Today is really hard, Tomorrow is our choice.
Dear friends,
The violent assassination of Charlie Kirk has shaken me, our community, and our nation. Sadly, this was not an isolated act of violence—it follows assassination attempts against President Trump, the tragic murders of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband and the shooting of another legislator and his wife, in their homes, while police discovered a hit list targeting dozens more elected officials.
These attacks violate the very foundations of our lives: our neighborhoods, our colleges, our gathering places where families connect and communities thrive. Places that should represent safety and civic engagement have become scenes of terror.
All because of politics.
This is outrageous. It is wrong. It is fundamentally un-American—and it falls to every single one of us to change it. We can, and we must.
What Democracy Actually Looks Like
In the days following this tragedy, as sorrow weighed heavy on my heart, I attended a community breakfast in our city. There, I witnessed elected officials from across our county—Republicans, Democrats, No Party Affiliates—speaking not as political adversaries, but as neighbors united in common purpose. I engaged thoughtfully with a Republican mayor and a Democratic legislator, both also shaken. And I was surrounded by active, committed citizens and leaders from all political backgrounds coming together for one shared goal: elevating our children.
This is what healthy democracy looks like.
Reclaiming the True Meaning of Politics
I understand why many want to turn away from politics right now. Some days, I feel that impulse too. But politics—at its heart—is about how we organize our communities to serve one another in ways that are fiscally prudent and socially responsible – it is a noble pursuit. Politics is important – it affects our daily lives in ways we don’t always consider until a crisis – like a hurricane or a bridge failure – forces our attention.
“Politician” has become a dirty word, but it doesn’t have to be. Politics doesn’t have to be filled with rage and contempt—in fact, it shouldn’t be. Politicians should be your neighbors, sincere in their commitment to making our communities stronger, more stable, and better places to live—and they should lead with words that unite rather than divide, that elevate our discourse rather than degrade it.
Understanding How We Got Here
America has always had competing political parties and spirited elections, but something fundamental has shifted. Too many of us now carry deep disdain for fellow citizens who vote differently. We’ve moved beyond policy disagreements to something more troubling: the demonization of those who hold different beliefs.
This didn’t happen by accident. While social media and the proliferation of information and misinformation certainly play a significant role, structural changes to our political system have pushed us toward these extremes.
One critical example: changes like the Hastert Rule transformed how Congress operates in the 1990s, shifting power from balanced policy committees to the Speaker of the House. This evolution moved our legislative process away from policy research and dialogue toward election battles focused solely on winning seats to control power – these elections have became more and more rancorous. That rule is used less now, though the damage was done. Similar rule changes have prioritized political party win-at-all-cost over people and ideas.
Additionally, nearly 90% of elections are determined in the primaries, and in some districts only 5-10% of the registered voters vote in the primaries. More than half of U.S. Veterans do not identify with a major political party, with rates accelerating among younger veterans. In states with closed primaries millions of Americans and those veterans cannot fully participate in our elections because they don’t belong to a political party. This exclusion weakens our democracy and limits voter choice.
These structural problems demand structural solutions—reforms like open primaries that return power to the people rather than concentrating it in the hands of those whose job it is to win at all costs. I recommend the book The Politics Industry to anyone who wants to know and think more about structural challenges and reform.
What Each of Us Can Do
But systemic change begins with individual action. We must recommit to caring for one another—not just those who share our views, but all of our neighbors. We need open dialogue that invites others into conversation, genuine listening, respectful debate, and the willingness to seek common ground.
Currently, some political organizations refuse entry to citizens who can’t prove party membership. This exclusionary approach contradicts our democratic values. If you belong to a club, ask what their policy is. And if it is closed, ask that it be changed, ask that they encourage rich dialogue.
A Model for Moving Forward
I am proud to serve on an elected school board in Florida that demonstrates how democracy can work. Seven members elected from across a county of one million people—Democrats, Republicans, and No Party Affiliates—who genuinely listen to each other. When we disagree, we discuss our differences openly, vote according to our convictions, and move forward together. I value my colleagues’ perspectives because I know they care deeply about children and education, and our diverse life experiences make our decisions stronger.
This is proof that principled cooperation remains possible.
Our Daily Opportunity
It is my deep belief that each new day is a gift and presents us with an opportunity to make life a little better for someone else. Our family ends our prayers with these words: “May all the people we know, and all the people we don’t know, have health, happiness, and peace—the peace of the Lord. Amen.”
The people we know—and the people we don’t know.
Our words have power. Written, spoken, even thought. We can choose to use them in ways that heal rather than harm. Each day, we can choose words that serve. Words that share our ideas and engage in dialogue, and that welcome another’s ideas or simply brighten those around you.
Moving Forward Together
This has been a difficult week in a challenging time for our nation and I have mourned. But I simply will not surrender to despair. I will not. Today, I choose to be a small light in the darkness. Tomorrow, I will choose the same.
We are not beyond repair. Our communities can heal. Our shared humanity can overcome our political divisions.
But only if we each commit to doing our part, to honoring that shared humanity—one honest conversation, one act of courage, one gesture of grace at a time.
Together, we can build the America envisioned by our founders: a nation where disagreement doesn’t require demonization, where politics serves the people, and where every citizen can participate fully in the sacred work of our strong, stable and vibrant democracy.
The choice is ours.
God bless you and thank you for the opportunity to serve,
