pull stunts like this.
They’re stuck not knowing what to do and figure tossing “God” around for a while maybe people wouldn’t think they were so stupid… a “non-binding resolution” what a joke.
What is done is done. Our 60 mill was only about 22 percent of the budget anyway. I suppose the general assembly felt that the Palestinians should get something instead of the big zero.
Unfortunately right now so many are dieing.
Back to “In God We Trust,”
Although I am not a good Catholic, perhaps not even a good Christian, I do believe in God and I do Trust in God, but only to the extent that we — if we truly believe and trust in Him — must help Him do His work, which includes not allowing children to starve to death because of petty politics and then brag “In God We Trust.”
I came across the following just now, which I believe makes a good point:
“gardyloo, on David A. Fahrenthold’s “Yet again, House reaffirms motto ‘In God We Trust’” story:
I’m glad that the Republicans finally passed something that will help with the joblessness problem. Many, many signpainters and stonecutters and engravers will be put to work replacing the old motto of the the United States, “In God We Trust,” with the new one, “In God We Trust.”"