By James B. Ewers Jr. Ed.D.
It’s football season, and of course you hear the word “sidelines” a lot. It’s a word that you understand regardless of your level of sports knowledge.
The television cameras will pan to the sidelines many times throughout the game. You and I will see players and coaches talking to each other. You will also observe support personnel like trainers carrying out their duties.
All these engagements make football games even more exciting. You can only imagine what is being said. Instant medical decisions are also made when players get injured.
During my career in higher education, I was on a few college football sidelines. Those were great moments, and I remember many like they just happened yesterday.
Now in 2026, we are on a different type of sideline. Succinctly put, we are on the sidelines, and the American people are losing. There isn’t any cheering, no standing ovations and no winning streaks.
We have lost our voice of reason, and defeat has crept into our psyche. Unfortunately, we have a losing mentality, and that doesn’t feel good. Our lives are chaotic and crisis-filled. There are no touchdowns, only downs.
When we go to the supermarket, we are being penalized. The prices of goods have us crying foul, and there is no instant replay.
Political officials currently on the field in Washington and many states aren’t reversing any policies. We are simply stuck on our own one-yard line. That means that we have a long way to go.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion aren’t on the playing field anymore. In fact, they aren’t even in the stadium. Life is far different now.
The rules have changed, and the commissioner in charge doesn’t hear us. He blows a different kind of whistle, and he does what he does best: penalizing people.
Where did truth and honesty go? Can we get them back? I believe that we can.
Our democracy is rooted in citizens following a set of guidelines and principles which have been around for over 200 years. Will they fail us now? No, they will not.
Some have attempted to tweak the democratic ideal. Without question, the forces of ill will have come calling. They call with false promises and pretenses.
They can’t win, and they won’t win. However, some critics say our nation has become socially benign. We have fallen for a tainted bill of goods. Our voices have become silent. We don’t speak up and speak out as we should. Our position on rules and regulations has become almost mute.
Is this what we want? Is this the future we want for our children and grandchildren? They are watching our passivity and our lack of passion.
Despite the negativity, it is not too late. One of the most important elections in our lifetime will happen on November 3rd. Your vote and mine will matter.
Over recent years, we have watched the slow erosion of truth and honesty. We have been bombarded with an unending stream of unethical leadership. It goes on, and we pretend it is OK.
The overall mood of our beloved country isn’t good. At every turn, we face problems with no solutions. What happened to the land of the free and the home of the brave?
We have lost our standing in the world. Other countries look at us now with both contempt and sadness. That is my opinion.
The fabric of our democracy is torn and tattered. Too many excuses, disguised as remedies, are being offered. America, let’s not remain maligned and motionless in our actions. We can do better; we must do better; and we will do better.
