14405 Artery Ln#11 - Dale City, VA 22193 - U.S.
May 30, 2003
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Fax 202-456-2461
Dear President Bush:
It's been a long time since my latest letter of March 10, 2003, in writing
to request that you make an "official" nationwide apology to all of the past
'eugenics' victims throughout the United States. As of this day there
still has been no response from the White House although you have been in
receipt of my letters.
Virginia as you may know, became the first state to offer an official state
apology on May 2, 2002, followed by Oregon on December 2, 2002, North Carolina
on December 13, 2002, South Carolina on January 09, 2003, and California
on March 11, 2003, with Minnesota soon to follow. California led all other
states in forced sterilization's with Virginia following 2nd. It's
time for the U.S. to apologize and recognize all former eugenics victims
to bring a sense of closure to this issue.
We are not asking for any form of remuneration or financial reward but simply
an acknowledgment of the horrible forced sterilizations upon people in 33
states from circa 1900-1985. It's time to put this entire issue to rest and
apologize to those people still left living that had to endure the foolhardy
practice of eugenics from the past.
All of the eugenics apologies evolved from the focused efforts of two people
who initiated this movement from Virginia. Phil Theisen from Lynchburg, Virginia
and myself Keith Kessler from Dale City, Virginia. We were the force resulting
in state legislation being passed to finally remember past eugenics victims.
The apologies were also the cumulative result of 3 decades of investigative
press coverage and collegiate scholastic analysis.
These people who were once deemed unfit for society are made up of past war
hero's to current day teachers and nurses. It's only fair that you as President
declare a "National Day of Acknowledgment" and apologize for the mistakes
made by former leaders.
We are willing to stipulate that the federal government had full knowledge
of eugenics Mr. President, should you be willing to take this bold initiative
to make a national eugenics apology. This would be cause enough for
us to withdraw our initial request for a Congressional Investigation.
Eugenics is scheduled to become the focus of an exhibit in the United States
Holocaust Museum in 2004. As President of the United States it would be your
honor to acknowledge, in this timely manor, all of those people from every
walk of life who went through the horrible legacy of eugenics.
This would go hand in hand regarding your New Freedom Initiative and we would
hope that you continue with those promises and help us with our request.
Thank You.
Respectfully,
Keith Kessler - Founder of DAC (disabled Action committee)
14405 Artery Ln#11
Dale City, VA 22193
703-878-1737
Email: DAC4VA@aol.com
Website: http://members.aol.com/DAC4VA/main.htm
**Some people grin and bear it. Others smile and change it.**
NOTE: Enclosed is the House Resolution offering a "regret" in 2001, followed
by Governor Warner's official state "apology" for eugenics on May 2, 2002.
HJ607 - Virginia General Assembly - 2001 Session
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?011+ful+HJ607ER
Apology of Governor Mark R. Warner on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia
on the 75th Anniversary of the US Supreme Court Decision in Buck v. Bell
Decision
http://www.governor.state.va.us/Press_Policy/Releases/May2002/May0202.htm
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14405 Artery Ln#11 - Dale City, VA 22193 - U.S.