In rural areas, speaking truth to power, eye to eye and face to face, can come at a personal cost, outspoken writer says

Speaking truth to power can bring a personal cost, columnist Teri Carter of Lawrenceburg, Ky., writes from personal experience for the Lexington Herald-Leader and the Louisville Courier Journal.

Teri Carter

Carter says she was nearly evicted from the Anderson County school board meeting in March because she exceeded the time limit as she read "letters from frustrated teachers who desperately wanted our board to understand the untenable reality of life in the classroom." She reminded the chairman "of the man who often spoke at length in these meetings and was always allowed to finish, a man who was recently banned for wearing a gun in this room." But a deputy sheriff appeared, and she sat down.

Rather than ranting on social media, Carter confronts: "I openly question the actions and intent of public officials in my town. And here is what I can tell you: it comes at a personal cost. Maybe it works differently in urban America, in big, crowded cities where it is easier to feel as anonymous in person as you do online. But I live in small-town, rural Kentucky where it is not only seen as an impolite, personal affront to confront or question someone in power, but in a place deeply rooted in gun culture where many of the people you are criticizing, and the group that agrees with them, are likely carrying guns."

The day after the school board meeting, "I extended my hand in good faith," emailing the superintendent and board members "offering to talk to them privately about the teachers’ letters/concerns. The superintendent responded with an email that began, 'I have spoken with the board attorney.' There would be no more talking. We have not spoken since."

Carter concludes, "The tragedy in Uvalde is overwhelming. We remain furious. We want to scream at cowards like Sen. [Ted] Cruz, but the reality is that we won’t. The cost is too high. So, what ARE we going to do? What is our plan, your plan? How are we going to get guns out of the hands of men who not only kill our kids, but silence the rest of us with the knowledge that they are the ones with the guns?"