The Fourth of July represents the celebration of the birth of our nation. At its inception, America was built on the imperfect promise of democracy framed by the belief of human dignity and the rule of law. While these truths hold true today, our country is at yet another cross road in our unfolding history. Down one road lies continued pursuit of our imperfect union. Down the other road are darker times where cruelty becomes our policy and fear becomes law. The establishment of “Alligator Alcatraz” is the most recent example of such darker times that, if successful, will lead to more internment camps out of the eyesight of the general public as to what occurs behind their walls. This is not just a new immigration facility. It is a political prison designed to humiliate, dehumanize and broadcast terror and fear to anyone who does not “get on board” with this way of thought. While the political winds are stiff against a course correction at this moment, collectively we will have the opportunity in 2026 to re-establish some level of checks and balances on both the moral compass and respective policy of our country. In the meantime, please don’t give in to the darkness of despair. Rather, bear witness to these atrocities and find your voice to speak-out to become part of the solution. To paraphrase with some editorial liberty from Dante’s Inferno, the darkest places in history are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crises
Tim Knoster
7/6/25