Regardless of whether you are a Republican, a Democrat, or an independent, we should all be deeply concerned by the level of personal attacks and the nature of the rhetoric surrounding the Ohio Governor’s race between Democratic candidate Amy Acton and Vivek Ramaswamy.

When did we reach a point where tearing people down became more important than lifting our country up?

Political campaigns come and go. Elections are won and lost. But the words we use, the cruelty we tolerate, and the example we set for our children can leave scars long after the campaign signs come down.
Our children are watching. They are listening. They see these ads, hear these accusations, and learn from the way adults treat one another. What message are we sending them when humiliation becomes a political strategy and someone’s dignity becomes collateral damage in the pursuit of power?

God help us all if we become so accustomed to this kind of rhetoric that we no longer recognize the harm it can cause.

And there is something that weighs even more heavily on my heart.
I pray that not one child in Ohio—or anywhere in this country—ever stays silent about being physically, mentally, or sexually abused because they are afraid that something from their past might one day be used against them, that they will be ridiculed, shamed, or publicly humiliated.
No child should ever have to make that choice.

Not one child should ever feel that speaking the truth will cost them their dignity, their safety, or their future.

We must teach our children that abuse is never their fault. That asking for help is an act of courage. That their worth is not determined by what someone says about them. And that no amount of public shame should ever silence their voices.
We can disagree politically without destroying one another personally. We can challenge policies without stripping people of their humanity. And we can demand accountability without teaching our children that cruelty is acceptable when it serves our side.
This is bigger than one candidate. Bigger than one party. Bigger than one election.

This is about who we are as a people—and who we are raising our children to become.

So, before we share another attack ad, laugh at another humiliation, or excuse another act of cruelty because it benefits our political side, let us stop and ask ourselves one question:

If our children learn how to treat people by watching us, what kind of future are we creating for them?

May we never become so divided by politics that we lose our compassion for one another. And may we always be a society where every child knows they can speak up, tell the truth, ask for help, and be heard without fear.

Our children deserve better. Our country deserves better. And our humanity demands better. ❤️🇺🇸

#GetBetterOutcomes #Ohio #OhioGovernorsRace #ProtectOurChildren #ChooseCompassion #RestoreCivility