When State Rep. Brad Fritts abruptly dropped his membership in the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce , citing the Chamber’s decision to remove God from an opening prayer and publish a DEI statement, what we witnessed wasn’t a stand for principle, but a brittle spirit exposed under pressure.

We’ve seen this posture again and again: politicians railing against “woke” ideas as if they are a threat to liberty itself. But scratch the surface, and it’s less about defending values and more about fragility. It’s grievance politics in search of a fight, and it doesn’t do much for the communities these leaders are supposed to serve.

The Chamber isn’t a partisan body. It’s a civic institution. It supports small businesses, raises scholarship money for local students, and provides a place whe

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