Dear Darlings,

Very rarely do I venture into the realm of politics. I don’t usually go there because it’s not in my wheelhouse. I’m not a political writer, nor am I here to give you my political opinion. I write my blog with you all in mind. I write stories about you and to you. But somehow, this time, it seems prudent to write a political piece because of you. Both Zach and Lucas (and probably a good chunk of you, my darlings) are going to be able to vote, maybe for the first time, in this upcoming presidential election. Although this post is not written directly to you, it is written because of the love I have for you. It’s an open letter to members of Congress and the Senate. In the next four years, they’re going to need to step up and lead in a way they never have before. 

Dear Senators and Members of the House of Representatives,

I need you to know how concerned I am about our upcoming presidential election. I have two young, new voters who will be casting their ballots for the first time, and we have given them two disgraceful choices in the run for president. Usually, in an election season we can find one candidate who is the lesser of the evils, in our own minds at least. This time, we can’t…neither are fit to lead. I am truly worried about the state of our country when the time comes for either of these two front runners to be sworn in to office and take the lead of our great nation. 

Ever since I began to exercise my privilege to vote, I have always been able to find at least one redeeming quality, no matter how minuscule, in our president. This time, sadly, I can find none. And while I’ll never be embarrassed to say I’m an American, I can assure you I will be embarrassed by the person who will inhabit the White House, and will be called President of the United States of America. 

Not only do I believe neither of the front runners are fit to lead our great nation, I also believe these two will do an extreme disservice to our country.  Quite frankly, my nerves are on edge just thinking about what either of these two candidates can, and may, do to our homeland. 

So, Senators and Members of the House, it’s going to fall on you to keep this nation safe. It will be up to you to uphold the constitution of the United States of America. You will need to step up in a way you never have before. Your bi-partisan bickering has to end. You’ll need to man-up and work together to keep our country from falling into a state of disrepair. Your job will become exponentially bigger in light of who will occupy the Oval Office. Finding the bravery to work side-by-side with those who may hold a vastly different political view must be your utmost priority. You’ll need to take a lesson, or two, from our service members who may not always agree with each other, but have each other’s backs, nonetheless. The members of our military are charged with defending people and values who might not always match up with their own, and they do so with courage and honor. Now you will be charged to follow their lead. They work to keep all of us safe. Now those same responsibilities fall squarely on your shoulders in upholding the rights and laws of our country. Your job description is going to change and morph in the next four to eight years. And for the sake of not only my two new voters, but for the sake of all of our citizens, young and old, I implore you to take the oath you took on the day of your swearing in to heart…

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.

The fate of our nation will now be in your hands. Please treat her with the respect she has earned in her two hundred and forty years of freedom. Our children are depending on you. 

Respectfully, 
JD Combs