Political Quotes

“As someone who went to grade and high school in the 1970s, I learned about countries, particularly the Soviet Union and its Eastern European satellites, that severely limited the right of their people to travel. In effect, they were prisoners in their own country. Indeed, in postwar Germany, the Communists even built a wall through Berlin. They did so not to keep people from West Berlin from traveling to East Berlin; they did it to prevent the captives of East Berlin from running to freedom in the West. There is a tragic story unfolding in Britain this week of a new, virtual Berlin Wall that British and European authorities have erected around little 2-year-old Alfie Evans, who lives in Britain. They have eliminated this child's right to travel, and they are holding him prisoner. Alfie is severely handicapped. British officials have made the decision, over the objection of Alfie's young parents, that Alfie would be better off dead. As such, they are prohibiting Alfie's parents from taking him to Bambino Gesu hospital in Rome, which has offered to care for the boy. Alfie is not suffering, but British officials appear to be projecting their own subjective views on Alfie's quality of life and are deeming his life not worthy of living. Among my most heartwarming experiences in my work in my district are visits to residences of the severely handicapped. I have visited with individuals who will never walk and who will never communicate verbally.…”