While the potential of going to war looms in Iraq, American citizens are facing not only a battle abroad, but a battle right here at home. This battle at home does not involve guns, or weapons, but involves speech, ideology and one US Congressman's actions. On Jan. 21, thousands of people descended to the streets to express publicly how they felt about the potential war with Iraq. That same day, while others took to their city streets, 9,000 people lobbied over 400 elected officials to express their viewpoints to their respected Congressional member.

Last year, every Congressional member on Long Island voted to authorize President Bush to seek military force against Iraq, if necessary. While standing with the president, all members of the Long Island Congressional delegation, except for one, opened their doors for anti-war protestors and their constituents to come and discuss their feelings about the potential of going to war. While Democrats Gary Ackerman, Carolyn McCarthy, Steve Israel and Tim Bishop were taking the time to listen to anti-war protestors and their constituents, Republican Congressman Peter King just slammed his door and threatened to call police on them if they did not go away. King's reason for shutting out protestors and his constituents was because he did not want to be a part of a national effort to undermine the president. How talking to your constituents or people who disagree with you about a major issue like war would undermine the president is beyond me. It seems Congressman King never thought twice about rebuffing the same people who elected him to Congress in the first place.

Congressman King's reaction to his constituents and the anti-war protestors was extremely unprofessional, downright disgraceful and, in my mind, questions his effectiveness to best serve his district as a United States congressman. If this is how he treats the very people who pay for his office and his salary, then maybe we need to rethink the way in which we choose our leaders.

Adam J. Nitkin

Plainview Resident