I despair for our nation in these times. In 1787 James Madison wrote, “The instability, injustice and confusion introduced into the public councils, have in truth been mortal diseases under which popular governments have every where perished; as they continue to be the favorite and fruitful topics from which the adversaries to liberty derive their most specious declamations.”

In The Federalist No. 10, he points out the danger of factions: “By a faction I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.”

I am sure he would be turning in his grave to see what is happening in the republic today.

The reality of a White House occupied by an utterly immoral, pathological liar and the self-serving, unscrupulous members of his administration has been tough to bear. Worse still is resurgence of hatred, xenophobia, misogyny and racism fomented by the president and his minions. If the devil has seats reserved at his table in hell, it will be for Jeff Sessions, Kelly Anne Conway, and all the rest who are making excuses for their selfish inhumanity.

How does one sleep at night knowing that innocent children are being torn from their parents to sleep on mats in cages? For what? A deterrence? I suspect the real reason has xenophobia at its very core.

We must speak up. In the words of Margaret Chase Smith, “Moral cowardice that keeps us from speaking our minds is as dangerous to this country as irresponsible talk. The right way is not always the popular and easy way. Standing for right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral character.”

Amy McDonough

Litchfield