To the editor: J.D. Vance, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, isn’t just a figure on the national stage – he’s now a neighbor to many Virginians, living in Alexandria.
As Virginia grapples with its political identity – a state where Trump lost twice, yet Republican candidates still vie for his endorsement – Vance’s presence forces us to confront a crucial question: Who gets to decide America’s moral compass, and how will it shape our commonwealth’s future?
Vance’s story of escaping poverty resonates with millions, including many in Virginia’s economically diverse regions from the coal country of Southwest Virginia to the tech corridors of Northern Virginia. But beneath his rags-to-riches tale lies a darker narrative – one that blames women’s freedoms for society’s ills.
I understand Vance’s pain. I too clawed my way out of a traumatic, impoverished childhood in the foothills of mountains (mine were the Adirondacks). But my story flips the script.
Where Vance sees salvation in rigid Christian morality, I see the source of my trauma. I grew up in a cult-like religious setting. My escape wasn’t from godlessness, but from suffocating faith – a journey that many Virginians, from various religious backgrounds, might relate to.
Both Vance and I succeeded against the odds. We both assigned blame. But here’s the critical difference: I recognize that my singular experience doesn’t define universal truth. Vance seems to believe his does – a dangerous premise for a potential vice president who could influence policies affecting Virginia’s diverse population.
Vance’s vision of America is one where women lose the right to divorce or have abortions. He argues that adherence to religious morality would have saved him, his mother, and by extension, the entire country. It’s a seductive idea – a simple fix for complex problems. But it’s dangerously misguided, especially in a state like Virginia that has been grappling with these issues in its legislature and courts.
This complexity is evident in Virginia’s political landscape. While Republican candidates like Hung Cao and John McGuire seek Trump’s endorsement, embracing Vance’s ideology, they do so in a state that has twice rejected Trump at the polls. This dichotomy reflects the diverse experiences and viewpoints within Virginia itself.
America’s greatness, and indeed Virginia’s strength, lies in its diversity of experiences and ideas. The founding principle that each individual has the right to pursue their own happiness is revolutionary – a principle that Virginia, as the birthplace of American democracy, should hold dear. It means my journey coexists equally with Vance’s, despite our opposing views.
Vance has every right to live according to his beliefs, to assign blame as he sees fit for his personal trauma. But he doesn’t have the right to impose his narrow worldview on a nation, or a state, built on tolerance and individual freedom.
We’re all dancing on the same floor, America – and Virginia is a microcosm of this dance. Some of us are waltzing to hymns in the Shenandoah Valley, others are slam dancing to punk rock in Richmond’s underground scene. The beauty lies in dancing to the beat of your own internal drum, not in forcing everyone to follow the same rigid steps.
Our strength isn’t in uniformity, but in our ability to thrive despite our differences. That’s the real American dream – and it’s one worth protecting from those who would narrow its scope, no matter how compelling their personal story might be.
As Virginians contemplate their political future, this is the dream we must hold onto.
Cheryl Kelley, Arlington
