“When in the course of human events …” a nation’s youth loses his way, what is to be said for the parents of the youth, the parents of the nation, the nation as a whole?
Thomas Matthew Crooks will be remembered for having brought shame to his family, his community, and the nation as a whole. He will be remembered for an act of murder and much human suffering caused by his own hand.
We can do better. We must do better. We must provide guidance in these difficult times.
The purpose of elections is to create smooth transitions of power between different political entities. The theatrical performances in which they result are suppose to be public contests that stimulate public debate about the issues of the day and vet those who would assume the mantel of public office and the monopoly of the use of force that they might one day wield on behalf of the entire nation.
Elections are to be determined by neither small groups of people who weaponize the justice department behind closed doors, nor public and social media outlets who dance to calls for censorship from corrupt government bureaucrats and misguided political operatives with their own political agenda. They are to be determined by neither violent protests in our nation’s streets, nor the wanton abuse of legal codes in our nation’s capitol.
Neither, are they to be determined by private citizens who would force their will on the entire nation in an act of foolish bravery.
Courage in the absence of wisdom, is but foolhardy and must be called out.
The wisdom of our founding fathers has been neglected in our schools. It is long past time that it be returned.
In liberty,
Roddy A. Stegemann, First Hill, Seattle 98104
Author of Mount Cambitas - The Story of Real Money.