Letters: Retirement can wait; there’s work to do

Instead of writing this letter, I should be scouting out senior citizen discounts and early bird specials. It’s time to ease into retirement and enjoy my golden years. But I cannot relax and exhale when millions stand to lose health care, women’s rights and human rights are under attack, so many of our citizens go hungry, and yet our elected officials continue to promote their party over the needs of their constituents.

Making protest signs is my new hobby. Calling, writing and visiting the offices of my U.S. senators (Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott) and representative (Joe Wilson) are factored into my days. Trips to the State House are routine. I sit in on Senate hearings for discussions on open-and-shut and permitless gun carry and the personhood bill to make my thoughts and concerns known.

Many of us are speaking up for common sense and human rights. We are multigenerational and multicultural. We resist and persist for justice and truth in our government and society. We are angry and motivated to make a difference. The time is now. My golden years will have to wait.

This story was originally published June 13, 2017 at 5:40 PM with the headline "Letters: Retirement can wait; there’s work to do."