“These are the times that try men's souls” Thomas Paine wrote in his first issue of “The American Crisis,” his 1776-1783 pamphlet series. These times, today, are trying many an American’s soul. A good portion of our society does not believe in or trust the rest of us. Many want to save the nation – from us.

In this moment that will decide our country’s future, it is not a matter of agreeing with or supporting the Democratic Party. Continue to believe the Democrats are evil, socialists and coming after your guns. Hold on to that till the day you die. Hate the Democrats.

But do not confuse the Democratic Party with democracy. Democracy is under threat but use this synonym: “the rule of law.” The rule of law is under threat. That reality was shown Thursday at the hearing of the U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. We saw graphic video of insurrectionists overrunning the Capitol, a replaying of the attempted coup unleashed by then President Donald Trump.

Like the rule of law or grumble about the rule of law. It is time to choose. The people of the United States are going to live under the rule of law because they support it or they are going to turn their back on the rule of law. If we, the people, do, the alternative is mob rule by leaders creating their own rules and changing those rules as it fits and benefits them.

Those leaders use thugs and mobs to threaten, beat and kill regular people – Capitol police, congressional representatives, citizens and dissenters – speaking against those in their way.

Mob rule enforces strong men in power. That is the alternative to the rule of law.

That is the choice every adult in the United States has to make. It is time to choose. Is it the rule of law or mob rule? Are we a nation of laws or of men who rule by decree?

Once society descends to mob rule, what is the way out? It is first the new government’s mob, then your mob then my mob. Who can say their mob is right and all must follow their rules? The door to chaos opens. That is what the Dark Ages were. That is why they were called the "Dark Ages."

Recall Charleston Heston at the end of "Planet of the Apes." What does he find half buried in the sand? Liberty's torch, the raised arm of the Statue of Liberty.

There is no resolving liberty with mob rule.

After the Constitution was approved Benjamin Franklin was asked, "What will it be, a republic or a monarchy?" That is, a government where elected leaders develop laws, or a government where a king creates rules to benefit himself first and last?

"It is a republic, if you can keep it," Franklin answered in September 1789. "Keeping it" is an ongoing process. It is hard, continuous work. Keeping it means holding on to hating Democrats while accepting – facing up to and embracing – the fact that former President Donald Trump worked to overthrow the republic that he took an oath of office to protect.

People believe what they want. But we are either choosing to accept the fact that Trump instigated an insurrection to overthrow the government or we are choosing to support mob rule.

There is the United States flag or the Trump nation flag.

That is the choice. A country grounded in the rule of law or a country of mob rule. This country is either one or the other.

Will we stick with our republic or tear it down, ending it, 1789-2022, with no peaceful rest but mayhem ahead for all of us?

Citizens, it is time to choose.