Dear Amartano,What’s up man? Not much is going on here. I’ll be doing a lot of reading in the next few days. All my midterms are next week and I think I am behind in a couple of my classes. On the whole, though, everything’s pretty cool. I am sorry you didn’t like what I had to say last week. I know my views on abortion are not going to make me the most loved man on campus, but I think you know my heart. I don’t desire to be the most poplar man in town, I just want to be known as a man who is willing to speak the truth without shame. I want to be known as the man who won’t let his friends settle for less than what is best.Hey, I just wanted to ask you about something you wrote. You said, “I was so happy to find out that she wasn’t pregnant, that I didn’t mind it when a few of my friends convinced me to go out drinking with them. I have to admit, I got pretty sloshed; but it was nice just to let loose a little bit, and not worry about anything or anyone for a night.” I don’t know, it just seems kind of ironic in my mind. Isn’t that how this whole mess with your girlfriend started? If I remember right, you said you and her got drunk one night with a bunch of friends on spring break and had sex; and then all this mad talk of pregnancy came up. Now you are telling me that, after all that, you didn’t think anything of going out and getting blitzed again? I guess I just don’t see the logic.Amartano, here’s my question about that statement you made. What’s the point of drinking, my friend?I know it seems like an odd question, but I guarantee you, Amartano, the answer will seem even more ridiculous.As I walk through this life, I have realized a couple of things about getting drunk. First, I notice people use it so maybe just for a little while they can escape the things of life that seem to stress them out. How many people do you know that can’t seem to get through a hard time with out being blitzed. More than we would like to admit. It’s kind of sad, isn’t it? Of course, I know you’ll never end out that way, but how do you think those people started out?Secondly, I notice that, more times than not, being drunk is a great way to gain acceptance. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true. Do you remember the first time you got drunk? I’m sure you do, and I’m willing to bet money it wasn’t probably something you desired to do long before you actually did it. If you remember, there was that almost guilty uncertainty that accompanied your first sip. Yet with the coaxing of your buddies you took another sip, and with every sip after that the uncertainty seemed to fade. After a while, that was what the guys did and so that’s what you did. Then later on, you learned a lot of girls didn’t mind getting a little tanked too, and it made nights a whole lot more entertaining. It’s crazy to think about how many people need the feeling of drunkenness to fit in.Now at this point, you are probably thinking, “Jason, you sound like a self-righteous punk who has never done anything questionable in his life!” Amartano, I want you to know, I am speaking from experience. Throughout my late high school and my early college years, I might have been one of the biggest lushes you would have ever met. During that time of my life, I found my acceptance and security when I was drunk. During that time of my life, I escaped the things I didn’t want to face when I was drunk.Amartano, that life bit, it only led to more pain and emptiness. I don’t want you to be like I was, I want better for you. I hope you see this is my heart for you. Think about it. Your Friend.
Jason George is a senior journalism major from Columbus. Please e-mail him at [email protected] if you wish to respond.