“These are the times that try men’s souls.” Two hundred and fifty years ago, Thomas Paine wrote those words when the American Revolution was falling apart. Today, as we get ready to celebrate our country’s 250th birthday in July 2026, we are facing a new kind of test. This time, the threat isn’t a king from across the ocean. The threat is right here, on our own streets.

Look at what is happening in Minneapolis. Three thousand federal agents have taken over the city. They wear masks. They don’t follow local laws. They have already killed two citizens and used tear gas on crowds that included children. Now, the government is making a scary demand: they will only pull the agents out if the state hands over its voter list.

This is not about safety. This is extortion. It is a bully move to sway the midterm elections by using force. While this happens, our Republican leaders in Tennessee have done nothing. They give speeches gaslighting Americans while feigning concern, but they don’t actually act. Paine called these people “summer soldiers.” They are happy to be patriots when things are easy and the sun is shining, but they disappear the moment things get tough. Of course, there’s no reason for them to act if they don’t fear reelection.

We cannot afford to be summer soldiers. If we wait for someone else to save us, we will lose everything. Benjamin Franklin once said we have a republic “if you can keep it.” He didn’t say “if the courts keep it” or “if the police keep it.” He meant you. The power belongs to the people, but only if we are brave enough to use it.

The citizens in Minneapolis aren’t waiting. Thousands of them are marching in freezing weather to demand their city back. They are showing us what it means to “keep” a republic. It’s time for us to do the same in Coffee County.

How to Fight Back Right Now:

We don’t need a new revolution; we just need to make the government follow its own rules. Here is how you can help keep our republic in a peaceful, nonviolent manner: Show Up: Join the local marches. Numbers matter. When thousands of neighbors stand together, it’s much harder for bullies to ignore us. Blow Up the Phones: Call Sen. Hagerty, Sen, Blackburn, and Rep. DesJarlais every single day. Demand they cut off the funding for these masked domestic terrorists. Bear Witness: Don’t let the news cycle distract you. Keep talking to others about what is happening. Refuse to look away.

History is full of instances when ordinary citizens decided to take a stand.  We have a choice: we can be the generation that watched freedom die, or we can be the one that saved it. Let’s show the world that we can keep it.

Mike Stein

Chair, Coffee Co. Democratic Party

Manchester