As most of you likely know, I grew up in Chebanse, Illinois, a small town of about a thousand people where everyone knew your name and your word still meant something. It was there, in that quiet, close-knit community, that I learned the values that shaped my life: hard work, respect for others, faith, family, and a deep love for the American way.

Back then, I believed in the two-party system. I believed that, while Republicans and Democrats might have disagreed on the path forward, both sides ultimately wanted what was best for America. And when the dust of an election settled, I believed leaders would put country above party, working together to move us forward.

Looking back, I realize how naive that belief was.

Over the years, I’ve watched the landscape of our nation shift, subtly at first, then with breathtaking speed. Civil debate has been replaced by cancel culture. Dialogue has given way to demonization. What used to be political differences now feel like a moral divide.

As a conservative, I don’t see this as just a battle of policy anymore; I see it as a clash of values. We’re no longer simply arguing over taxes or infrastructure. We’re grappling with questions of right and wrong, good and evil.

When one side defends lawlessness in the streets, embraces extremist groups, champions open borders, supports abortion up to and possibly after the time of birth, and promotes radical ideologies to our children, I can’t just chalk it up to a difference of opinion. It feels like a betrayal of everything that built this country.

And yet, I still believe in kindness. I believe in treating people with dignity, even when we disagree. But when those disagreements cut to the very heart of our nation’s moral fabric, it’s no longer just political, it’s deeply personal.

I don’t say any of this with anger. I say it because I care. I say it because I love this country too much to stay silent. We are standing at a crossroads, and the decisions we make today will echo for generations.

Amid the chaos, there is still hope. For every act of hatred, there are moments of heroism. For every injustice, there are people standing up for what’s right. Across the nation, individuals are pushing back against the tide, choosing compassion over cruelty, truth over convenience, and courage over complacency.

The battle between good and evil isn’t just a philosophical idea, it’s a real struggle that shapes lives, communities, and entire nations. Yes, there is darkness. Yes, evil exists in the violence, the abuse, the depravity we see far too often. But so does goodness. And it’s that goodness, found in our churches, in our families, in our communities, that gives me hope.

We must protect the vulnerable, speak the truth boldly, and fight for a future that reflects the best of who we are. Because if we don’t stand now, we risk losing the soul of the country we love.