Tire of symbolic, useless legislation

First the Republicans spout off about "Gen. Betray Us" and the Democrats declare it ridiculous. Then the Democrats preach about Rush Limbaugh's insulting comment, and the Republicans roll their eyes.

If these little speeches were made at cocktail parties, it would make for great discussions. However, these politicians stand in front of the world, arguing about whether to pass symbolic legislation.

Now they've gone and passed another symbolic resolution, this time, labeling a 90-year-old mass killing as genocide. Does Congress really need to worry about labeling a nearly century-old atrocity, while an actual genocide is occurring now in Darfur and they are not acting?

I'm going to write a letter to my legislators to see if we can get the queen of England to take responsibility for killings during the Crusades.

We shouldn't be surprised. In the past couple of years, our legislators have wasted our money by discussing symbolic resolutions on Mongolian statehood, the King of Thailand's 60th anniversary and the 30th anniversary of the U.S. success at the 1976 Paris wine tasting.

If this resolution was passed for the sole purpose of making the war more difficult for "W," there must be a better way. Perhaps the House and Senate could somehow come together and do some actual legislating?

"W" has already turned so many countries against us in this world, we don't need the Congress to start heading down that path, too.

Colin Barr Cary