I Wrote Letters to my Senators

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y disregarding it. Claiming that “I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have. Because we won the state” (Bowden) blatantly goes against what a just society believes in. Like Republicans have been saying for months, it is important for Americans to trust the electoral system, and a president who tries so openly to steal an election is unacceptable. The final straw came when he egged the rioters on, stoking the flames of contempt they felt by continuing to tell them that he won the election while using only mild attempts to de-escalate them. I believe that to keep democracy intact you must work immediately to remove Donald Trump from office. I doubt this letter will reach your office before you make a decision, but the only choice I have when I see such a terrifying situation is to contact my legislators.</blockquote><blockquote id="4f30">I hope, after this ordeal is over and when we may rest easy knowing a coup is not taking place, that Tennesseans can have faith that you will protect millions of lives across the country. Many individuals online have compared the riots at the capitol to the protests over the summer, but the difference is that the January 6th riots took place because they were angry at their candidate’s defeat, and the Black Lives Matter protests took place because of murders and years of police brutality. It is your job to protect your constituents and make sure that they feel safe sleeping in their own homes, like Breonna Taylor did when she was killed. I would like for you to ensure the end of suffering of Tennesseans who feel fearful when they see law enforcement — even when they have done nothing wrong.</blockquote><blockquote id="779c">The decisions that you and your fellow

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members of Congress make will end up impacting the lives of me and my peers for a longer period of time than they will for you. We as a generation feel hopeful that our society can be just, but only we can make it that way. Right now, I have lost some faith in having a functioning government, and while there will always be corruption, I would like for Americans to be able to trust our leaders more than we can right now. We were born in what we have been told is the greatest country in the world, but it doesn’t feel that way.</blockquote><blockquote id="89fa">I can’t vote, so I must rely on legislators who have been chosen for me. Your decision on January 6th to uphold the constitution made me feel that it is not too late to make the choice that I and 81 million other Americans know is right.</blockquote><blockquote id="02aa">Sincerely,</blockquote><blockquote id="bd47">Cody Johnson</blockquote>A few months earlier I also wrote to Governor Bill Lee and received no response. I didn’t quite know what to expect in writing to my representatives, but a part of me was anticipating a simple response of “your opinion is heard, vote for me for reelection!” and I didn’t even receive that.Despite that, I still believe there is value in contacting our legislators. That’s the power in having a federal republic: the ability to voice our opinions expressed to shape public policy. I may not place a ton of confidence in our current system, but nothing is going to change unless we try to change it.If you enjoyed this article, please give it a clap and follow me to see more like it! If you have anything to add, be sure to let me know in the comments.</article></body>

Spoiler: nothing happened.

Last year as a citizen frustrated with not being able to have any say in the situation in our country, I decided to write to both of my state’s US senators and my local representative. I live in Tennessee, so that’s Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty and Representative Scott DesJarlais. The letters were mostly the same with some minor tweaks to fit each recipient. Here’s the one I wrote to Blackburn:

Dear Senator Blackburn:

I hope this letter finds you well. My name is Cody Johnson, and I am a junior at Central Magnet High School in Murfreesboro who would like to preserve the merit of the government and ensure the safety of future generations in our country. The riots on January 6th were targeted intimidation to influence your vote to overturn the election results. I appreciate your support to certify the election, and although I am surprised that you did so, you made me feel that I can count on you to make citizens feel safe in our country again.

Recently in school, we discussed how we believe laws and politics reflect a just society. It is evident that our laws are not necessarily just, but it is your duty to uphold the constitution when the president is so flagrantly disregarding it. Claiming that “I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have. Because we won the state” (Bowden) blatantly goes against what a just society believes in. Like Republicans have been saying for months, it is important for Americans to trust the electoral system, and a president who tries so openly to steal an election is unacceptable. The final straw came when he egged the rioters on, stoking the flames of contempt they felt by continuing to tell them that he won the election while using only mild attempts to de-escalate them. I believe that to keep democracy intact you must work immediately to remove Donald Trump from office. I doubt this letter will reach your office before you make a decision, but the only choice I have when I see such a terrifying situation is to contact my legislators.

I hope, after this ordeal is over and when we may rest easy knowing a coup is not taking place, that Tennesseans can have faith that you will protect millions of lives across the country. Many individuals online have compared the riots at the capitol to the protests over the summer, but the difference is that the January 6th riots took place because they were angry at their candidate’s defeat, and the Black Lives Matter protests took place because of murders and years of police brutality. It is your job to protect your constituents and make sure that they feel safe sleeping in their own homes, like Breonna Taylor did when she was killed. I would like for you to ensure the end of suffering of Tennesseans who feel fearful when they see law enforcement — even when they have done nothing wrong.

The decisions that you and your fellow members of Congress make will end up impacting the lives of me and my peers for a longer period of time than they will for you. We as a generation feel hopeful that our society can be just, but only we can make it that way. Right now, I have lost some faith in having a functioning government, and while there will always be corruption, I would like for Americans to be able to trust our leaders more than we can right now. We were born in what we have been told is the greatest country in the world, but it doesn’t feel that way.

I can’t vote, so I must rely on legislators who have been chosen for me. Your decision on January 6th to uphold the constitution made me feel that it is not too late to make the choice that I and 81 million other Americans know is right.

Sincerely,

Cody Johnson

A few months earlier I also wrote to Governor Bill Lee and received no response. I didn’t quite know what to expect in writing to my representatives, but a part of me was anticipating a simple response of “your opinion is heard, vote for me for reelection!” and I didn’t even receive that.

Despite that, I still believe there is value in contacting our legislators. That’s the power in having a federal republic: the ability to voice our opinions expressed to shape public policy. I may not place a ton of confidence in our current system, but nothing is going to change unless we try to change it.

If you enjoyed this article, please give it a clap and follow me to see more like it! If you have anything to add, be sure to let me know in the comments.