This is going to be a stretch for an old school, conservative Baptist boy, but bear with me please. In the words of Kenny Rogers’ song The Gambler, “You gotta know when to hold them, know when to fold them. Know when to walk away. Know when to run.”
In the world we call politics, I’m thinking this may be a good thought to consider as we ponder our personal decisions about involvement and engagement in the system.
Once the election process is over and a winner declared, we are dealt the cards we have to play with. We don’t have to like them or their opinions about things and their actions. We simply must decide how we will accept our responsibility as citizens of these United States of America to speak truth to them and hope to influence their decision making process.
It seems to be easier to throw down the hand, the legislators we have been dealt, stomp them into the floor, “walk away and run.” You will reap the actions of those who stay in the game. Play their cards. Impose their worldview on you through laws and actions you are rightly opposed to.
The choice is ours. Grouse, bellyache, moan and groan… or take appropriate action. Iron can sharpen iron if the file is clean and sharp. It does result in heat and sharpening with the grinder does create sparks. Those sparks can cause fire if the right or wrong elements are subjected to them!
Waiting for the next hand, next session, two or four years down the road is no solution. At the rate of decline we are part of right now we may not have two months! Saying “it could never happen here…” is looking pretty foolish. Think about where we are compared to two weeks, two months, two years ago.
Play your hand. Stay in the game. Don’t be fooled. Be strong. Be bold. Make a difference.
- Roger Sutton
Hardin County
