A question I often hear when I speak at churches and events is, “Tony, what keeps you up at night?” Because I’m in Washington, D.C., interacting with our nation’s leaders on major domestic and global issues, people assume there must be a looming crisis that weighs on me. My usual response is straightforward: only too much caffeine keeps me awake. But I understand what they’re really asking: When you consider the future of our country, what troubles you most?
My answer? The growing lack of moral courage to stand for what is true and right.
Mark Twain observed, “It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare.” Indeed, physical courage is crucial for defending a nation against external threats, and we rightly honor those who display it. However, moral courage sustains a nation from within, ensuring it remains worthy of such defense.
Sadly, over the last few decades, as right became wrong and wrong became right, moral courage has become as rare as a hassle-free TSA line (but that’s another commentary). Instead of speaking out, many surrender to cancel culture, self-censoring or choosing cowardice over courage. Let’s be blunt: that’s exactly what it is — cowardice — and it has toppled civilizations throughout history.
This is why Maine State Representative Laurel Libby stands out. She was censured by the Democratic-controlled Maine House for refusing to back down under pressure from Speaker Ryan Fecteau (D). Ordered to apologize for a private Facebook post that showed a high school pole vaulter who placed fifth as a boy last year and first this year as a girl, Rep. Libby refused. Democrats accused her of targeting trans-identifying students, but she insisted she was highlighting an uncomfortable truth her colleagues chose to ignore.
Earlier this week, Libby filed a federal lawsuit against the legislature, claiming her First Amendment rights were violated when they barred her from speaking or voting on behalf of her constituents. As she put it, “Instead of having an open and honest debate about the devastating impacts of Maine girls being forced to compete against biological males, Speaker Fecteau and his Democratic colleagues resorted to canceling and silencing me.” I interviewed her shortly after she was censured, and she made it clear she would not be intimidated or silenced — she would keep speaking the truth, no matter the cost.
In a time of shifting moral tides, the willingness to speak truth, even when it’s unpopular, serves as a bulwark against complacency. It’s what keeps us anchored to the principles that have guided our republic for generations.
Why does moral courage matter so much? Because truth is powerful. As Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:32). Yet freedom remains a hollow concept if we lack the fortitude to declare and defend what is right. Moral courage is what animates our liberty and prevents it from eroding in the face of cultural pressure.
If we fail to exhibit moral courage, we risk leaving future generations with a weakened foundation. The question is whether we will stand firm or stand by as complacency and cowardice reshape our national character.
