Letters to Bette: Marty’s Memorial Day Missive
As retired IRS criminal investigator Martin Sheil recovers from an illness, he pays tribute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice while gravely acknowledging the growing tyranny in the US
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Author’s note: Bette community member Martin Sheil — a retired IRS criminal investigator who has led many of our Happy Hour events — was recently released from the hospital where he’s been recovering from a health incident. I’ve spent the past two weeks praying for a full recovery in churches from Paris to Galway. He welcomes all your prayers, and upon his return home, he dashed off this letter to Bette.—hsc
Photo courtesy Cathy Sheil
Letters to Bette: Marty’s Memorial Day Missive
by Martin Sheil
H,
First - thank you for all of your kind support.
To paraphrase Seamus Heaney, it feels good to throw off the accumulated dust of the various hospitals that were my residence this past month.
Getting home to an explosion of green growth following spring showers is reassuring and calming in so many ways, but also alarming — time is the recognition of the tendrils of tyranny spawned by the Trump administration via their attack on the judiciary of the USA, best illustrated by their defiance of a judicial order issued by SCOTUS to facilitate the return of Garcia Abrego to the US from El Salvador, where he was wrongfully deported without due process as the Trump administration wrongfully implemented the Alien Enemies Act. Another tendril of tyranny: Trump directing that Harvard University’s tax exempt status be revoked in direct contravention of a law passed years ago constraining executives from directing the IRS from either starting or stopping audits.
Heidi, my physical health improves daily, but I fear for my mental health as I recognize the beginnings of tyranny and fear its uncontrolled growth.
Happy Memorial Day and share with me my eternal gratitude for all those who made the ultimate sacrifice that all of us can continue to share all the rights provided, including Due Process!
Thanks again Heidi,
Marty
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Begin each day with a grateful heart.
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Wishing Marty all the best as he heals.
Rock on Marty!