Open Letter to Ray LaHood - Stand Firm

Open Letter to Ray Lahood, US Secretary of Transportation -

Dear Mr. Lahood,
Congratulations on your recent appointment, and unanimous confirmation as the 16th U.S. Secretary of Transportation. I wish you Godspeed in your service in the Cabinet.
As a Congressman, you were a robust champion of the Pro-Life position over the years. I urge you to continue that same stalwart, public stand. The pressure to be silent on this issue will be immense! But, you are now one of the few with this perspective that still has a seat at the table of power...
Lost in the urgency of the current economic crisis, is the reality that the pro-abortion agenda is now on the upswing. American tax money will once again be used to promote abortion internationally with the repeal of the Mexico City Policy by executive order, an order issued almost before the echoes of the Oath of Office had faded. Passage of the so-called "Freedom of Choice Act," removing most, if not all Federal, state, and locally enacted protections for the unborn, is a stated priority of the administration. What comes next? Some indication can be found in a quote from the statement issued by the president after rescinding the Mexico City Policy.
"For too long, international family planning assistance has been used as a political wedge issue, the subject of a back and forth debate that has served only to divide us. I have no desire to continue this stale and fruitless debate."
A juggernaut called "change" is barreling down tracks greased by economic upheaval. This train may well be able to avoid the dreaded depression that is threatening and even outrun the current recession. But with its full head of steam, it has the potential to sweep away any bulwark of civilization in its path. Coupled to it are coaches full of gleeful meddlers and their worn out liberal baggage. Economic recovery and stability are not their priorities. They intend to ride this train for all it's worth, unloading their baggage at every station.
So, I urge you to withstand any pressure to be silent. The economy is on weak and dangerous ground. Change is needed. But, this nation has survived economic calamity many times before. It was only a moral crisis – slavery, which nearly destroyed her.
The urgency of getting the Pursuit of Happiness back on track cannot be allowed to justify passivity in the face of mounting assaults against Life and Liberty. If it is, we are sacrificing the High Ideals of our Republic on the altar of prosperity - once again.

Sincerely,
Dennis W. Dillard

First posted on Central Illinois Right To Life Web Site http://www.cirtl.org/ and published in abbreviated form in the Peoria Journal Star on Feb. 14, 2009