Silence no longer golden

I look forward to Easter weekend each year. It’s a time of reawakening. Trees bud. Daffodils’ bright heads emerge in the yards. Tulips appear. Crocus and grape hyacinth’s purple hues dot flower beds. Flowering bushes brighten the edges of homes. Children excitedly look for brightly colored Easter eggs. Families gather for dinner to celebrate their connections and love.

Christian families and the faithful gather for various Holy Week services from Palm Sunday through Easter. Those who celebrate Passover also gather for worship. For many of us, the stories and readings are the same each year and simultaneously new each time we hear them.

Easter is about faith, hope, mercy, redemption and love.

This year was different. We’re engaged in a war. Yes, it’s a war by any definition of the word. War started without Congressional approval costing more than $1 billion dollars per day. War with no specific reasons to start it. War that decision-makers thought would be over in a matter of days. War started early in April and no end in sight. War escalating with each threat, bomb dropped and ultimatum issued via Truth Social posts.

How long can Iowa’s “Silent Six,” two Senators and four Congressional Representatives, remain silent? How long can we remain silent?

Last week two military planes crashed. Two of three pilots were rescued. Another pilot was rescued early Easter Sunday morning. It was a reason to celebrate military expertise and professionalism, safety of a wounded pilot and hope for an end of war. It was an Easter miracle.

The miracle was overshadowed later Easter Sunday. Our Commander in Chief posted on Truth Social a vulgar and insulting statement inappropriate for his office. The content of the post would have resulted in the firing of any CEO or employee in an American business.

I’m not prudish. I’ve used inappropriate language myself. Many of us have. We weren’t Commander in Chief speaking during wartime.

The Commander in Chief completed a news conference Monday afternoon stating that “every bridge in Iran and power plant is targetable.” He threatened to take out desalinization plants disrupting water supplies. He said he could “take out the entire country in a single night.” The U.S. President has promised to “bomb Iran to the Stone Ages.” He left little doubt of intentions to fulfill threats. If followed, he could be issuing an illegal order to the military. Be assured, there will be retaliation by the Iranians.

The US isn’t engaged in video games. It is an active war on foreign soil. So far, troops aren’t on the ground. The military swears to obey the Constitution and not to obey illegal orders. It’s drilled into career military personnel. Will they say, “No” to a command from the Commander and Chief?

The American people did not want another “forever” war or to bear the burden of paying for it. American workers struggle with affordability of gas, food, insurance, housing and essential needs. Farmers struggle with cost of land, equipment, diesel fuel and fertilizer.

The burden of paying for the war will be borne by America’s workers whether it’s cuts to education, Medicaid, Medicare or environmental programs.

How long can Iowa’s “Silent Six,” remain silent? How long can we remain silent? No one asked for the aggression in Iran.

We are at a moment to speak up. Call Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst. Call Representative Zach Nunn. The message is simple. No more forever wars. Listen to your constituents. If they won’t speak up, we will elect someone who has the courage to speak truth to power.

Elections are a few months away. We cannot sit it out or phone it in. Voting is everything. Turn-out needs to be massive to send the message.

Silence is no longer golden.