Sometimes you don’t know who you are and what you stand for until you are forced to fight for it. Right now we are in a fight for our democracy. Someone told me today that they are afraid for our country and they pray for it every night. Based on conversations and messages I’ve received; many people feel the same way.

Personally, I don’t think our nervous systems were built for 24hour cable news networks. Have you ever noticed that while sitting in waiting rooms for medical appointments they often have a cable news show on while you wait and then you go into your appointment and have your vitals and blood pressure taken? Unless I’m checking for severe weather in the morning, I have stopped watching morning news because I don’t like starting my day with negativity. I prefer to begin with music; preferably 70’s music, the best decade of music in my humble opinion. I can belt out the lyrics to “Ebony Eyes” by Bob Welch, but can’t remember what I ate for lunch. I’ve got one of those water proof contraptions that you stick to your shower wall to place your phone in and I play music on Pandora, Spotify or I listen to a TikTok Live of one of my favorite account users. Many of them are small businesses, such as bakeries, cookie makers, or t-shirt designers. My fear is one day I will accidently hit the camera button and begin my first ever TikTok Live as I’m placing my phone into the apparatus. Talk about starting your day with negativity! I can just imagine the confusion as my TikTok goes Live and my few followers turn their phones to the landscape and then back to vertical position, muttering, “Pam’s going Live?! Is she in a rainstorm? What in the heck is that?! Is she filming in a car wash?” as the Live quickly ends. I often joke with my friends as summer approaches that not only am I not swimsuit ready, I’m not even bathtub ready. Some may remember last summer I began eating healthier and cut my sugar intake drastically. I’ve lost some weight, but I’m nowhere near a “Live from the Shower” debut.

Where negativity concerning the political landscape is concerned, there is a difference between giving up and knowing when you have had enough. There’s a section of Americans that have been lying dormant allowing those with loud voices to crow, pound their chests and claim the narrative. I believe many remain silent and allow their votes to do their speaking for them and I hope that’s true this coming November. And I also believe that some have taken the advice of Mark Twain and haven’t engaged with nonsensical extremists believing they will drag them down to their level and beat them with experience. But lately, I have noticed a shift. As people get more alarmed by the speech and behaviors of our lawmakers and candidates, they find themselves having to step outside their reserve to speak out against those who may do more harm than good to our republic. They’ve found they have had enough.

It’s true that we never truly know the character of a person until they possess a bit of power.

It’s not too much for the American people to expect statesmanship in place of the current stage-players we have now trying to orchestrate our government. There are some simple truths that we must uphold. Here are two realities that are important as we prepare for the 2024 election.

1. You can’t be pro-American and anti- democracy. You can’t support candidates who uphold suppressing Freedom of Information along with First Amendment rights for all Americans and claim to be a supporter of democracy.

2. It’s way past time that people look beyond words and and inspect the deeds. We have to stop believing everything a political actor says. An impassioned speech touching upon our fears and concerns does not necessarily equate the truth of their intentions or actions. Clutching a Bible to the chest and waving Old Glory does not mean a candidate has our best interests at heart. We have to do better at fine-tuning our guff detectors. We have to be critical voters.

I believe it’s never too early to model or teach young people to recognize good character. Character is the essence of who a person is and it is revealed in every situation because it is something that can’t be controlled. Being able to recognize it or the lack of it, serves people all their lives. Situations arise on a daily basis and if we pay attention, character is revealed by the choices people make. Everyone has patterns of behavior and when difficult situations arise, then these patterns become default actions. It’s important for all of us to be able to recognize honor and integrity. It’s essential when electing our city and county officials, state legislators and our federal government offices. The trouble lies in that sometimes people can be charmed by a person possessing wit, good humor or who sparks emotion, but let something go awry, or have a series of bad incidents occur and observe the default behavior and the mask comes off.

Have you ever watched a Svengali work their magic with people when you know the reality of their true character? This reminds me of an Andy Griffith Show episode with a character named Gentleman Dan. Dan was no gentleman. He landed in the Mayberry jail and despite knowing he was a criminal; Barney was enamored by him. Dan beguiled Aunt Bea and Opie as well. He was a charmer; whose catchphrase was “On my word as a gentleman.” He hoodwinked everyone, but Andy. Sheriff Taylor ends up saving the day and thwarts Dan’s escape.

Someone asked me the other day why so many people can’t see the truth about a certain candidate for president. I honestly don’t know why they can’t. If someone in your community was running for a school board position and they had a single indictment, I dare say they would more than likely not be elected. No, I just don’t understand it, no more than I can fathom how people can vote against their own well being.

Well, folks, this election is not a 30-minute sitcom with a guaranteed happy ending. It could have real and possibly, dire consequences. There will be no Sheriff Taylor to save us. This isn’t one of those situations where we have the luxury of remaining silent and letting it play out. We have to help save our democracy ourselves. So whatever you can do in your own community, do it. To quote Theodore Roosevelt, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” Be an engaged citizen, volunteer or support a candidate, write letters to the editor in your local newspaper, collect signatures or sign petitions for good causes, contact your elected officials and let them know your concerns and most importantly, VOTE.

It’s time we remember who we are and what we stand for. We are citizens of the United States of America. We stand for freedom and democracy. Let’s vote like it.

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