Midwest Totalitarianism
As we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States, what kind of nation are we becoming?
The promise of America has always been imperfect. From the beginning, liberty was proclaimed on stolen land worked by slaves. Yet generation after generation expanded the circle of freedom, believing that democracy is strongest when more voices are heard, not fewer.
That is why recent events in Ohio should alarm all of us.
Last week, the FBI raided the offices of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, a group known for voter registration and civic engagement. Agents reportedly seized computers, questioned staff and volunteers, and visited homes across the state as part of a voter fraud investigation. Critics have described the operation as an effort to intimidate organizers and suppress participation in our democracy.
At the same time, progressive blogger D.J. Byrnes was arrested on a telecommunications harassment charge stemming from communications with an Ohio state senator. The arrest has drawn criticism from people across the political spectrum who fear the criminal justice system is being used against a government critic.
The warning signs of authoritarianism are not tanks in the streets. They are the normalization of fear. They are citizens wondering whether speaking out will make them a target. They are communities questioning whether participation in democracy is safe.
As a transgender pastor, I know that marginalized communities are often the first to experience the consequences of shrinking freedom. When governments begin targeting those who challenge power, history teaches us that the circle of repression rarely stops with one group.
On the eve of America’s 250th birthday, patriotism does not mean blind loyalty to those in power. Patriotism means loyalty to the principles of liberty, justice, free expression, and democratic participation. It means defending the rights of people with whom we disagree. It means insisting that government power be exercised with transparency, restraint, and accountability.
Two hundred and fifty years ago, our nation was born in a push against empire. Now we have become empire. Will we rise above our fear or repeat history?