Twelve months ago, I had the good fortune to welcome my first granddaughter into this world. The joy I have when thinking about the possibilities before her is however coupled with a growing anxiety about what that future might look like given what is going on in our democracy. I am one of four sisters, a mother, an aunt and godmother to a crew of creative and strong young women. I totter between dreaming of, and fearing for, what is ahead for the beloved females in my life, including the one and only Mother Earth.

When I ingest the news cycles about our options for presidential candidates, I return to the fact that, this election comes down to a fundamental choice that will impact both my future and those of my beloveds. And so I ask, who will do the utmost to care for and ensure a bright future of possibilities and rights for women and girls?

I encourage my fellow citizens to step away from the individual personalities running for office. Our natural world and our girls are both at great risk in this election — who leads our democracy for the next four years will have lasting impact. I believe we ignore this at our peril. I hope my fellow Americans will step away from the hype and deeply contemplate what their vote in November will mean for the future of our granddaughters, daughters, sisters and mothers, including Mother Earth.

Tory Dietel Hopps
Cumberland