The two wildly contrasting pictures share an odd relationship. The first is from the riveting opening scene of World War II film "The Resistance Fighter." It shows a mother, arms around her 6-year-old, shivering in both snow and the fascist presence of a Nazi officer. 

   "There is only one right way!" the officer shouts at her. "Pick!"

   "I don't understand," the young mother stammers.

   "We will decide by a coin flip," the officer says, as the mother realizes she must choose Hitler* or be shot.

   The second image is just a snapshot of me playing peek-a-boo with my mom. But it is from the same time period, 1944!

   I sat safe because Americans had chosen democracy and were fighting to save it. Millions of other children sat terrified because Germany had chosen a fascist, Hitler.  

  On October 22, Trump's longest serving Chief of Staff, Marine General John Kelly told The New York Times, "Trump fits the definition of a fascist."** 

  Meanwhile, I discovered a flaw in counting "undecideds." I kept hearing Republicans complain about Trump but thought they had to vote for him.

  Finally, I asked one: "Why not leave the top spot blank?" 

  "If I could, I would!" he answered.

   "You can," I said. "So, you will!"

   Over the past two weeks, I found ten more college-educated men who mistakenly thought you had to check a box for each race. One was also fuzzy about what fascism meant.**

   After I explained it he laughed, "Now, I can say I didn't vote for the fascist!"

   He joins seven more of that ten who will leave the top spot blank. Could there be more?

   Americans currently face no punishment for their voting choice. Millions living under dictators today do not have that luxury. 

   Trump's handling of COVID and his false FEMA conspiracy theories threatened caregiver-safety. This tells me Harris is best. Others now know another choice: neither. 

 -Erie Chapman

*"VP Nominee, Sen. J.D. Vance has previously called Trump, "America's Hitler." 

**"Under fascism, a government ruled by a dictator controls the lives of the people in that society, and allows no dissent or disagreement." – Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

NOTE: Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Trump, General Mark Milley, agrees with Kelly.