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As Americans head to the polls today, we bear the weight of a history that has long warned us of the perils of letting anger and distrust fester unchecked. Today’s Election Day doesn’t just bring the promise of democratic choice; it falls on the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605—a grim chapter in which political anger erupted into a foiled plot to blow up England’s Parliament and assassinate King James I. Disillusioned conspirators, led by Robert Catesby and joined by the infamous Guy Fawkes, believed that dismantling the government by violence would restore rights to Catholics oppressed under Protestant rule. But their violent ambitions unraveled, leading to capture and execution. The day lives on in Britain as a cautionary tale, a stark reminder of how extremism can fray the fabric of society.
Our nation faces a similarly sobering moment. America’s democracy has seen dark days, but only once in modern history has our peaceful transition of power been physically attacked—January 6, 2021, when the world witnessed a violent attempt to halt a fundamental democratic process. The Capitol was stormed not by foreign adversaries but by those unwilling to accept the will of the people. It was a harrowing moment when our democracy trembled, revealing the deep fault lines of our collective trust.
This year, election officials and law enforcement are, yet again, bracing for possible unrest—an unsettling reality in a country once celebrated for its peaceful, orderly elections. For generations, Americans could vote with the confidence that their voices would be heard without fear of conflict or violence. I’ve spoken often of the remarkable trust in this system, a trust that is the envy of the world. But in recent years, that confidence has been undermined by a rising tide of tribalism and bitterness. Instead of seeing each other as neighbors, we’ve grown wary, suspicious, quick to cast the other side as the enemy.
And yet, in spite of all this, we stand at the polls today. We hold our democracy’s future in our hands. This isn’t the time to let anger or division dictate our choices; it’s a moment for courage, respect, and a renewal of our commitment to the future we envision together. Voting is not just a right; it’s an act of peace, a profound expression of our faith in lawful, nonviolent participation. Each vote cast without fear or hatred is a declaration of trust in this system, in one another, and in the promise of democratic governance.
The Gunpowder Plot reminds us of the grim path that lies ahead when grievances spiral into extremism. It teaches us how quickly anger can destroy rather than build. But it also offers a message of resilience—that nations are not made by tearing down but by standing together, by choosing nonviolence and lawful resolve over chaos.
America, we are at a crossroads. Will we allow hatred to pull us deeper into chaos, or will we rise above, showing the world that our commitment to peace, to law, and to democracy is stronger than our divisions?
Today, let us vote with purpose and with a sense of reverence for the democracy we’re privileged to share. Let us show, through our actions and our words, that this democracy endures because we protect it. In this moment, let’s affirm our faith in freedom, in unity, and in a nation worthy of our shared hope. Together, we can prove, once again, that America remains the land of the free, governed by the will of the people, and still deserving of our enduring trust.
