TO WITNESS

 BY WALLACE CALEB BATES

With our soon-to-be vice president's recent visit to eastern Kentucky, I have spent the past couple of days reflecting on what it means to be Appalachian. 

Our people spent years fighting for their lives. Despite the oppression they experienced from the rich coal companies, they continued to pursue economic prosperity for their families, sometimes at the cost of their own health. They believed in the importance of fair labor standards, and their organizing represented strike after strike. They were what democracy looks like. 

I am deeply proud of my eastern Kentucky roots, especially the ones that stem from blue-collar workers who gave their all for a better life in a region with little to no economic opportunity. As a higher education professional now and an aspiring communication teacher, I find such importance in the art of storytelling as a means for highlighting our collective perseverance. 

My great-grandfather bravely enlisted and served our country throughout World War II. He believed in something larger than himself, and as a parent, he passed that belief on to his children, who have continued to pass it on for years. 

That something? Democracy. The will of the people. A government created of the people, by the people, for the people. His son, my grandfather, passed that belief on to me. That is why we proudly cast our votes in November 2024. 

Throughout my childhood, my grandparents and I watched election results roll in every election night. I still remember sitting on the floor of the living room, eating Spaghetti-Os, and watching CNN declare state after state in favor of then-Senator Barack Obama. My grandparents had a four-foot-thick faux-wooden floor-style television. 

In 2017, I visited the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. It was a solemn place, marked by one of the gravest travesties ever afflicted upon a group of people.

Yesterday, I shared a post that reads, "We are officially living out the part of history books that makes school kids ask, 'Why didn't anyone do anything to stop this?'"

And I agree with the sentiment. The concern transcends our current political landscape and even the United States in general. Our world is a difficult place to be and live. Wars are raging across the globe, and dictatorial governments continue committing atrocities in the name of progress. 

Why isn't anyone doing anything to stop this? 

We may feel powerless compared to the people who hold elected office, disenfranchised, or perhaps we feel held back by the weight of the world. Issues like war, poverty, and systemic injustice run deep and require comprehensive reforms. 

I simply do not have the answers. However, I am comforted by the progress I see being made in communities across the nation. People are doing things. Our world is full of opportunities to make a difference. 

If you missed the most recent one, consider voting in the next election, advocating for legislative changes that drive positive progress, seeking opportunities to volunteer locally, mentoring younger people who need positive role models, donating to charitable causes, caring for the vulnerable, participating in your church's outreach, and educating yourself. 

We must live out the light we wish this dark world to have. It is our collective responsibility to advocate for those who are marginalized, in pain, and experiencing immense poverty. When our lives end, we will wonder, 'Was I God's witness? Did I care for the least of these?'

Speak the truth even if your voice shakes. Do not fall quiet for any purpose. Be God's witness, live out our Appalachian ideals and perpetuate hope and justice. 


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