Dear Panem

District 7

Dear Panem,

Johanna Mason. Does that name ring a bell to anyone in the Capitol? Because it certainly does for the Lumberjacks of the Northwest! Some of us, in fact, remember the day she was reaped just four years ago. We remember seeing her in the arena, appearing as weak and feeble as a 5-year-old walking down the alleyway in the middle of the night, until there were about 5 tributes left, killing everyone in her sight to become the crowned victor. Everyone in District 7 thought it was quite clever. I know I did. As we all know, at the end of each Hunger Games, the victor is given a request, and Johanna's was a long break from the Games and everything to do with the Capitol.

Then why, just four years later is she reaped again? Doesn't sound like the lifelong break she requested, if you ask me. Then, came the interview:
"Well, hell yes, I'm angry. You know, I'm getting totally screwed over here. The deal was that if I win the Hunger Games, I get to live the rest of my life in peace. But now, you want to kill me again. Well, you know what? FUCK THAT! AND FUCK EVERYBODY THAT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT!"

Why was that idiot Caesar Flickerman, a guy who only uses the Hunger Games, an event that sees 23 of our youth die each year, to get recognition, so shocked? And why was everyone in the audience so shocked? If someone you're supposed to be close to you promised something, and then didn't end up keeping that promise, wouldn't you be annoyed? I know I would. I think any rational person would, especially if their life was on the line. Oh, wait! This is the Capitol! Nobody who lives there is rational. 

Anyways, the point I am trying to make is why didn't the Capitol keep their promise? What did Johanna even do to the Capitol for them to do that? Because she admitted that she has no family left and so that gives you an excuse to put her life on the line? No, I'm sorry, but that's not how it is. Johanna may not have any of her blood-related family left, but she still has my family and I who were always willing to feed her, clothe her, nurture her, and allow her to stay at our place whenever she wished. She did have people who cared for her. If she had died, she would not be the only one affected, but those around her would too. Believe me, they exist.

Maybe the reason for the Capitol breaking their promise is because they just want a show. Yeah, that sounds about right. It's all just fun and games, isn't it, Capitol?

(This conversation is meant to be read in a snobbish tone of voice because it's the Capitol, for crying out loud!)

"Hey, remember that Johanna Mason idiot from District 7?"

"Yes, what about her?"

"And remember when we promised her a life of peace after winning the Games four years ago?"

"Oh, yes. I remember that all too well."

"Well, you can throw that promise out the window because we need someone from District 7 who has not been able to recover properly to compete in our Quarter Quell!"

"Oh, absolutely! Or else, how on Earth are we supposed to have our show involving the killing of 23 of our youth that are the future of our nation, in order to entertain us uptight pricks at the Capitol?"

*Both begin to laugh snobbishly as they drink their expensive wine and nutritious beef, sent by the districts that work hard to give it to the Capitol, yet they don't get to have a single sip or bite of what they have produced*

Is that what happened? And is that the point of the Hunger Games? Because it sure seems like it.

The Quarter Quell ends and 6 tributes remain: That guy all the girls drool over from District 4, I don't remember his name and frankly I don't care; the other tribute from 3 who managed to electrocute 6 tributes a few years back; the woman from 2 with the sharp teeth; Johanna; and the "star-crossed lovers" from District 12. Luckily, out of the 6, 3 of them were rescued from the Capitol, but Johanna was not one of them. After finding this out, I thought Johanna would be safe at the Capitol. I don't know how the hell I even thought of something this stupid. It's the Capitol, for God's sake! They couldn't even keep a lifelong promise for 5 years! Did I really think that Johanna would be safe in a place full of self-obsessed idiots?

Being the curious person that I am, I had just recently asked a friend what the Capitol are really doing to Johanna. He replied with a simple answer:
"It's best you don't know, Nathan."

Little did I know that he was right, I was still dying to find out what was really going on. Though I have asked this question at least 100 times to the Capitol in this letter but...why?

(Again with the snobbish voice)

"Oh, you saved the life of an ally? Well, hey. That's great of you! So much so that we're going to shove you into a huge tub of water repeatedly, not letting you catch a single breath of air, and once we're done, we won't dry you up! No! That's something intelligent people would do! Instead, we'll give you some electric shocks. Trust me, it will not hurt a bit, especially when you're soaking wet. I guess this is what you deserve for actually valuing human life because for us, it is completely worthless!"

And if the Capitol really did regard a human life as something valuable, then why did they impose the Hunger Games where we see 23 of our youth being killed every year? Why did they kill Seneca Crane for allowing 2 tributes to be crowned victors? And lastly, WHY IN THE HELL WOULD THEY TORTURE SOMEONE FOR SAVING THE LIFE OF A PERSON THAT SHE ACTUALLY CARED ABOUT?

I know that the Capitol, or anyone for that matter can argue that Johanna herself has lost her value for human life. I'd just like to ask that if this is true, then why did she sacrifice herself for Katniss whatever her name is, someone from a much lower district? However, let's just say, for argument's sake, that Johanna's take on human life has changed for the worse. As awful as it sounds, I really can't say that I blame her. After being the Hunger Games twice, forced to kill people so that you can live, I think anyone in her position would change in the same way. It's almost as if the Capitol have forced Johanna to become a savage, just like them.

All I ask is for Johanna to be returned to her home in District 7, where she is around those who in fact love and care about her, and where she is able to live the peaceful life that she had asked for after winning the Games four years ago.

Nathan.