In last week’s column, we discussed vaccinations and stated that we believe the choice to vaccinate should always be a private one. We don’t believe anyone should feel compelled to explain, rationalize or defend their choice. We feel the same way about the right to vote.

The right to vote belongs to all American citizens. We encourage all Americans of age to exercise that right. How you vote is your personal business, and yours alone. The candidate you support is your personal business, and yours alone. You do not owe us, or anyone, an explanation for how you cast your ballot, or for whom you support as a candidate for office.

That said, sometimes when people make their choices publicly known, there will be fallout. The blow-back occurs on both sides of the political aisle, and it is unfortunate. If we expect to cast our ballots as our conscience guides, then we must afford others the right to do likewise, even when their choice differs from ours. Rather than condemn another’s choice, why not seek to understand why they chose differently?

Those who know us personally know that we voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 and 2020 presidential primaries, and in both general elections as well. In 2016, Kathleen served as the communications director for the Utah for Trump campaign. We’ve never hidden our support of his candidacy, nor our support of his policies.

Like many, we miss the Trump Administration. We miss the fuel prices. We miss his efforts to secure our southern border. We miss an efficient supply chain. We were dismayed by the botched Afghanistan withdrawal. We are alarmed by the out of control national debt, and rising inflation. So much has changed – and not for the better – in just 10 short months.

There’s a T-shirt we’ve seen that says, “I could really go for a mean tweet and $1.79 gas right now.”

Amen to that.

But then, last week, Colin Powell died. He died of COVID-related complications at the age of 84. He was also battling multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer. Colin Powell was a retired four-star Army General. In addition, he had also previously served as a U.S. Secretary of State, and as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

While he was a self-professed Republican, he was not shy about his support of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden when they launched their presidential campaigns.

Did those endorsements disappoint us? Yes.

Colin Powell also didn’t hide his dislike of Donald Trump.

Did that disappoint us? Again, yes.

None of that diminishes the fact, however, that it was his right to make those choices and statements. Nor did those choices and statements diminish his service on behalf of this Nation.

We were disappointed in the statement Donald Trump issued following the death of Colin Powell, as well as the statement he issued following the death of John McCain. We don’t support dancing on graves. All life is precious. Political stances do not diminish the value of life.

Yes, we miss the Trump fuel prices, but we don’t miss hearing things that are best left unsaid. 

We’d love to hear your thoughts on our columns or ideas you have for future columns. Contact us at [email protected].