Please join me in this effort

Dear Friends and Family,

I am writing to share a few thoughts. I am writing because quite honestly I am very concerned and frightened. My concern and fear is not so much for me and my generation as it is for my daughter and son-in-law’s generation, for my grandchildren’s and great niece’s generation.

Each day we hear about or witness cruel behavior, we listen to rhetoric which attacks minorities and demeans individuals because of their gender, their faith, their racial background or their place of origin. The very values which have been the cornerstone of our just and democratic society are not only being disrespected, but actually destroyed. The check and balance system which is a foundation of American justice has all but disappeared and in its place the reality of what absolute power can do has become our new reality. What is most frightening is the possibility that this can even get worse if we do not work for change.

When I was still too young to vote, I remember that the League of Women Voters had a slogan,” Vote and the choice is yours. Don’t vote and the choice is theirs.”

The midterm election of November 6th is less than two weeks away. In these next 14 days, please do all you can to encourage others to vote. You don’t need to get into heated discussions with people (although there is nothing wrong with good, open dialogue and even disagreement), but you know plenty of people and in the course of a daily encounter you can simply ask, “Are you planning to vote on November 6th?” Then you’ll be doing something to save our democratic way of life.

I am by nature a hopeful person, which is why I am writing to you all today. I am hopeful that on November 7th we can awaken to the realization that the values and underpinnings of our just and democratic nation can still be preserved and that the rebuilding of that which has been torn asunder can commence.

Please join me in this effort. Please vote and please encourage others to exercise their constitutional right and privilege to do the same.

With my thanks,

Hesch,

Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media file photo A sign steers voters into a polling place at Irving School in Derby on Nov. 7, 2017.