As we draw closer to the mid-term elections on Nov. 3, the call for all of us to peacefully use our voices and votes to protect and preserve our democracy grows louder.
We cannot become complacent. We cannot rest. We cannot forget.
We cannot forget the military in our streets and the masked federal agents in our neighborhoods. We cannot forget Renee Good and Alex Pretti. We cannot forget that we terrorize, separate and deport law-abiding immigrants.
We cannot forget that we blow up small boats and kill people without due process. We cannot forget the lawmakers accused of seditious behavior punishable by death.
We cannot forget the congressional lawmakers and judiciary that answer to one person and not to the people. We cannot forget that integrity and honesty have been replaced with corruption and dishonesty. We cannot forget the Epstein victims and their long overdue pursuit of justice.
We cannot forget that we threatened Greenland, invaded Venezuela, contemplate Cuba and started a war with Iran. We cannot forget our dead and wounded soldiers. We cannot forget the school children and civilians we killed.
We cannot forget how we are treating Canada and other countries around the globe. We cannot forget the illegal tariffs and their impact on our businesses and the economy.
We cannot forget the actions against our government agencies and the impact on our services for our seniors, our veterans, our people with disabilities, our poor, the safety of our food, our health, education and science, our international support, cooperation and intelligence, and for so much more. We cannot forget Jackie Kennedy’s Rose Garden, the East Wing, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
We cannot forget that people are unable to afford food, housing, healthcare, gas, diesel and heating oil. We cannot forget the hardships on our farmers and our truckers.
We cannot forget that our freedoms are threatened, our climate is ignored and that we have lost respect across the world. We cannot forget the election lies, the Department of Justice meddling and the attempts to suppress and restrict voting. We cannot forget the racism and the sexism.
We cannot forget nor forgive the congressional lawmakers who enable President Trump.
We can be proud of the millions of Americans who make sure we will not forget. They peacefully protest in our streets, write and call lawmakers and news outlets and volunteer time to campaigns.
I thank the former Trump supporters who now disapprove of President Trump and his loyalists. It takes character and courage to change one’s conviction and vote. We need more to do the same. You will help save our democracy.
We cannot become complacent. We cannot rest. We cannot forget.
Everyone must vote.
Michael Bertrand lives in Derry.