t Jan. 5, 2026 Editor, The News-Gazette: In light of domestic and international developments, I’ll delay no longer in sharing this thought with my fellow readers.
Anyone of sincere intent who is currently administering an oath that includes swearing to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution should be imploring authorities of good intent to put such oath-taking on pause to provide for discussion of exactly what the oath takers are being asked to commit to.
If I were being asked to take such an oath in the current moment — as I have done in the past as a commissioned U.S. Army officer — I would absolutely be delaying my sworn oath to ask for clarifications and guarantees regarding its substance and implications.
Think about the denigration, violation, shredding and devaluation the U.S. Constitution has undergone during Donald Trump’s first and second terms as president.
How can we rightfully expect the younger citizens among us — consider U.S. military, U.S. civil service and law enforcement recruits — to be clear and sincere about the personal ramifications of the oath they are asked to take?
The question likewise applies to the swearing in of elected officials regardless of age and length of past public service. GEORGE KOSOVIC Lexington
