Senatorial Attention

[pantryslut]

Politics again.

Dianne Feinstein sent me an email today.

"Dear Ms. Selke:

Thank you for writing me regarding a military confrontation
with Iraq. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.

In light of the President's speech it appears that diplomacy
has run its course. Saddam Hussein is now being given a final
ultimatum and the world stands at the brink of war. I hope and
pray that even at this late date a military conflict can be avoided.

While I believe the United States should work in concert
with the United Nations, and I have had disagreements with the
way in which the President has forged our Nation's policy toward
Iraq over the past six months, I stand fully behind our troops who
may be going into harm's way, and in whose future we put our
faith. Hopefully, the conflict will be short and there will be a
minimum of casualties.

I firmly believe that international alliances are imperative for
safeguarding America's national security and for success in the war
on terror, and for the future, should there be war, it is my hope that
an international consensus can still be achieved for the
reconstruction of Iraq.

I understand the seriousness of this issue and I thank you
for sharing your views with me. If you should have additional
comments or questions regarding this issue please contact my
Washington DC staff at 202-224-3841.

Best Regards.

Sincerely yours,

Dianne Feinstein"

Here's what I should have said in response:

Dear Ms. Feinstein,

The last time I wrote my Senator, I was living in Michigan, ten years ago, and we were about to go to war with Iraq.

I am having a strange feeling of deja vu, even though your reply is much different in tone than Sen. Carl Levin's (D-Mich, still in office) was. Sen. Levin, at the time, emphasized his commitment to the security of Israel for some reason. At this late date, that is about all I remember, other than the fact that he was resolutely pro-war. But, you know, oddly, his letter sounded more sincere.

I am having this strange sense of deja vu even though the circumstances of my sending the letter were very different, too. Last time, I sat on the floor of the boarding house I was living in, writing paper letters with my neighbors and the building manager. We would seal, stamp, and send in one big batch. Afterwards, we went to our rooms, listened to our radios and TVs, waiting for news.

I have been trapped in a feeling of deja vu for so long now. The details have changed -- this time I sent an email, wonder of technology, as part of the Virtual March on Washington that tied up phone and fax lines and startled congressional staffers. But here I am again, listening to the radio for signs of war. Soon, no doubt, the green-glow pictures of smart bombs at night will be back -- I'll no longer be seeking a corner of my college cafeteria in which to avoid the wall-sized images, this time I can just keep the TV off.

The circumstances may have changed, but the feeling in my gut knows its home.

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my concerns.


Lori Selke

Comments

[dryadgrl]

Nice.

I could say more, "Yeah that's how I feel, just like that." But I suspect you know.