When I look at America, I see this wonderful idea at work…the idea that a government can be ruled for the people and by the people. Put simply, it is a belief that everyday people actually have a say in the decision-making process that determines the rules and laws we must abide by and in this country. But what sets us apart from other types of government rule is if we make mistakes or need to tweak something then there are non-violent mechanisms in our system for correction. And that is what we have been doing for 246 years; even the Civil War propelled us toward a more rights for more Americans…remember, the North won. For 246 years, we have been growing, at times struggling, at times surviving, and always moving forward usually using our democratic and constitutional processes. It has by no means been a perfect journey, but it has always been a journey charted by we the people. We have never returned to the ways of the countries so many fled to come to America…lands ruled by kings and queens with no mechanism for correction by the people other than war, fleeing, or submission. We have rarely reversed our march toward more freedoms and more opportunities for every citizen to have an opportunity to realize the American dream. Until recent years we had experienced years of progress toward a more inclusive entity…the expansion of civil rights, women’s rights, voting rights, and so many more.

I know America is not perfect, but before Trump, MAGA and Project 2025, I knew exactly what to do to attempt change. And, now I see changes happening that I or more importantly we have absolutely no control over. I knew how the Supreme Court worked and trusted the justices would understand the sanctity of their oaths and grow into their robes as so many before them had done…just something about that robe. I trusted the newly appointed judges at a minimum would uphold their public declarations to respect the principle of Stare decisis…I was wrong. Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans completely obliterated the integrity and balance of the court beginning with the refusal by the Senate Republicans to consider President Barack Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland in 2016 more than ten months before the end of his presidency…and later by hypocritically filling the Ruther Bader Ginsberg vacancy four months before the end of Trump’s term. All of this setting up the current rogue court who seem hell bent on ensuring Project 2025 is fully implemented.

We are at a crossroads in our America. Almost eight years ago, a lot of Americans went to the polls and cast their vote for former President Donald J. Trump, and a substantial number seem ready and willing to do so again. Almost four years ago, voters decided Trump was not the leader for our country and again, many have cast their lot with our current President Joe Biden again. Although some Democratic voices are hesitant about their choice, I am sure they will realize a few cannot circumvent the results of a free and fair election because of their fears and will get about the task of winning this race.

When it is all said and done, we will have once again decided the course for our America. I don’t know what America will be, I just know that we the people will decide. And I know what I will be fighting for…our democracy, our freedoms.