The Greenwood County Republican Party submitted a rather meanspirited and factually incorrect opinion piece in the Index Journal in July. We did not stay silent and responded with the following, which was published on July 20, 2025.
We read with interest the article in the Index Journal on 7/6/25 regarding America’s founders and conservative values.
It implied that all positive values are conservative in nature and that all negative values are liberal in nature. They state that liberal values (“the left’s agenda”) are tearing down traditional principles and are “tyranny with a smiling face.” Furthermore, they trot out the tired and inaccurate tropes about the left pushing gender confusion and replacing family values with government programs.
Well, we think instead that they are confused and challenge their assertions.
- There is no gender pushing, only recognition the right of individuals to live free of government tyranny.
- Armed, masked agents of the government snatching people off of the street, without due process, is the classic definition of tyranny.
- Separating families, including mothers and children, and placing them in cages is not the American way. It smacks of World War II tactics and its dreaded tyranny.
- Removing female autonomy from women’s health care decisions is the same governmental interference that they argue against. “None of your business” should apply here.
- Disregarding the suffering of so many in the world (when we have the capability of serving others via USAID) is not respecting a true faith in God. The Bible says “For God so loved the world” not “For God so loved just the United States”.
- An open disregard for the rule of law (pardoning those that attacked our Capitol and physically assaulted law enforcement officers) and non-adherence to the judgment of the courts is not a democratic stance. A party of law and order indeed!
- Demeaning and belittling others, peddling in hate and fear, and openly attacking the free press are the tools of autocrats, not tactics that the Founding Fathers would have embraced.
- Banning books is not the stuff of free speech.
- Education is a public service, not a selective right. Siphoning off public funds for private schools is antithetical to the American Way where all should be afforded an equal opportunity in life.
- Ignoring history and the lessons of the past unfortunately continue inequities that have plagued this country for centuries and diminishes attempts to right past wrongs.
- The purported “meritocracy” of the current administration has nothing to do with competence and everything to do with loyalty. That sounds like a monarchy, not a democracy.
God does not recognize Democrats or Republicans. MAGA hats do not define patriotism or faithful service to a higher being. We shall be judged by how we treat each other rather than by the size of the flags we wave.
The tone of their article discredits the loyalty and faith of those currently in opposition to the current administration. We do not question their integrity or sincerity to serve our country.
But we instead respectfully pursue a future where actual problems are solved that benefit all (affordable and accessible healthcare, a sustained natural environment, jobs that can support families, education that betters the community).
We also oppose unjust use of force on our own people, locking up the innocent, chasing down hard-working laborers in fields, broadly labeling of those in need as lazy, disparaging of science, and childish name-calling from the highest levels of leadership.
This serves no purpose when we ought to be pursuing a common purpose. Maybe we can start by releasing those Epstein files. What do you say?
