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The letter below was
written by sixteen-year-old Christopher Vincent. It appeared in the
Arkansas Democrat Gazette, and was picked up and read by Chuck Colson on
his national radio show, "Break Point." Colson called the letter
"brilliant." I agree with Chuck Colson-the letter below is well worth
reading to your friends, sending to your local Editor, or sharing with
any small groups you belong to. |
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Arkansas Democratic
Gazette -Clinton, AR
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To the Editor: Character Matter
I am 16 years old. Though
I am not old enough to vote, I am writing this on behalf of my
generation. The recent speech by the President(Clinton) and the reaction
of our nation to it gives me reason to write this letter in hope that
those who read it will be challenged to look closely at the condition of
our nation. In the President's speech he admitted to having a
relationship with Monica Lewinsky that was "improper" and "wrong." Then
he said that it was time to move on. Many people have said that the
President's private affairs are his own business and people should not
pry. Others have said that the President's private affairs do not affect
the job he does. The President himself touched lightly upon the supposed
injustice of prying into his personal life in his speech. Hugo Grotius
once said that a man cannot govern a nation if he cannot govern a city,
he cannot govern a city if he cannot govern a family, he cannot govern a
family unless he can govern himself, and he cannot govern himself unless
his passions are subject to reason. The President is accountable to the
people. We must know whether he can control himself or not. If the
President cannot control himself, he certainly is not capable of
governing a nation. Yet we sit in our selfishness and refuse to look at
the truth because it does not feel good. We look at the nation and see a
booming economy. We look around and see prosperity and say, "Why should
we mess this up?" And yes, Mr. Clinton has helped with all these things.
But there are better things than financial security, and there are worse
things than poverty. We give the control to a man who can make us feel
good but cannot control himself. I would like to call your attention to
a recent international affair where Pakistan and India were developing
nuclear weapons.
The President offered a
deal to Pakistan saying that if they would stop developing nuclear
weapons the United States would protect them in the case of an attack.
The Pakistani minister of foreign affairs said that he did not believe
that the President (Clinton) would follow through on his promise. This
was because he saw the character of our President and realized he could
not be trusted. This endangered the lives of the citizens of Pakistan
and India, more than 900 million people. Although war has not broken
out, we must heed the warning: the character of the President effects
the entire world. The American people have chosen to become selfish, and
my generation-your children-are growing up seeing the highest authority
in America, a man who cannot control himself. Why should I put others
first when the President himself will not even
put his duty to his wife
or his nation before his sexual desires? I'm asking you, the generation
that holds the voting power, to think of your children and the future of
the world. If we cannot trust our President to fulfill his marriage
vows, can we trust him to do what he has promised us? And if we cannot
trust the man our parents elect, can we trust our parents? You owe it to
the
world, you owe it to God,
and you owe it to your children to consider this. |
