It is an extraordinary person who will offer up their own life in order for future generations to prosper and live in the land of the free as is the way of our military veterans. I’m humbled everyday by the bravery and the courage of our veterans and their families. They deserve all our respect, our support and our admiration. The incredible scope of their sacrifice is unfathomable. It pains me to see the vitriol, the falsehoods, and outrageous behaviors performed in the name of First Amendment freedoms. But that’s exactly what our veterans fought so hard to preserve, our freedoms and our rights.

James Madison fully understood that respecting differing views and maintaining a democracy would not be for the weak or faint of heart. In the Federalist Papers, he wrote in Federalist No. 10, “It could never be more truly said than of the first remedy, that it was worse than the disease. Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction, than it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire its destructive agency.”

There’s long been an argument about whether the U.S. is a republic or democratic government. Some political scholars believe that it’s both. Many conservatives believe it’s a republic government. In both forms of government, the people hold the ultimate power and act either collectively or by representation. In a republic, the people hold power, but elect representatives to exercise that power. In a democracy, people govern themselves through recurring free elections.

It appears there is a faction of people who would like to see the concept of democracy to end. To paraphrase a familiar expression, they best be careful of what they wish for as they could just get it. On April 20, 2024, delegates to the Washington GOP state convention began to write a party platform. It included restrictions on voting, specifically an end of all mail-in voting and banning the use of machines to count votes. Voting restrictions generally mean that a group is afraid of those who will vote and for what or who they will vote. In the state of Washington they proposed to repeal the 17th Amendment; the process of electing United States Senators by the popular vote. The reason stated was that it fails to represent the interests of the individual states. A GOP delegate, Shannon Beddo declared, “We are devolving into a democracy because now congressmen and senators are elected by the same pool, a direct democracy, and with the national popular vote coming, we’re gonna be electing our president by a direct democracy, too. Bad idea.”

It seems to reason that the legislative party holding a majority in the state would more than likely vote to appoint senators of their party. The wishes and interests of the people would be null and void. The people would have no voice or say. A party platform is a statement of principles. I don’t think this mindset is something citizens can take lightly.

The Washington State GOP also considered another resolution calling to stop using the word democracy altogether, saying, “Our nation is intended to be a republic, not a democracy” and that the Republican Party should, “oppose legislation, which makes our nation more democratic in nature.” The motions carried.

What the Washington State GOP has considered is not new. At the 2022 Indiana Republican State Convention, delegates voted to remove the word democracy from the party’s platform altogether, replacing it with republic. It was stated, “Every time the word ‘democracy’ is used favorably it serves to promote the principles of the Democratic Party, the principles of which we ardently oppose.” Interested readers can view the Washington GOP platform adoption online at https:// tvw.org/video/washington- state-republican- party-2024041158/ Of all Americans, our servicemen, women and veterans know better than most that every day is a debt paid by blood, human lives and suffering. Every U.S. citizen should be thankful that somewhere at any given moment our military is protecting our freedom.

So how does a community and a country repay a debt so precious? It comes together in the knowledge that just as air is vital to fire, liberty and independence demand that no matter our differences, citizens should fight to maintain the very things our fallen fought to protect; democracy and freedom. To change the Constitution or to implement government overreach in order to regulate, manipulate or control citizens is wrong and a slap in the face to all military men, women and veterans.

Furthermore, we must ensure that younger generations learn about the sacrifice of all veterans, particularly those who gave their lives, and those of our military servicemen and women. The only worthy recompense is to make sure these heroes are never forgotten.

I am proud to publish the names of the fallen veterans engraved on our Veteran Monument at the Western Clay County Courthouse in order that their sacrifices be commemorated in our community. As long as we speak their names, their memory lives on.

World War I – 19141916: Ellis R. Beard, Getie Brown, Frank T. Coffeen, Homer Crumb, Guy B. Crutchfield, James A. Dortch, Bishop Gage, Joseph H. George, Ira L. Gibbs, Everett F. Harrell, Landon W. Hill, Arthur Kee, Elvis O. Pollard, William D. Sinks, Robinson C. Walker. World War II – 1939 – 1945: Reginald K. Alexander, James D. Arnold, Samuel T. Barger, Jr., Lester E. Bass, Willard T. Bodkin, Richard W. Braman, Earl B. Brandon, Ray T. Brandon, James T. Branson, Harley B. Bricker, Hamilton B. Carrall, William C. Causey, James H. Clark, W. Lucien Cockrum, George B. Conley, Eugene E. Cottle, Woodson B. Crawford, George O. Culbertson, Emmett D. Dempsey, Span Duncan, Lee F. Evans, Clifford C. Fowler, William E. Galemore, Elvis R. Gates, Donald E. Glasgow, Elbert L. Glasgow, Lowell A. Goforth, Loyd E. Gossett, William H. Green, John R. Gregory, Calton C. Halcomb, Floyd B. Haley, John R. Harber, Glen W. Harmon, Avery L. Harpole, Edward E. Harris, Kenneth L. Harris, Davison Hayes, John S. Hayes, Vilas L. Hendrick, Joseph G. Herren, Vernon High, Elbert Hiller, James L. Holland, Gerald R. Helms, Delbert D. Howell, George G. Hughes, Everett T. Jackson, James E. Kisner, Millard Jones, Howard P. Lawson, Loyd W. Leonard, Thomas Y. Leonard, Lest F. McGhee, James W. McNamara, Frankie H. McNeely, Loyd C. Maddox, Lavoice L. Mansker, Erwin W. Martin, Charlie H. Moore, Gaylon M. Orr, Oscar C. Palmer, Ralph W. Pankhurst, Doyle M. Parrish, Roger D. Parrish, Albert R. Poyner, Durward E. Presson, Leo B. Presson, William E. Pulliam, Arnold C. Ramer, John L. Raney, Norman N. Rapert, J.D. Redman, James E. Reynolds, Audra L. Rieves, Harold D. Robertson, Osie J. Smith, Marshall M. Sneed, Doyne D. Travillian, Frank H. Turner, Lester R. Turner, Charles E. Ward, Dois W. Ward, Herbert E. Ward, John D. Wilson, Virgil W. York. Korea – 1950 – 1953: Joe J. Bookout, Julius E. McKinney, John T. Melton, Delbert W. Oakley, Arlanza Oliver, Henry D. Weese, Charles R. Tyler, Claudine E. Smith, George Ray Wells.

Vietnam – 1961 – 1975: Barry J. Bridges, Norman G. Cates, Carlos W. Conrad, Donnie D. Ezell, Herschell W. Green, Edwin C. Harmon, Lonnie E. Parker, Winston T. Robinson.

Pam Lowe is the editor of the Clay County Courier. Readers may contact Pam at plowe@cherryroad.com