Politics, policy, and personality: these three themes seem to occupy today’s stage in our current political atmosphere. We are proud of our democracy and in our American heritage on which it stands.

Indeed, we are a Republic and thus we elect those individuals who represent each of us in the halls of government … locally, regionally, statewide, and nationally.

This is our American way of doing things. The following poem of mine, sets forth the framework on which we base our hopes and aspirations in this Republic of ours. For you see, this is so much a part of the fabric of the American way.

OUR AMERICAN FABRIC

Most of us are just plain and ordinary folks…

That is the fabric of our American land.

We each try to do the job we have before us

And to do for others… whenever… whatever we can.

We now see candidates running for public office

And that is the way it should be, in the land of the free.

We are proud there are citizens who are willing to serve

Representing each of us, in our beloved “Country ’tis of thee”.

We so want candidates who are running for public office

To be honest, forthright, and trustingly true;

We look for genuine statesmanship of human virtue

Who respect the banner of our red, white, and blue.

All we ask, is to feel safe in our home-land

And to be secure in our great out-of-doors;

We are a great Country in which we are proud to be living

As thoughtful people within our freedom-loving shores.

Truly, there are candidates for various levels of office

From local positions … to the Presidency of this great Land

Their honesty and sincerity is required at whatever level

To provide most thoughtfully, a trusted guiding hand.

We are not looking for candidates of negative innuendo

Or hurtful personal insults, as a way to politically endure;

For clearly, those who transmit such poisonous venom

Says more about the instigator than the intended victim, to be sure.

We just ask for candidates with sincere and honest candor

Who are capable of performing each day…

The responsibilities of office for which they are seeking

In a truthfully honest and character-filled way.

The true spirit of our democracy stands in the balance

It is indeed worthy of the highest level of performance.

For then, we are assured we have preserved the true nature

Of our national fabric … the totality of American endurance.

— Poem by Robert L. Heichberger

Dr. Robert L. Heichberger is a resident of Gowanda and Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus SUNY Fredonia