As we watch the democratic process work, or struggle to work, persistence is, indeed, required. Each of us has a part to play; every one of us must carefully develop our own ideals and dreams for our families and community. As best we can, each of us must lead by example in that direction.

Each of us must hear others out, and respectfully converse honestly of our convictions and concerns, realizing that each of us will play a vital role in determining our collective future. We will likely have disagreements along the way, and those are to be respected. Let us all agree, however, that we do wish to always retain the freedom to hold those discussions, and to vote regularly our opinion, our own choice.

As you no doubt sense, I am concerned about that freedom. Until recently, my belief has been that there are not enough detractors, or even enemies, in our society to threaten all the democratic processes. I have felt there are so many who will always stand up for reasonable response to threats from without and from within. Am I being proven wrong right before my eyes?

As part of your consideration, seek out the Book of Leviticus, in the Bible’s Old Testament, concerning Law, not Gospel. These are not the Ten Commandments, but they are much more than suggestions as to how we must conduct our daily lives — share with those less fortunate, not speaking evil or with a sharp tongue. Be truthful in all things, talk through your differences coming to agreement on your own. They are directives to us all, being only logical modes of behavior whereby we live among our neighbors and others. Look it up, read it, and reflect — Lev. 19: 9-18. Seen or heard any of these things going on lately?

More specific to contemporary government and politics, read and absorb a small handbook by Timothy Snyder, “On Tyranny,” Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century.

What a succinct reminder of what we have one moment, and of what may be lost the next!

In front of the table of contents, Mr. Snyder quotes Leszek Kolakowski —“In politics, being deceived is no excuse.”

In his prologue, Snyder reminds us that “in founding a democratic republic upon law and establishing a system of checks and balances, the Founding Fathers sought to avoid the evil that they, like the ancient philosophers, called “tyranny.”

Chapter One,“Do Not Obey in Advance,” teaches us that “After the German elections of 1932, which permitted Adolf Hitler to form a government, or the Czechoslovak elections of 1946, where communists were victorious, the next crucial step was anticipatory obedience,” (some of the citizenry compromising willingly on this value or that principle—much to the benefit of the now legal leaders, and to the detriment of society and freedom).

“Because enough people in both cases voluntarily extended their services to the new leaders, Nazi’s and Communists alike realized they could move quickly toward a full regime change. The first heedless acts of conformity could not then be reversed.”

The ball was already (knowingly or unknowingly) pushed in the wrong direction, and the tyrant did not even have to do all the dirty work — he/she had help! Are we not headed in the same direction?

In his third chapter, Beware of the One-party State, Snyder teaches “A party emboldened by a favorable election result or motivated by ideology, or both, might change the system from within.” In reviewing the two elections described above, he shows that “what followed was some combination of spectacle, repression, and salami tactics—slicing off layers of opposition one by one.” Some people were distracted, others just got lost.

Snyder continues, “The hero of a David Lodge novel says that you don’t know, when you make love for the last time, that you are making love for the last time. Voting is like that,“ Snyder explains. “Some of the Germans who voted for the Nazi Party in 1932 no doubt understood that this might be the last meaningful free election for some time, but most did not.” Likewise some Czechs and Slovaks who voted for the Czechoslovak Communist Party in 1946 may have assumed that they might have another chance. “No doubt the Russians who voted in 1990 did not think that this would be the last free and fair election in their country’s history, which (thus far) it has been.”

What of our electoral process today—feel pretty good about the prospects?

Share your confidences and/or concerns with a friend. Be informed, and go to the polls. Exercise our freedoms for which so many have fought and sacrificed.

Vern Schepmann lives in the Holyrood community.