We are writing this at 9 a.m. on Election Day. The polls have been open for two hours and will be open for another 11 hours. We have no idea what the results of any of the contests will be.

Sadly, we do know the toll the campaigns have taken on communities and families locally and across the nation. We have reached historic levels of voting. More people have voted early than ever before. New record highs are predicted for most states.

However, there are also an unprecedented number of businesses boarding up windows and doors in anticipation of rioting and looting, mostly by people who are looking for any reason to create violence and destruction. It isn’t about their politics; it is about causing civil disobedience in a manner that causes harm to innocent victims.

We have isolated law enforcement and labeled them all as racist, evil and subject to radical attacks. There are surely some bad police officers in the world, but there are also horrible lawyers, bankers, doctors, ministers and reporters. Whatever your walk in life is, you are sure to encounter bad people. But are they the exception or the rule?

This country is in trouble, and no matter which party is decided the victor on Wednesday (or whenever), they will have four years of hell to deal with.

The peacemakers spoken of in the Bible are harder and harder to find; in fact, many people who consider themselves persons of faith and even people whose living is as ordained in faith now feel empowered to lead people in rebellion rather than peaceful protest.

COVID-19 is either a hoax or the most dangerous virus to ever exist. The only truth we know is that both sides have used it as a political football and kicked it around to the detriment of the community and the economy.

The party in charge Jan. 21 gets to try to rally the nation and the world to their way of thinking, and is sure to have a horrendous fight in front of them from the other side. One party predicts the whole pandemic will disappear on Nov. 4. The other party is preparing to shut down whatever pieces of the economy have survived as the solution.

We wish we could pray it all away, but since the churches have all taken political sides on the issue instead of seeking God’s will, we suppose God is just shaking his head at our poor behavior and letting us battle like the woeful children we are. Not exactly a rosy picture is it?

Regardless of the results of Election 2020, and however long it takes to resolve it, we challenge all of you to prepare yourself to be better in the future. Maybe have some intelligent, practical debates on issues instead of name calling and accusations of things that have nothing to do with the job of president.

Maybe we could try to become good neighbors again. Maybe we can be Americans first and not be so red or blue that we are blind to all other possibilities. If we can’t change and can’t be better as people and a nation, then we are doomed. No economic policy or foreign affairs policy will save us. Only we the people can. It needs to start with you.

— RV