I would like to respond to Kata Alvidrez’s article “If it weren’t for the news, I would be excited” in the Jan. 12 edition of the Daily.

I am an international student in ISU, and I don’t usually care about the politics of this country, but I have to say that I am deeply troubled by the attitude and response of some Americans to the impeachment of the President.

I agreed that this impeachment began as a political scandal staged by the Republican Party, and I would not want to see this country consumed by this nonsense.

But the impeachment is not about the sex scandal anymore, it is about something more important. It is about perjury.

At least Ms. Alvidrez got one thing right: the opinion of American citizens doesn’t count anymore in this case.

When voters in America vote, they don’t just vote for the policy of the candidate, they also place their trust in the candidate.

The voters trust the candidate to faithfully execute the functions of the office with honor and good judgment. Regretfully, the President lied and betrayed this trust.

In this case, the Senate has the responsibility to impeach a president who betrayed his people.

Although the opinion of the majority of the people was mostly right, this is one of those times when this general wisdom fails and this exception is the precise reason why there is an electoral college.

Without a doubt, the Senate swore to represent the voice of their constituents, but now the Senate is not acting as a part of the legislative branch but as a part of the judicial branch, therefore, public opinion is not applicable anymore.

Imagine if we found someone guilty or innocent just by his or her popularity!

This is madness and unjust. Furthermore, if a man who lied under oath is not found guilty, the American judicial system will be heavily damaged if not destroyed.

I have to admit the judicial system is not always just, but are we willing to damage it more severely if not totally?

One may argue that he is a good president, a good leader that this country needs a leader now, and that everybody in the Senate has probably committed adultery.

But let us reason this: Is he what people think he is?

Did he demonstrate character, an essential part of a good leader?

Does he deserve people’s loyalty when he is not loyal to the people who trusted him?

Does this country need just a leader, any leader, or a good leader?

Do we expect the president only to be as good as the rest of us or should we expect better?

Finally, are the people of the United States willing to destroy the judicial system just because a popular man — a man who lied — betrayed his subjects?

Those questions will be answered, and the senators will be judged by history.

This is a great country, it will be a pity to see its downfall, and its judicial system lay in waste, because of one man’s fault.

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Pang Ko

Junior

Computer science