Note: this is also the somewhat unorthodox “personal statement” that I sent to Vanderbilt in my application for admission. Until spring break, I will be rehashing previously written but pertinent and rarely read material.

An open letter to the Congress of the United States of America
From Chase Bradstreet

Dear Congressmen and Congresswomen, Representatives and Senators,

Thank you for reading my opinion; thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to listen to a humble citizen.

Years, hopefully many from now, when our progeny have lost their last freedom, they will, as it is human nature to do, ask “who? why? how?”. Again, as it is human nature, they will not like the answers.

For most of your respective congressional careers, and especially after the not so far past events in New Orleans, you have heard countless individuals and organizations - both your constituents and the constituents of your honorable fellow representatives and senators - make demands of the federal government in general and Congress in particular.

This should hardly surprise you, but I write to you today to do, with one glaring difference, that same thing:

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Good morning, class. Today’s one question pop quiz deals with the topic of port security and the bid for a United Arab Emirates company to purchase the British company that currently operates six United States ports. The question is; what does this deal have to do with U.S. port security? If you answered, “Nothing,” then take your seat at the head of the class.

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