I had thought I heard it all until yesterday, when I read Scott Johnson’s letter to the editor (Apr. 30) about his idea of so-called “Involuntary Servitude.” The reason I say this is basically because I am STRONGLY OFFENDED by Scott Johnson’s letter and I believe a majority of ISU students would agree with me. His letter holds absolutely no merit and only confirms the paranoid, deranged and extremist views Mr. Johnson and groups like the ISU Objectivists hold. To begin with, I am going to defend President Clinton’s decision to hold a National Summit on Volunteerism.

This summit was designed to PROMOTE and ENCOURAGE volunteerism in America. It was NOT a “Service Summit” that was to “focus” on “young people.” So I think before people like Mr. Johnson go off at the mouth, they should get their facts straight. And the facts are this summit was for all of America!!! Everyone from corporate America and minorities down to children. In fact it was announced at the summit that Lens Crafters had pledged to provide corrective eyewear to 1 MILLION kids and the Ka-Boom Company volunteered to build a THOUSAND safe playgrounds for kids across the country.

I would like Mr. Johnson and the rest of the ISU Objectivists to look me in the face and tell me this isn’t beneficial. Instead I would probably hear something like, “What have you done?”

Well let me tell you I HAVE volunteered at Mary Greeley, at Riverside, at my church, at ISU, in special ed classrooms, and countless other places and I AM A BETTER PERSON BECAUSE OF IT. Mr. Johnson, you don’t know the feeling when a patient with cancer looks up at you and tells you they ate for the first time in three days, or that they ate all the food on their tray — do you? You don’t know what it feels like to help a child read or to have a person in the hospital forget about their terminal disease and pain because you took time to talk to them — do you? NO YOU DON’T!

And people like you who only care about themselves, their agendas, and expressing your selfish views shouldn’t be allowed to either! I also disagree with the fact that in order to volunteer you must stop caring about your “own life and own happiness.” I have happiness and I have my own life and that is why I volunteer! You see, Mr. Johnson, my “moral code” says that I should give to the less fortunate, defend the defenseless, and give hope to the hopeless. But I am sure Mr. Johnson and the ISU Objectivists have a moral code too, most likely the word “ME!” Why else would they be against so many things that HELP people like volunteering and Social Security to name a couple.

No, Mr. Johnson, I will NOT compromise my “moral code” for someone as obnoxious as you. If you want a “challenge,” you have one. Just remember all my accomplishments are things you are unwilling to try and your hell is my heaven. So in the name of love, peace, harmony and hope, I suggest you and people like you do something with your lives and DON’T pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining!

Patrick Kuehn

Freshman

Agricultural Education