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Aug. 26, 2024 Editor, The New-Gazette: The conventions are over and 2024 is a year divisible by four. You know what that means. You either crawl under a rock or are willing to be bombarded by ads which say that only one political party and its presidential candidate can save our democracy.
That’s right, tons of money are being spent by thousands to tell you just how to vote come Nov. 5 or before. I refuse to join any such campaign. There are two reasons. One is that I respect the readers of this newspaper too much. And secondly, I have never walked in their shoes.
Political campaigns are very much like military campaigns, except no one gets killed. This reminds me of a campaign when many died, not standing in line to vote, but prone on a foreign beach. General Eisenhower would tell his staff planning for the invasion to free Europe, “Let’s make fewer mistakes today than we did yesterday.” (Source: My father served under Ike in London.)
A free election is about mistakes. America has made plenty, but fewer big ones than any other nation. Elections are the heart and soul of a representative democracy. And as we have learned, others have given their lives in order for you to freely vote.
Today one side says it will “Make America Great Again.” Sorry, I’m happier today than as a kid growing up during a depression and a world war, plus, like you, endured a pandemic. Meanwhile, the other side seems to want to make America like California. Sorry again, I much prefer Virginia.
Nevertheless, we know which side will win. We are told that my home state will determine our next president. Pennsylvania is Alabama separated by Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. If the two cites win so does the lady from California. If Alabama prevails, the gentleman from New York wins. Got it? DAVID REYNOLDS Rockbridge County
