Who are Arkansans?

I feel hopeless when I live in a state that allows guns everywhere with few background checks; looks the other way after mass shootings; elects leaders who distort the truth as if truth doesn’t matter; condones a coup to overthrow the election; believes the election was rigged and stolen even though proven otherwise; calls itself “pro-life,” but ranks highest in food insecurity and lowest in maternal health; refuses federal money for rental assistance; wants to control the medical decisions of women; spreads the conspiracy theory of white replacement; restricts voting and uses redistricting to keep people in power; controls what teachers teach, yet ranks last in education; offers tax cuts to the wealthy while cutting health care to the poor; believes vaccines are harmful and refuses to be vaccinated or wear masks; has representatives who remain silent in the face of hate; votes no on all legislation in a desire to obstruct; and has people in government who have lost their moral compass and forgotten the oath they took to defend the Constitution and democracy.

Our democracy is being destroyed by hate, racism and misinformation. A democracy where money buys votes and power is more important than truth. Ask yourself: Who are we as Arkansans and Americans? What kind of world will we choose for ourselves and our children? Will we choose democracy or autocracy? A state where power and profit are the guiding principles, or honesty and respect? A country where hate and fear rule and evil and corruption win? Or will we chose to love one another with tolerance, acceptance and truth?

Who are we? What kind of state and country do we want to live in? Time will tell.

DORRIE MECKES Cabot