Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I'd like to submit this letter, I'd also like to have my e-mail printed with the article if it is printed. I have attached the Microsoft Word version as well. Call me if you have any questions or need more information 517.518.5555. Thank you.


Regards,

Chris Peters






Con·ster·na·tion: n. : amazement or dismay that hinders or throws into confusion; frustration

by Christopher P. Peters (cpeter9@lsu.edu) -

a 20 year Fenton native and Louisiana State University accounting sophomore


I can’t remember where I first heard the line, “The United States of Amnesia,” (scratches head). I’m not concerned about having amnesia though; I’m too young (20). I’ll tell ya though, I have one problem right now and I hope it’s not too personal; consternation. You know, about politics, President Bush, and the War in Iraq. I’ve been so consternated lately, and it seems it’s contagious I might add. What was I saying? – Oh yes, these United States of Amnesia we seem to live in. Growing up I was always told to listen to my elders for they have a type of wisdom beyond me, what I surmise my parents were referring to is the wisdom granted by age. Another thing they told me was that history repeats itself, and as I’ve meandered my way through twenty years, I’d have to agree; the older I have gotten, the more accomplishments and mistakes I have to learn from, and I am learning. But what has me consternated is that it doesn’t seem like the majority who actually vote— queue Baby-boomers – have learned from their lessons about politicians. I’m not saying my generation is any better; we haven’t had the chance to make the same mistake. Again, history repeats. But from where I sit, and from what I see, I’d like to warn against the major causes of today’s strain of consternation.

When a politician bases his campaign on hot-button issues, be weary, be very weary. A virtuous quest or not, hot-button issues in presidential elections usually stay in presidential elections. The reasoning behind this is our pluralist system in congress, which is really where the power to change social issues resides. When a politician claims to “fix” a hot-button issue, he or she is rallying support for their respective conservative or liberal base, especially for social issues. This in turn unnecessarily divides the country over candidates, when the real process for reform lies in the congress, or the courts (politicians call this a “wedge” issue, sounds appealing huh?). I haven’t forgotten about you Baby-boomers, have you already passed—(over) the famous line, “Read my lips: no new taxes!” Yes, you marriage protectors, you pro-lifers, you anti-flag burning-one-issue-voting-voters; Eat some presidential prunes and prepare to be consternated. Iraq is exploding, and you’re hot-button voting.

When it comes to Iraq and President Bush the two entities will forever be inseparable. What’s unfortunate is that as myself and fellow youth grow older, Iraq and America will be just as inextricable. Our foreign policy as we know it has been changed, or has it? Queue- Vietnam. Iraq and Vietnam are two completely different wars but the two have striking similarities. They are both modern wars produced by a pre-emptive agenda. And, most importantly neither were actually wars, they are conflicts. This is because congress never actually declared war in either but gave the president a congressional stamp that said he had complete authority to use the military to his discretion including the use of nuclear weapons should he so choose. So you see, it’s not about President Bush and how poor of a job he’s doing, that’s a different problem, where the tragedy is, is that we allow our congress to give President Bush more authority than one person should have, just like they say, “absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

The solution in this epidemic of consternation is to remember how to stop it, rather how to prevent it from happening. We the people understand, we understand that hindsight is 20/20 and that we’re human and sometimes we make mistakes, but let us not forget like we did last time. This strain of consternation will pass, but there are sure to be others and when it comes down to it, we need to look beyond the wedge and hot-button issues. We need to consider more carefully where our politicians stand on foreign policies, as well as domestic policies. And finally we need to hold our congress accountable for holding our president accountable. If we can all remember to do our part to make these changes I believe that soon enough the United States of Amnesia will return to the glory that is the United States of America.

-Christopher P. Peters -