EDITOR:

At one time, I would have called myself a Democratic voter, however, the current party is simply using the name. Their agenda/policies reflect Socialism. The irony is they claim Trump is a threat to democracy. When voting this year, please consider: “we can vote ourselves into a Socialistic government, yet, it is impossible to vote ourselves out of the iron fist we said yes to.”

What has defined America? Lives that have been lost defending freedom! A startling 1,302,189 lives have been lost in the name of freedom. Imagine 18-19 year old soldiers, facing continual fear and paying the ultimate price for freedom.

It’s unthinkable, but our current leadership does nothing while pro-terrorist demonstrators burn the American flag, deface monuments that represent the price of freedom, and shout death to America…and nobody was arrested. Do we want this type of leadership to continue?

Father Vincent Capadonno, U.S. Navy Chaplain, was not assigned to Vietnam, he volunteered. When his tour was coming to an end, instead of going home, he petitioned to stay a second tour. He was granted his wish, however, he was forced to take a 30 day leave. While home in Staten Island, his family and friends noticed Father Vincent had changed. He was no longer easy-going, instead he was seen as very serious and couldn’t laugh. He was visibly shaken by the protests against the war. He confided to those closest to him, “I was watching men die for Americans and Americans were protesting.”

He hated the politics of war as he lamented, “politicians don’t understand, men are dying! I have to be there.” Back to Nam he went, to his second family, the U.S Marine Corps. As men he served with were interviewed for the Medal of Honor he would receive, a common theme surfaced: “Catholics and non-Catholics flocked to him. He loved them all.” He would die ministering to soldiers who were also dying in one of the bloodiest battles of the war. Traffic was backed up over the Staten Island bridge, all wanting to pay their last respects. He never carried a weapon…he carried souls.

Dare we give up freedom by voting away what so many have died for? The current platform of the Democratic party if Kamala Harris is elected, in her own words, include: Abortion without restriction; demands Israel cease in eradicating Hamas, the same people who chant death to America; has supported open borders for four straight years; wants to decriminalize illegals and give them free health care; wants to defund the police and end cash bail, allowing violent offenders to walk free; take away the right to bear arms; wants to expand gender altering ideology; opposes voter identification; Finally, she has been part of an administration responsible for 20% inflation.

No thanks! The lives lost is too steep a price to vote away freedom. Ask the millions of wounded veterans what they think. As the friends of Fr. Capadonno said, “He came home changed.”

Mike Cousineau

Escanaba