The privilege is ours

I am deeply saddened to hear that Congressman Tom Lantos (D-California) has been diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus and will not seek re-election.

Lantos, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, is singularly the greatest orator on Capitol Hill – the combination of a beautiful accent and sound reason is a gift.

In a statement released yesterday, Lantos said:

“It is only in the United States that a penniless survivor of the Holocaust and a fighter in the anti-Nazi underground could have received an education, raised a family, and had the privilege of serving the last three decades of his life as a Member of Congress. I will never be able to express fully my profoundly felt gratitude to this great country.”

The feeling is mutual, Sir.

Here’s what I wrote about Lantos almost a year ago:

2/19/2007

'Blood and treasure'

During the last week many words about the war in Iraq – pro and con – have been spoken in the chambers of the U. S. Capitol.

In my opinion, none were as reasonable or as eloquently spoken as the five-minute speech given by Congressman Tom Lantos (D-California).

Lantos is chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and one of three authors of the House non-binding resolution on troop escalation in Iraq.

He rose on the House floor, his crown of white hair catching the light and, in his beautifully lilting accent, spoke truth about the war – the cost in “blood and treasure” – which no one could deny.

You can read Lantos’ speech on his official Web site: LINK

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Despite claims the troop escalation, or “surge,” is working, Lantos was right about the blood and the treasure. We have no way of knowing how much more will be sacrificed.