“Viewpoints” is a place on Chapelboro where local people are encouraged to share their unique perspectives on issues affecting our community. All thoughts, ideas, opinions and expressions in this series are those of the author, and do not reflect the work, reporting or approval of 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com. If you’d like to contribute a column on an issue you’re concerned about, interesting happenings around town, reflections on local life — or anything else — send a submission to [email protected].
Sadness and Resolve
A perspective from Theodore Nollert
By now you have probably seen the horrible news that two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses have been shot by someone impersonating a police officer. Melissa Hartman, the former speaker of the Minnesota house, and her husband were killed. Senator Jon Hoffman and his wife were shot and underwent surgery.
I hesitated to post about this because I worry about overestimating the importance of adding my own two cents. But senseless acts of violence like this are designed to terrify and intimidate us into silence, and I don’t think anyone who holds office should be silent in the face of violence that threatens the foundations of our democracy.
Right now I feel sadness and anxiety. I am sad for the people who were injured and killed, for their families and friends, and for all of us who have to live in a country where this happens all too often to people who aren’t also politicians. I feel anxious because I am an elected official in a country where people may want to hurt or kill me because they disagree with me.
But I also feel resolve. I serve because I love my town, my state, and my country. I serve because I love my fellow Americans. Courage is the cost of admission for elected officials, and it’s the price of participation in a democracy for all of us. It’s easy to forget that when everything is going more or less ok. But we absolutely cannot hide or shrink back when our democracy is under threat. An attack on any elected official is an attack on you, your rights, and our democracy. It’s an attack on all of us.
That’s why we all need to keep showing up. It’s why we need to keep sharing our opinions, building our community, and staying true to the vision of a better life that has motivated the best aspects of American history.
My promise to you is that I will continue to show up. No matter what.
Theodore Nollert, Chapel Hill Town Council
Showing up to the No Kings rally in Chapel Hill with one of my favorite leaders, Graig Meyer.
“Viewpoints” on Chapelboro is a recurring series of community-submitted opinion columns. All thoughts, ideas, opinions and expressions in this series are those of the author, and do not reflect the work or reporting of 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com.
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