:: The S.I.C.L.E. Cell ::

:: Monday, March 15, 2004 ::

Letter I received from NJEA:

"Dear Ms. ********,

Thank you for writing to express your views. In answer to your concerns, I want to provide you with some background. More than 20 years ago, NJEA adopted a policy "in accordance with its long history of defense of individual freedom and choice (that) supports the right to reproductive freedom for all women and men." It is because of this long-standing
policy, popular with the vast majority of our membership, that we are promoting member attendance at the Washington, DC rally. While you may
not agree with this stance, I hope that, in keeping with the spirit of a true democracy, you can understand that we debate and deliberate such issues in a representative forum in order to reach the decisions that shape our policies. In this instance, the majority view prevailed and has not been effectively challenged for two decades.

Regards,
Lynn Maher

Director of Communications
NJEA
180 W. State Street
Trenton, NJ 08607-1211
609-599-4561"

My response:

"At one point in our history the majority believed in and desired enslaving African Americans who were deemed, as gestating children are currently deemed, non-human property. The fact that a majority supports an atrocity does nothing to validate it.

Say what you will, use democracy as your shield, but educators of children have no business supporting the deaths of children. What could you ever hope to teach a dead child?

Reproductive freedom is one thing but ending a child's life is another entirely.

Sincerely,
Ashli *. ********
Former Elementary Teacher"

NEA: Democrat Heavy, and don't I know it!

:: ashli 10:22 AM # ::
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