A reality in a time of campaigning.

The place where I live is filled with beauty, especially at this time of year. The mountains, a stone's throw from my front porch, rest comfortably on the eastern horizon with a full symphony of colors spreading down their sides. It is quiet here, if you ignore the occasional muffler-challenged vehicle passing by on the moderately busy road, with only birdsong, the occasional barking dog or coyote howl, and the distant sounds of farming to punctuate the ruralness. In most respects it is a good place to live.

It is not, however, a place known for its religious or political tolerances. When you are in a minority of any kind life can be a challenge, if not outright hard, and like it or not the American south in general is not a place of willing diversity.

I have learned to keep the peace by holding my piece. My politics are nearly always contrary to those I come into contact with and when you are habitually shouted down you tend to withdraw. That's not to say I don't have strong opinions because I assure you I do. But its not worth beating my head against brick walls in an effort just to be heard.

During the last election this community was awash in Trump support. Flyers and flags were everywhere with some yards nearly hidden by the show of the owners' enthusiasm. Not far from me here is a gunsmith who proudly proclaimed where he stood (not someone I would want to willingly antagonize). Trump bumper stickers were literally everywhere. Unfortunately (or fortunately) I was, and am not, a Trump supporter.

This is not meant to be a Trump bashing essay. What it is meant to be is a commentary on our right as Americans to openly support and vote for whomever we decide would be the best candidate for the job. We should be able to say what we feel and show it as we see fit. We should not feel reluctant or fearful of speaking out about where we stand on an issue.

I am no coward but neither am I stupid. I do not participate in public discourse because where I live the residents in my neighborhood are not above harassing those who dare to differ. Perhaps I'm being over dramatic but I do not put it past some to be downright dangerous.

So during this campaign, as with the last, I will not be openly showing my support for a given candidate. It's not a matter of political politeness but a matter of apprehension. I will vote as I choose but I feel I must otherwise remain silent for fear of backlash. Even going to the voting booth for the primary election is a time of stress for me as I must openly declare which side of the aisle I most identify with and that is not the side enjoyed by everyone around me.

People around the world crave a right to vote for whom they want to govern. Many die for that right. Here in America, where we already have that right, many of us feel the heat of public disdain to an extent that we actually worry about the repercussions of declaring our choices. That is, as they say, a crying shame. It is not what the founders wanted. It is not what America is supposed to stand for.