OPINION: Preserving our nation means getting involved in government

I don't do politics.

That is a statement I used to say because of all the stress politics brought me and caused me just to be angry. I would say the only thing I could I do anyhow for my nation, state, country and city was vote and pray. Both of those actions are very important, but it was easier to not watch the news and basically just live my life.

As I approached the chapter in my life of retirement and a time to slow down, I looked back and saw the direction our nation was heading. In the last 20 years, I have seen things I never thought would be possible in the United States.

I remember when our national debt hit $1 trillion, and we all thought we were going to have financial failure, but now we are over $30 trillion in debt.

Who would ever think the statement defund the police would ever be spoken much less happen in some cities? Only to be revoked in a lot of those cities that enacted the policy when their crime rate went to all-time highs.

It's hard for me to understand how we, as a nation of freedom, can allow our borders to be open to anyone from anywhere just to walk in. My heart breaks for so many of these people, but the issue is that with no type of vetting, it is allowing people who hate Americans and want to destroy the nation I love just to walk in. Every single day, over 300 people are murdered by fentanyl, and it seems no one really cares until it hits their loved one.  It’s murder because not one of the addicts would have put the needle in their arm, took a pill, or smoked the joint if they knew it would kill them. It’s all about greed and the dealer wanting to increase their profits. It has been reported many times that most of the fentanyl is coming through our open borders.

How did we get to the point that the majority of our children in our public schools cannot read on their grade level? And that’s our state average. Here, locally in some of our schools it’s 90% or higher who isn't reading on their grade level. How did we get to the point that students are graduating from high school and going to a local college and have to be taught reading? How did we get to the point where a group of young adults can beat and kick police officers and then be released the very same day and walk out the jail and look into the camera smiling and make a very vulgar hand sign. The young man was saying, “So I can do what I want no matter who it hurts or if it's against the law.” This happened in New York City on Feb. 1, 2024.

How did we get to the point where boys can decide they are girls and play on a girls' team in sports and boys can use girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms? This would have gone into effect Aug. 1 in every public school in the US if a lawsuit delayed it. The federal government says if you want federal funds to provide breakfast and lunches in schools or you want funds to provide services for special needs students you will do this or be sued.

How did we get to the point that a grown man can say I identify as a woman and go into the same bathroom as my wife or daughters are in?

How did we get to the point that some cities decided if a person committed a crime and bail wasn't fair, then the criminal is just booked into jail and released again and goes back the very same day and commit another crime and repeat and repeat?

Just in 2023, the national coalition of retailers said that over $112 billion was lost due to shoplifting and smash and grabs. The results of this are higher prices for honest humans and needed stores like Walgreens and Walmart are closing down in crime-ridden areas.

The reason these issues are prevalent today is because of myself and millions like myself, which let it happen. We are the silent majority. We just wanted to live life and be left alone.

What can we do at this point?

It's imperative that we get involved in politics. We have to come out of our hiding place and do everything we can do to ensure that our children have the freedom we enjoy today when they are our age.

Things never stay the same. They either get better or get worse. My generation is so blessed in so many ways. The American dream is under attack, and if we don't protect that for the next generation, it will be gone.

I’m a Christian and believe there’s only one true God, and that's Jesus Christ, my Lord, and Savior. I believe the verse in the Bible that says "judge not lest you be judged " refers to judging myself. So I ask myself, am I doing everything that I personally can do to ensure the next generation has the same opportunities that I had most of my life.

This article has been very negative, and I hate negativity, so one thing for sure for the ones who believe in our precious lovingly heavenly Father and have read His living word called the Bible. We have read the last book in the Bible, the last chapter in that book, and the last verse in that chapter. I have absolutely no doubt how all this is going to end. I truly hope those eastern skies part before you finish reading this article, but that event is in His timing, so until then, I no longer will be part of the group the silent majority. I will stand up for what I believe.

I’m for the true constitutional conservative. I believe every politician should be held accountable for their actions. It's up to us to protect what our founding fathers worked so hard for us to have today.

My prayer is that the silent majority wakes up in America before it's too late. That they find the person who is a candidate who believes like they do and support that candidate and, by supporting their candidate offer them financial support. Volunteer to write post cards for mail outs. Volunteer to give up a Saturday morning and knock on doors or place signs in your neighborhood.

God told Moses to put his staff in the sea to part it so the children of Israel could be free. Moses did that. I often wonder if Moses would’ve said, “Lord that’s my new staff. I really don't want to get it wet.” Would the Lord still have parted the sea and save His people? I’m sure He would have, but He wanted action from Moses. I believe the Lord wants action from His children now. My question to you: Are you going to stand by the sea and say, “Lord I don't have time” or “Lord politics upsets me” or will you do what you personally can to ensure your love ones have the opportunity at the same life you have lived?

Harvey Walden is a member of the Jackson-Madison County School Board. Contact him at hbwalden@jmcss.org.