In the defense of a good and decent man

More than a century ago, Teddy Roosevelt, before an audience at The Sorbonne, made some of his most famous remarks, saying, “It is not the critic who counts ... The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.”

Looking back at Roosevelt’s time, the nation was beginning to see an evolution in the public discourse as an independent press was just beginning to take root in the United States. It was replacing the ideological party press system that informed, yet divided, so many Americans.

My family has had a front-row seat to the collapse of political discourse, as my late husband was vilified by political opponents and critics on both sides of the aisle.

Nonetheless, he stood up and spoke out for what he believed.

John knew that leadership meant not succumbing to political pressure. Rather, it meant holding true to core principles, making tough decisions, and always focusing on a greater good.

As public servants and community leaders, many Arizonans feel called to serve this greater good.

We all have an opportunity to improve our community, state, nation, and world. Indeed, not a day goes by when there isn’t a chance to engage some small act of kindness or some grand gesture of heroism. Whether we take that chance and heed those opportunities is a decision that we all must make in the moment. When we are our best selves, we do them. When we are not, we hide from these opportunities and withdraw from our primary human responsibilities.

As a lifelong Arizonan, I’ve seen many people well known and anonymous toil for our community. It is a blessing to witness these many points of light and I want to highlight the work of one such local leader, Donald Brandt, the head of Arizona Public Service, APS, and a long, dear friend of John and mine.

Recently, Don was honored with the Heritage Award from the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry a truly remarkable achievement owing to his decades of service to our state and community.

As his family, friends and colleagues celebrated his tremendous contributions to Arizona, protesters staged a dangerous scene outside the reception hall, engaging in unfair personal attacks and chanting heinous messages crafted to incite hate and fear.

Don is a strong, principled leader who cares deeply about our great state and the people in it.

He is a proud supporter of our men and women in uniform, and wears his patriotism on his sleeve by providing

Indeed, not a day goes by when there isn’t a chance to engage some small act of kindness or some grand gesture of heroism. Whether we take that chance and heed those opportunities is a decision that we all must make in the moment. When we are our best selves, we do them.

jobs and opportunities to returning veterans.

He is personally involved in civic and charitable organizations throughout the region.

And he runs a company that provides safe, reliable electricity to more than a million people across Arizona.

I also saw Don’s kind and gentle spirit during the last days of my husband’s battle with glioblastoma.

Don was there for John, and he was there for me.

And because I have seen Don’s kindness, I know the recent tragedies that have befallen our community have impacted Don personally.

We all mourn the loss of life, and I hope he doesn’t mind my words on his behalf.

So while certainly every American deserves the right to have their voices heard and the First Amendment to the Constitution protects it — individuals who demagogue for the sole purpose of furthering their own personal objectives are clouding reasoned judgment and civil discourse.

Too often, these individuals are resorting to lies, name-calling and fearmongering.

While their spectacle may grab headlines, it is time to say enough is enough, and to heed some of the less famous words of President Roosevelt’s speech: “The poorest way to face life is to face it with a sneer.”

Indeed, maybe it’s time to face life with a renewed optimism and hope; and to run from the extremes of polity to a shared comity in which we can help move our political discourse and our community forward.

If — as a community and a nation — we are able to do that, it will be an accomplishment sorely needed and a legacy long-remembered.