Correspondent of the Day

As Judeo-Christians, We Must Care for Sick
Editor, Times-Dispatch: I attended the Public Square discussion on health care and found it educational in many ways, but unsatisfying in others. It is true that there was no shouting, and we did get a bit of additional information about the health care issues. However, I was disappointed that I was not able to ask my question -- and that there was no conversation about the moral and ethical aspects of our health care system.

It is a central tenet of the Judeo-Christian religious tradition that we are called to care for the sick, the poor, the hungry, and even strangers -- and that we will be judged by our treatment of the least of these. I wanted to ask Rep. Eric Cantor how he thinks we will be judged by history when we, the richest nation in the world, leave hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens to be devastated financially for lack of insurance, or even to die for lack of good health care.

Although Cantor appeared very conciliatory and constructive in the forum, his demeanor was belied by the mailing I received from him that very day, in which he urged people "to stop Obama . . . " and repeated in the starkest terms every myth and fear tactic to undermine health reform. It is clear that Cantor is more concerned about protecting the health insurance industry than the health of ordinary Americans, his constituents.

I am thankful to The Times-Dispatch for giving me the opportunity to actually see my representative, Eric Cantor, in person. And I applaud you for finding a formula for getting civility from all participants. Now, if you can only find a way to get honesty from our politicians. Your forum made progress with the problem of courtesy, but, alas, not hypocrisy. In any case, thank you for hosting the event. It was a wonderful change from the town hall sideshows.

Carol Maxwell.
Richmond.