Dear editor:

Dear fellow citizens,

A dozen years ago, we were in the TEA party era. From “Taxed Enough Already” to “Take Educated Action.” Today we need to “Tuck Emotion Aside” and “Take Educated Action” AGAIN. Your brother is not your ‘enemy’ — ‘ignorance’ is. If you do not know who to support in elections for leadership or for advice, refer back to the Book of Instruction, The Good Book, our Bible.

God told us that to know someone, look to their fruits. Many may say “I am the good guy here,” but if they have no ‘fruits’ or ‘receipts’ or if their way is ‘hidden’ or ‘secret’ they must be ashamed of what they do, otherwise they would put their ‘light’ out before men. Look for their fruits.

In my experience, people often claim to be someone they are not. As it goes, “fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.” Please take the opportunity to “learn” from mistakes.

Yes, we ARE to judge. We are to judge situations, we are to judge the company we keep, we are to judge — and change if need be — our own responses to circumstances. Our great Constitutional Republic requires a Christian citizenry who adhere to the Christian principles upon which our country was founded. We are to “judge” as we would have ourselves “judged” — fairly.

None of us is perfect, but most of us are just. WHEN we make mistakes, we are taught to own up for them, ask forgiveness for wrongs done, learn from them and move on to become a better person.

Our great country is and has been the greatest country in the known recorded history. We made slavery illegal — unfortunately it is still practiced in other countries in our world. We made religious freedom, free speech and peaceable assembly available to our citizens — again this is not always available in other countries (and recently not in ours by a select few.) Women are equal citizens in our country. We do not publicly execute folks who fall outside the ‘norm’ as is done in some other countries.

So why would the citizens of the freest country in the world shirk the highest honor bestowed up them – the ability to freely VOTE?

To vote is an honor. To vote is a responsibility.

To vote is a cherished right.

It should not be stolen or abused or neglected. It should be given the respect due by VOTING WITH INTEGRITY and KNOWLEDGE.

Do NOT let people steal your vote with lies and innuendo. If you do not know for whom to vote — ASK. Ask the candidates for what they stand; do your own research to ensure that it is not tainted; do not let a stranger “tell” you for whom to vote. If you are unable to determine the best candidate, then you need to do better. Call the candidates, speak to various people on both sides of the issues, gather all the information you can, pray about it, talk with people you know and respect.

Do NOT let others steal your vote. Please vote with honor. Do the required work while you can, while it is day. Freedom requires your participation — do not be lazy. Do not neglect your own work.

Robin Berry

Cody