But of all the sad scenarios that this debate has birthed, I doubt that anything could have made me sadder than what I heard about and saw Saturday, March 20th.

Two members of Congress were spat upon and called racial epithets. My heart sank. I saw our country take a giant 50-year backwards step. John Lewis and Emmanuel Cleaver, two African-American members of Congress, were subject to this abhorrent behavior.

While I admit I do not know much of Emmanuel Cleaver, I do know something about John Lewis. Mr. Lewis is a man whose life should be taught in classrooms throughout the country.  As a young man, Mr. Lewis joined in the Freedom Rides that tested access to public transportation in America for all people. This was at a time when such actions often resulted in terroristic attacks on the Freedom Riders. John Lewis was beaten nearly to death.

Yet the cause was so great that John Lewis would stand again and again and put his life and freedom on the line. During the march on Washington, and especially during the three Selma to Montgomery marches, Lewis was a key player. As the leader of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee, John Lewis led the first march from Selma to Montgomery. And he was beaten bloody by billy-club wielding police. And as a young man I watched the scenes from Alabama flicker across my black and white TV screen. And I witnessed incredible acts of courage by the marchers as the forces of the state of Alabama tried to intimidate them from being able to exercise their rights as citizens.

John Lewis was elected to Congress in 1986. As a member of Congress he has championed the cause of the poor and the downtrodden. And for many of these past two decades, I have no doubt that Mr. Lewis held out hope that the racial hatred that put his life in jeopardy had been put to sleep.

Unfortunately, those who want to gain power by stirring up fear that makes the populace vote for demagogues have re-awakened the sleeping giant. Signs of the return of racial hatred have slowly made themselves more and more visible. Who can forget the venom spewing  woman at the John McCain rally during the last campaign?  Most have seen various signs of President Obama portrayed as a witch doctor or an ape or suggestions of lynching.

And now we have come full circle with the return of physical attacks and racial slurs. And once more, John Lewis leads against those who employ such tactics by not being intimidated, by standing above such attacks and by once again standing up for those whom the system chooses to deem not as worthy as others.

Thank you, John Lewis. You are what makes America great. And you stand as a model for our young people.

Dave Bradley    
West Liberty, Iowa
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