I’ve had the opportunity to observe some of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee hearings the last couple of weeks.

While sometimes the words Intelligence and Committee may seem to be an oxymoron, it is real, believe me, and it seems they are today taking their responsibilities seriously!

The subject of the inquiry is whether or not President Donald Trump illegally used the power of the Office of President of the United States by attempting to bribe a young new Ukrainian President to do Mr. Trump a questionable political favor. It is feared by some that this action threatened the security of the U.S. and Ukraine.

This is the same Office belonging to the people of the United States, all the citizens of this land, not just the current occupant. This is not a private office owned by Mr. Trump — it is a public office to which we elected him to occupy for awhile. He is attempting, one way or another, to get us to loan him that Office for another term (which would be his last).

I was impressed with the range and depth of questions put to professional government employees, several of whom are ambassadors abroad, specifically to The Ukraine in eastern Europe.

Equally impressive was the consistency of their several separate testimonies. It is important to note that before these public hearings, the same witnesses were required to give separate private depositions on the same subject matter, thus making it impossible for them to make their answers ahead of time to coincide with one another’s answers. And, they were placed under oath for these inquiries to tell the truth, something that at times may seem out of fashion, as we watch these duly elected “adults” work their craft as it were.

I felt reassured that all of these professionals spoke as they surely must work — faithfully, and out of allegiance to this country, to its constitution, to its people, and to the oaths they have taken to protect all of the aforementioned. They spend much of their working lives in countries where the freedoms we enjoy must realistically be only pipe dreams.

One of those duly sworn witnesses was asked if he felt fear or was threatened while responding truthfully to these questions, the answers to which would cause concern for Mr. Trump and his political future, as well as that of anyone working with him in abuse of power.

He is obviously a gentleman who loves this country, and feels grateful to be here. You see, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman immigrated here when he was 3 years old; he and his family came from The Ukraine because at that time they were living under Soviet oppression. This may be similar as to why many of our ancestral family members came here from wherever or whenever that may have been.

As he has even served in our Armed Forces in Ukraine, he knows what could happen to “witnesses” who speak out against the wrong person or party in much of this world.

Thus his answer to the above question is resounding. He assures his own father that the decision to come to this land was correct, and that Officer Vindman can surely answer truthfully any question, no matter the light it may shed on even our current President, because “Here Right Matters”. Our society, our system of law and order, will surely protect him from reprisal. Won’t it?

Here right matters, doesn’t it? At least I think right matters. I hope right matters! I know it mattered (s) to the Greatest Generation” as they have been dubbed. (I had wondered about that label when I first heard it, but, given time to process it, I have been all in on that one). They grew up in tough times, learned right and wrong, knew and made history (boy, did they make history), gave of themselves so much, and now we follow. They made sure that Here (and now in many places) Right Matters.

Do we believe that right matters, can we show that here right matters? I am so disgusted that we do not have Messers Moran, Roberts, Marshall, and Pompeo clambering to hear testimony from all those in the know. Moreover, I do not believe that “Here Right Matters” to our President or those at the top of his administration. What is the harm in hearing from all the potential witnesses, what is the harm in those requested to do so to honor those lawful subpoenas to come forward and testify?

I would hope that other Kansans will also be contacting all these elected, those we pay to uphold their oaths to our country. The question is whether our president has betrayed his oath to defend us against all powers, foreign and domestic, whether he has abused the power of that Office. Contact your legislators and insist that they call this question, that they support its valid investigation, and that they actually vote to decide who serves the balance of this current term as President. Does right matter here, does it matter in your home?

I have to this point been impressed with the Judiciary branch of our federal government; they apparently do think that right matters, that Law is right. I have also been impressed with the commitment of the true working faces of our Government, the career officials who have studied our system and how it is that we can best work with the rest of the world. These are some of the ones we deridingly refer to as government bureaucrats. They deserve our respect, our quest for Right.

Let’s get it Right, Ellsworth County. Get it Right, Kansas! Get it Right, America! Make sure Right Lives on!

Vern Schepmann lives in Holyrood.