Fear Not, and Do The Right Thing

From a political perspective, these are interesting and challenging times to be alive, whether we are talking about the international situation or the one right here in Cape May County. In reality, there is no difference; man’s nature is the same, regardless of the size of the problem.
The political conflict, which we see playing out here at the county level, was predictable, because of one-party rule. In one-party rule, there does not exist a forum for the exchange of all points of view. As a result, tensions build. And if within that one party, as some contend, other people with potentially alternative points of view are excluded, the situation becomes the more volatile.
Our way of resolving conflicts like these form the bedrock of America’s success as a nation. Thankfully, there is no one with the power to step in and squash such conflicts. As a result, the issues end up being laid before us, the citizens, for our decision.
In order to retain ultimate citizen control of our political process, two things are necessary: 1) we take the time to learn about what is going on when things are not sitting right with us, and 2) we have the courage to stand up against those we believe to be in the wrong.
It is not uncommon for me to hear people say, they don’t want to make waves, or that they are afraid to say or do this or that. We know down deep those thoughts are wrong, but we all have them. When I have such thoughts, I remind myself that we are sending our young people overseas to face bullets in defense of our freedom.
Nothing I say or do puts me in the way of bullets. I cannot in good conscience hold back from what I believe while our young people are fighting and dying for us.
And look at the consequences of fear. As I have related before, as a young man, I spent many hours in Germany talking to friends about Hitler, friends who had lived through and fought in the war.
I wanted a first-hand account and was very persistent in getting it. When Hitler burned Germany’s parliament building, the people failed to arch their backs; they gave him a pass. Within five years the entire nation was totally under his thumb. My friends then asked me, with tears in their eyes, “What could we do?”
I conclude with the adage, “All politics is local.” By doing the right thing at the local level, it generally follows that we will do the right thing at all levels. What is the right thing? We must all determine that for ourselves; but we can rest in the fact that Americans have a history of doing the right thing. Come November I am sure we will.
ART HALL, publisher
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