Captain’s Log – Here we document for posterity …

Anne Pershing used to always remind us in the small town, local news business one of our biggest responsibilities is to document the history of our community. 

So, in that vein, knowing we’d rather jam an ice pick in our collective left eye before we read or listen to one more story on politics, I am duty-bound to recognize here for posterity the assassination attempt on the life of our former president, the death of an honorable public servant as collateral damage, and the critical wounding of two other supporters during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania over the weekend. What a horrifying time for us all. 

The memory of President Reagan being shot is still a part of my life, as clear as day. I was 12 in 1981 when the Jodi Foster-enthralled would-be-assassin sent the president to the hospital for 12 days and severely wounded his assistant and press secretary, James Brady. I remember the same baffled feeling – how could something like that happen here. 

After the Primary Election this year, it struck me, standing in the hallway at the county office building the night of the election while the clerk and her team counted votes, talking with the candidates and watching their supporters, just how much of a cost it is to put yourself out there as a candidate to represent your community and carry the burden of our democratic, representative form of government. You have to walk door to door and interrupt dinner, answer all sorts of questions, and explain to people why they should vote for you. You have to go to candidates’ night and hear your opponent talk about how they see what you’ve done your whole life. 

And now it turns out – you get shot at. 

We’re lucky anyone chooses to do it all. Running for office is a tough road, and I, for one, am grateful to all the people who do it. 

It’s also a fitting reminder that we need to vote. We can’t let all their efforts go to waste. We owe a debt of gratitude to those who are willing to run for office, and we pay that debt by going to cast our votes. 

So, while we watch the conventions, block out the horrible ads, support the nominations, and make time for baseball and apple pie, we’ll still be here doing our sacred duty – of keeping you Posted…

… Rach