An open letter to Sen. Mark Begich

To the editor:

Mark, we do not both belong to the same political party. We do not belong, likewise, to the same religious persuasion. We do, however, both belong to Alaska, and Alaska belongs to both of us.

What comes to my mind is the Edmund Burke quote that, “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is that good men do nothing.”

You and your staff here, and in Washington, D.C., did not do nothing.

You saved our lives. I say “our” lives, because to save my life saves the life of my dependents. Who would you be more grateful to — the one who saves your life or the one who saved your child’s life?

By your leading a whole team to obtain and then transport a donated power wheelchair from Anchorage to me here in Wasilla, it has most of all saved my child’s life.

Few (if any) care when a disabled adult can’t get to the doctor or pharmacy. Many even rejoice that we can’t get out to movies, skating, swimming or anything “normal.”

I am not a parasite, and you did not treat me like as such. In my opinion, that made all the difference. It took no subsidy to get that wheelchair to me.

It took good people, inspired by good leadership skills, to do something — not nothing.

By the time you read this I will already have been enabled to complete all the doctor’s visits required of me. I will have been able to get to the pharmacy to pick up all prescribed medications. I will be able to fulfill doctors’ requests to submit myself for recommended tests — which may just may result in some level of recovery.

I am not a parasite. Thank you for seeing that and helping.

Angela L. Davis

Wasilla

(written with the assistance of Rachel K. Davis, minor)