“Come on, people, smile on your brother, everybody get together

“And try to love one another right now.”

“Get Together” sung by The Youngbloods

For some reason, the refrain of this old classic has been in my brain today. It occurs to me that coming together figuratively, even if not physically today, this would do us all some good. We are threatened by a sub-microscopic virus, one causing at least illness in varying degrees, if not death to quite a few. As Pastor Amy Hawley and Mr. Jerry Marsh and others have stated so eloquently in the IndependentReporter over the past few months, coming together in a very coordinated way, that based upon medicine we have known for decades, we can, indeed, make headway against Covid.

Many of you have seen the data, that those 20 Kansas counties who have since June 29 made a serious attempt to follow the mask mandate instituted by Gov. Laura Kelly and her chief medical advisor on the virus, have about half the cases percentage wise of the other 85 counties in the state. Too bad the Kansas Legislature thought they had to intervene, and fully resist the medically-informed decision of the Governor. I wonder if we have any idea upon what they based their decision!

Heed the third verse of the song, Topeka.”... Listen, you hold the key to love and fear, all in your trembling hand. Just one key unlocks them both, it’s there at your command:’

We could also do better in encouraging one another to step up and let local officials know that we have their backs as they have now taken a more serious attitude about this pervasive threat to our collective, and, incidentally, individual health.

I would also mention the recent presidential election accepted by many, but firmly resisted by many others. I am waiting for Mr. Roberts, Mr. Moran, and Mr. Marshall to step up and, for the good of the country, of the constitution, of our families and our communities, for the good of the world, endorse its validity. The election was fair, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won the darned thing! Again, we have the courts (Thank God, at least to this point) standing up for truth and encouraging the country to move ahead with a peaceful transition of power. Yes, we must have this, or we have nothing.

Think of all the people in Ellsworth County who pulled off another successful election. I haven’t tallied up totals in the “R” column, in the “D” column, and the “other” columns, though I bet “R’s dominate. I am fine with that. I know personally many who won, and do respect the one’s I do know within City, County, and State governments. I respect and sincerely congratulate them. The ones I voted for, with perhaps two exceptions, I voted for the person regardless of “R” or “D’ .

I am especially in awe of all those who either directed, followed, counted or managed polls and security in order that we may carry out our fair elections. I’ve heard commentators say there are 50 to 60 million people who don’t accept the validity of this presidential election and its outcome. I personally don’t buy that — I believe it’s just a fraction of that. Regardless of the number, just think what it implies — it implies that our elected people in our county courthouse, in our several small communities, all the volunteers who honorably and (this year, bravely) served regardless of personal health risk to pull off the election, may not be trustworthy. Give me a break! More than that, it implies the same regarding the similar sets of people in the other 104 counties of Kansas, as well as all those thousands of dedicated individuals in the other 49 States and territories as well as DC — that they somehow can not meet muster. Give me another big break!

Let him who thinks he or she is better than these volunteers and officials get in line for next time, but leave alone those who have braved this tormented atmosphere to get us through one more valid election. Only volunteer, however, if you intend to do it honorably.

Sincere and Happy Thanksgiving to all; thank your Master for our sacred democracy. It cannot stand alone — it needs you to believe and participate.

“Come on people now, smile on your brother,

Everybody (come) together, and try to love one another right now:’

Thank you Jessie Coulter Young for your guidance from so many years ago. It still matters!

Respectfully,

Vern Schepmann

Holyrood community

Send letters to Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter, 304 N. Douglas Ave., Ellsworth 67439 or news@indyrepnews.com