The September 13th New Hampshire Union Leader ran a story on page A9 by Boston University Intern Kendra Gilbert covering Senator Sununu’s Tuesday remarks at an Arab American Institute luncheon. She reports he told the group
Arab-Americans can bring a "personal perspective" to congressional debate. Sununu, a Lebanese-American, is the only senator of Arab descent.
Huh? What happened to our ideal of a colorblind society? Until the esteemed senator started announcing his Arab pedigree, I always saw him as an American. I guess I would never have known had it not been thrown into the public arena. Every time he’s raised the issue since, I’ve thought, who cares? What’s the big deal? I thought he was a conservative- you know, judging people by the content of their character and all that? This is some kind of weird pandering to an ethnic group with ties to areas and peoples deeply embroiled in the new world war from what would seem to be an unlikely corner: New Hampshire. The UL piece continues to quote MY senator:
His heritage, he said, "certainly made a difference in my work on the Foreign Relations Committee. I grew up paying attention to events overseas."
That’s all wonderful, but, what kind of a "difference" has it made in his "work" on that important committee? And exactly who influences his decision-making? His constituents here in NH, or his ancestors back in his familial homeland?
Sununu also spoke about the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. He declared his support for the $230 million in humanitarian aid to Lebanon that President Bush has pledged, but said "more could have been done."
That’s right- more should have been done- more eliminating of the common enemy of the US and Israel! I have mixed feelings at best about giving any aid from my tax dollars to these people that have done little to nothing to rid their homelands of the murderous thugs.
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"More could have been done?" Come on Senator- look at things from my point of view- I struggle to pay my federal income taxes- both overt and built in the cost of goods and services- that finance the defense tools necessary to keep our enemy from killing us. Then, after that enemy causes a military engagement resulting their taking a beating, I have to pay again to fix it?
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Maybe a little direct humanitarian aid, with the goal of making us look good is a plausible argument that reasonable people might make- I’m not sure. I know that my Senator is laying on a little thick in this area.
