Douglass, Amy wrote:
>
> You assumed falsely that I was refering to myself when I spoke about
> views that are not expressed.  I write my Congressmen quite frequently
> and do make my own views expressed.  I was refering to other groups and
> individuals that, for whatever reason (poverty, lack of awareness about
> the issues being debated, etc, etc) are disenfrachised.  Yes, ideally
> the government is us and we all have the opportunity to express our
> opinions.  But the reality is that some people think they will not be
> heard or that their opinions do not matter, so they do not speak out.
> Somehow, they need to be encouraged to speak up and the government needs
> to be responsive when they do.
>
> > ----------
> > From:         Robert T. Handy[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> > Reply To:     Museum discussion list
> > Sent:         Thursday, October 23, 1997 11:49AM
> > To:   [log in to unmask]
> > Subject:      Re: "Bill of No Rights"--Commentary
> >
> > Douglass, Amy wrote:
> > >
> > > I agree that the Bill of Rights does not guarantee that the
> > government
> > > will promote certain points of view; it only guarantees that those
> > views
> > > may be expressed by those individuals or groups that hold them.
> > > However, the problem comes in when the government promotes certain
> > views
> > > in the form of its policies, programs and laws at the expense of
> > others.
> > > I'm not sure what the solution for this is.  Perhaps all that we can
> > do
> > > is make sure that all points of view are given equal opportunity to
> > be
> > > voiced before a specific policy, program or law is put into place.
> > I
> > > think we're still a long way from getting to that point.
> > >
> > > (As always, the views expressed here are my own and not that of my
> > > employer.)
> > >
> > > Amy A. Douglass
> > > Tempe Historical Museum
> > > [log in to unmask]
> >
> > When's the last time you voted or wrote a letter expressing your
> > opinion
> > to you legislators?  Have you ever encountered the word "pluralism?"
> > The "government" is us.  Legislators attempt to strike a balance among
> > the multiple interests of their constituents (including, sometimes,
> > their own views).  They cannot do a very good job if we don't express
> > our opinions to them in an articulate and rational form.  Keep in mind
> > that silence is an endorsement.
> >
> > Bob Handy
> > Brazoria County Historical Museum
> > Angleton, Texas
> >
> > http://www.bchm.org
> >
My last, on the assumption (before you corrected me) that you were one
of those "others" was intended to encourage you.  I agree that there are
far to many out there who don't think they are listened to. I have led
"Great Decisions" foreign policy discussion groups for thirty years,
trying to get people to communicate their opinions on those issues to
the decision-makers and am not sure I have made a dent yet.

Bob Handy