Don’t hold your breath

Dear Editor,

As our president and the richest man in the world continue to flail about in the White House destroying lives with unlawful layoffs, department shutdowns, executive orders and incoherent press conferences many of us have been paralyzed into inactivity. We’ve been waiting for the resistance to emerge. Waiting for our system of checks and balances to kick in and rescue our democracy from the whims of a man who thrives on chaos. Waiting for principled Republicans to say enough, this has gone too far. Clearly we should not keep holding our breath. If you are a teacher and don’t agree with the president meddling in curriculum – speak up. If you are a police officer and were aghast at the pardoning of the January 6th cop assaulters – speak up. If you are a farmer and can’t imagine another season of price volatility due to reckless tariffs – speak up. If you are latino, have lived here for 15 years, built a life, paid taxes and contribute to the wellbeing of our community yet are scared to go out and buy groceries – speak up. If you are a child and wonder what kind of world you will inherit as climate science is dismantled and scrubbed from existence – speak up. Chat with neighbors, call your legislators, comment at a school board meeting, post to social media, shout from the highest mountaintop. We are witnessing history being made for all the wrong reasons. Now is not the time to spectate, we are the resistance we have been waiting for.

Matt Sheaffer

Monroe, WI