I was among the first to cheer when Maine’s governor stood up to the bully-in-chief at the White House. I did that while entirely disagreeing with her on the specific issue where she took her stand. Like Gov. Janet Mills, I’m for democracy and against autocratic tyrants. I’m for a government in which I can place “full faith and credit,” and against a government that discards its agreements on a moment’s notice — employment contracts, international alliances, the funding contracts on which our state university, our farmers and so many others rely. At the same time, I’m for women’s sports. I’m against letting young men and boys win athletic titles and scholarships meant for women and girls.

People in democracies can disagree. But if our democracy fails, our right to speak our disagreements will vanish. Our disagreements matter much less now than our agreements to live for democracy and against tyranny. For our government of laws. Against the coup in progress.

The fundamental freedoms of a democratic community are being assaulted right now. The fundamental trust of a democracy — trust in the integrity and goodwill of those we have elected as leaders — is being trampled right now. We all need to become “single-issue” advocates now. Our single issue must be democracy. And as we fight for democracy, we need to hope that, once again, the entire nation will go “as Maine goes.”

Carlene Hill Byron
Topsham