Want to Shame the Bush White House? Give Away Your Tax Rebate

I'm giving my tax rebate away (assuming we ever get one). I'm not doing this because I want your admiration. I want to make a statement about the sacrifice that has never been asked of me during a time of war. I've been reminded this week of President Kennedy's call to service, and I remember vividly my mother's tales of sacrifice during World War Two. I want to do something for my war. Remember the war? ("OMG, is that still going on? Yeah, it's been, like, forEVER! Can you believe it? Yes, skinny latte. Thanks.") Maybe you'll be inspired to sacrifice too.

I want to tell you about the Iraq war vet I know, who recently showed me that a true patriot can come as much from small-town Japan as middle-America. She is a 5 foot 3 inch mommy I met on a sweltering playground 3 years ago, who sings broken nursery rhymes to my delighted toddler in a thick Japanese accent. "Low Low Low your boat, gently down the stweam! If you see a cwocodile, dont forget to squeam!"

This is not to compare Amiko with all those coming home from Iraq with broken bodies and spirits. But Amiko has sacrificed plenty in this war. I met her as a transplant from Manhattan to a lifeless rural town. In a way, we were both foreigners; we didn't have the right accents for the place.

But my accent problem paled next to Amiko's (not her real name). She always had a smile, made constant attempts to speak to me, even though it was clearly a struggle. On this summer day, I realized she was about 8 months pregnant, chasing a 2 year old around, in 90 degree plus heat.

Once my son began to fuss, she invited me to her home. It was a less-than-cheerful apartment, next to a bowling alley. She had done everything possible to mask the decrepitude. I hadn't heard about a husband but I saw a fridge magnet with a man on it. "Oh, that my husband. He in Fallujah." She started to explain what Fallujah was, and I stopped her. I said I knew what Fallujah was.
A month later, Amiko gave birth more or less alone, in a hospital where no one speaks her language, with a husband fighting in a war zone and a toddler who hadn't seen his dad in a year. That boy now has a significant speech delay but doesn't qualify for services. Amiko can't afford private help.

Still, she has been luckier than many; her husband came home whole. But in some ways her life got harder. There was another, bigger mouth to feed, and many benefits of full-time service were gone. So Amiko took on an early morning job, before rushing home for a full day of childcare. Money is tight, very tight, and soon weekend overnights were added. Her husband reenlisted, and for a one brief moment Amiko showed me fear. "I can't have him back there. I can't do that," she said.

What came next stunned me. I can't describe the details because it could mean recrimination for Amiko. Even with her husband temporarily out of work, she risked her entire family's livelihood, the mortgage on her new low-income housing unit, to stand up for something that just wasn't right. Trust me, it wan't right, or "light" as Amiko would say. It was appalling.

I would like to think I would have done the same thing, put all of my family's money on the line, to do something that brave.

But then again I was born American. I haven't sacrificed a single thing for that status, or for this war. Amiko has become an American, earned it, and taught me a lot of about integrity and true grit along the way. Not to mention sushi.

So I'm giving that tax rebate to Amiko. The only problem will be getting her to take it. I'll have to do it anonymously. She's got that real American honor and all.

Comments

[doneflyin]

I suggest that we all throw our money into a pot and hire a group of independent lawyers to file a class action suit on behalf of the US taxpayers against Bush, Cheney, Rove,Condi, Rumsfeld, the whole shitty bunch for high crimes and misdemeanors,and treasonous violation of their oaths of office.

I mean somebody should hold these criminals to account. God knows our cowardly, bribe taking Congress won't.

[nomoredead]

With the nightmare and suffering of the past few weeks, I will be sending mine to the Palestinians.

[TakeSake]

I'm going to put it into the kid's education account. They're going to be stuck paying off the debt anyway. Might as well get them some interest in the process.

[robinhood1]

Use your rebate to stock up on cheap Chinese shoes and other clothes. With all the inflation China is currently experiencing, the price of Chinese made goods may be up 5 or 10% by next year. I have 4 pairs of unused Rockports in my clothes closet. Even if the great depression hits, I'll have shoes to wear.

[grammology]

This was a lovely post. My grandson is a marine, and is heading back for his second tour. Our family is devastated and scared to death. We pray for his safety every day and he hasn't even left yet. I am so despondent with our government. We have no choice except to cowl down to a bully who is our president. We are ruled by a house of representatives who are career politicians, and enjoy the benefits of a disgusting cadre of lobbyists. I don't qualify for a refund I make too much money however, if I did, I would also give mine away.

Nice story hope you'll check out my blog..

Dorothy from grammology
remember to call your gram
http://grammology.com

[bandit42]

I am giving mine to the Salvation Army at least I know some hungry people will be fed. This rebate is just one more stupid idea from our "leaders" I know many people will be all happy that they are getting free money, except they do not understand that there is no free money. We will all pay in the end.

[olda]

I am going to endorse that check right back to the US treasury and send it back for taxes.

[phunkeey]

So Americans are criticized all the time for NOT saving enough--having even a negative savings rate. Now we're going to be criticized FOR saving. Huh? We're supposed to act unselfishly (patriotically?) by spending our rebate when really it'd be best for me personally if I save my rebate and everyone else spends theirs. Isn't capitalism and our economy supposed to work best when everyone acts rationally in their own best interest? Something is fishy here.

[RaceCondition]

Since it's come out that this "tax rebate" is coming from the food stamp benefits, I've been thinking of donating it to local shelters and food banks, because lord knows I don't need it as much as they do.

[seamusnh]

Why "the Bush White House"? Didn't Congress overwhelmingly vote for this?

[pennyfortheguy]

Quite a sad, pandering insult isn't it?

[dtboston]

I presume the implication is that in lieu of a "tax rebate", Bush should be doling out the same money, in larger amounts to those who are serving or served in the armed forces and/or their families. Either way the effectiveness in stimulating the economy may be questionable, but at least those given the opportunity to attempt said stimulation would be those who have sacraficed. Interesting notion. Too bad it's an election year, when the sheer number of people getting a check in the mail is of primo importance in Washington.

[Nic]

Amuseinc>>"Buying Chinese imported crap is not going to help with this recession."

You're right. So why aren't more people getting fired up over the AMERICAN companies that are sending work to China...Mattel comes to mind, tainted dog food,tainted meds...the list goes on.
Yet, we China bash.My feelin is BOYCOTT those AMERICAN companies that got us into this mess.

[Cathexis]

Seriously, I suggest saving it -- in preparation for the increasing recession effects and possibilities of job loss due to the GOP's inabality to think of Economics beyond pseudo-Tac-Cuts.

[Cathexis]

"Shame" the Bush Whitehouse?!?

BWAH HA HA HA HA HA!!!

Wait ... were you serious?

Looking over their actions these past 7 years, I'd hazard that your suggestion is like trying to frighten a dead slug -- the object is incapable of exhibiting the emotion you seek to elicit.