The first two songs I ever memorized and sang were at church. The songs were “Jesus Loves Me” and “Jesus Loves the Little Children”. 

The latter has a pretty straightforward message for us, and it is one of the reasons that I believe that black lives really do matter, as do red, yellow, and white lives. I think all lives should matter to each of us, as I know they do to Christ.

Lives so valuable to Him that He allowed Himself to be shamed, unmercifully beaten, and to be hung on a cross to suffer an unimaginably painful death so that we might have eternal life with him in Heaven.

When I observe the effects of Cancel Culture in our society today, where individuals are vilified as racists, homophobes, intolerant, and/or haters, when the only real explanation for the vilification is that they have different political beliefs than their accusers, it makes me nauseous. 

Conservatives tend to be too polite and considerate to loudly voice their opinions like the progressive liberals of today do. Another reason for this is low profile, low key presence is that they do not want to expose themselves to the same type of attacks that have fallen upon other conservatives.

It appears that our First Amendment right of freedom of speech is only applicable for liberal Democrats and Socialists (it is hard to tell the difference). Any vocal opposition is quickly and mercilessly attacked as being racist, intolerant, hateful, divisive, or outright lies.

The recent attacks against Tim Montgomery are perfect examples of how this Cancel Culture is creeping throughout our country, all the way down to little Danville, Kentucky. 

I write this letter knowing full well that I risk these same accusations being leveled at me, but also knowing that any such accusations are baseless. I ask that we all take a long hard look at this situation and see it for what it really is, an attempt to silence the voice of conservative America. I pray that this stops here in Danville, and everywhere else across America.

Mike Leake

Danville