Indian-American woman impressed by Obama`s surprise letter

Yoshita Singh

Chicago, Jul 28 (PTI) Days after receiving a "meaningful"
response from President Barack Obama to her thoughts on the
controversial issue of health care reform, a Chicago-based
Indian-American woman has said she hopes the political leaders
in India too adopt a "humane approach" to problems faced by
'aam aadmi'.

Sunita Chopra had written a letter to President Obama a
month ago about how she had to struggle with huge medical
bills during the treatment of her mother who is suffering from
severe osteoporosis. She got Obama's reply in a White House
envelope recently.

After seeing Obama scrambling hard to push for health
care reform, Chopra thought of sharing her story with him and
give him an advice on the issue.
"I had never expected to get a response to my letter. I
wish political leaders in India too adopt this humane approach
and the common man in India is heard the same way," Chopra
told PTI.

She said if leaders in India respond to problems of the
masses in a similar manner, they would win confidence of the
people and the common man would also be encouraged to support
them and work with them.

In the letter, Obama cited the problems faced by his own
mother as she battled cancer.

"I share the sense of urgency that Americans like you
have voiced. I watched as my ailing mother struggled with
stacks of insurance forms in the last moments of her life.
This is not who we are as a nation: together, we will fix the
health care system," Obama said in the letter.

"Since I took office, we have done more to advance the
cause of health care reform than we have in the previous
decade...The rising cost of health care is the most pressing
financial challenge for families and for our nation, and
controlling this cost is essential to bringing down the
federal deficits we inherited," he added.

Chopra said the fact that she got a "meaningful" response
from the President in two weeks after writing to him shows how
"sensitive he is to people's issues and his promptness
indicates that he means business".

Obama also states in the letter that while tough choices
need to be made, "I will bring businesses and workers, health
care providers and patients, and Democrats and Republicans
together to create a system that delivers better care and puts
the nation on a much sounder long-term fiscal path."

Excited to see the White House envelope in her mail box,
Chopra said she intended to frame the "one-page, 7-paragraph
letter ... and signed by Obama" and treasure it for life.

The White House receives over 10,000 letters, e-mails and
faxes every day, out of which 10 are selected by Director of
the White House Office of Correspondence Mike Kelleher and
delivered to Obama, who sometimes answers them by hand. PTI