Reading Nancy Aronie’s commentary of her decision to stay in the United States as opposed to packing up and moving to Canada, New Zealand or Ireland I was struck by that luxury. The mere thought that one could gather their belongings and hightail out when one’s candidate didn’t win is remarkable.

It is very fashionable in some quarters to claim to be ready to move when politics goes against us. I thought then about the reality that most Americans will not be directly affected by criminal acts committed by illegal aliens, that most people can eke out a living in our stagnant economy and not starve, that most of us are not stymied by the endless, growing Washington bureaucracy to create our new businesses. That most of us don’t have to fear being shot through our bedroom windows by rampaging gangs. The fact that most of us do not put on a uniform and risk our lives for our fellow citizens.

The reality is that most of us are just free riders on the backs of other people’s sacrifices. We live and breathe on the freedoms that hard words and tough stances given by strong leaders provide for us. We enjoy the life we have due to people who are attacked for trying to protect us. It is a luxury.

Those idyllic countries with no standing armies will be calling for those that do to help them if disaster should occur. That would be our men and women.

Kathryn Westfall Gidwitz
Chicago and Vineyard Haven