Republic, democracy and the Founding Fathers

EDITOR’S NOTE: Helen Ruth Arnold was a retired teacher and long-time contributor to the Gazette’s Open Forum columns, even after she moved into a Trenton nursing home. After her death on June 17, 2023, at the age of 91, we received 16 letters from her. We will publish them as time and space allow in honor of her memory.

Dear Editor,

This is an election year.

The situation reminds somewhat of the situation of Paul in the New Testament when he journeyed to Damascus.

Damascus, the capital of Syria, is the location of an ancient caravan city.

Its craftsmen produced inlaid metalwork, silk brocades, wooden mosaics and sword blades. Located in a beautiful fertile area of the desert in an oasis. It is east of the foothills of the Anti-Lebanon Mountains.

The ancient streets of Damascus are narrow and crowded. Although it also has some modern areas.

When I traveled to Israel, I was very curious about it, but I knew that it was not safe for us to go there.

Our election has some very unsafe areas just like Damascus. The Armenians from the Syrian desert lived there and may have founded it before 2000 B.C. Since 600 B.C., many Moslems have begun their pilgrimage to Mecca from there.

The election in 2019 is beginning to resemble a pilgrimage to Washington D.C. of numerous contenders.

Suliman I, Turkish ruler of Damascus in the 1500s, built a beautiful mosque there.

For a short time following World War I, Damascus was the capital of the Arab kingdom. French forces clashed with Syria and shelled Damascus in 1925 and 1926.

At this point, nobody is shelling Washington D.C., but candidates are attempting to invade it and rule it. Damascus became the provincial capital of Syria in 1958.

In 1961, Syria withdrew from the Arab Republic in a bloodless rebellion. Once again, Damascus became the capital of the Republic of Syria. Its government is undemocratic.

When a political party wins and election, Washington D.C. is controlled by that party.

Our American Democracy is based on traditions brought to America by the first English colonists.

These colonists wanted self-government. Human rights were considered an ideal by which we all could live.

Most of the Founding Fathers distrusted the authoritarian version of democracy.

They wanted to establish a republic to prevent the loss of freedom.

Helen

Ruth Arnold,

Trenton, Neb.