As promised, here's the rest of Dr. Glen Fenter's speech at the recent Charleston Chamber of Commerce banquet:

"So, where do we start? We're living in a time when the biggest threat to our communities isn't just what we disagree on -- it's whether we can even agree on what's true.

"Social media has made all of us publishers. But sadly, it hasn't made all of us editors. We have to slow down, check our sources, and always look for confirmation. If something makes you angry or afraid, that's the moment to pause, not share. If something is true, more than one credible source will report it. Today, truth isn't something we passively receive--it's something we have to actively pursue. And if nothing else, it's always best to remember what your mother told you: If you don't have anything good to say, then don't say it!

"Another growing threat to our future hides in the form of dark money. We're talking about political spending where the true donors are hidden. The 2010 Supreme Court Citizens United decision changed the playing field. No longer are there restrictions against widespread political spending by corporations, unions, and special interest groups. Across the country and here in Arkansas, dark money is now pouring into state and local elections in record amounts, bringing with it agendas that most often have narrowly focused out of state special interest agendas at their core.

"And the politics of smaller rural states like ours are particularly vulnerable. With no limits to dark money spending, a single well-funded group, again, often with no real ties to the community, can shape the narrative, flood the airwaves, and influence outcomes before voters even know who is behind the message.

"And lastly, we now have artificial intelligence. Similar to the early days of research and development surrounding nuclear energy, AI has the potential to transform our world as we know it. But it also brings very real risks. Left unchecked, it can amplify misinformation at a scale we've never seen before, generating convincing false content that blurs the line between truth and fiction.

"The greatest danger to our future is when social media, dark money and AI all are combined--anonymous money paying for targeted, unprecedentedly manipulative social media campaigns that reach millions. In an instant, messages can be engineered to exploit fears and divisions, then delivered directly to laptops and smartphones across the country--shaping what we see, what we believe, and ultimately, how we act.

"It's not altogether unlike the recent efforts to build a mega prison in an indefensibly illogical location, with many geographic and living conditions similar to those that we just recently viewed on the dark side of the moon, all contiguous to a community adamantly opposed to it, intentionally kept in the dark until the eleventh hour. Or it's how you end up with something like the LEARNS Act--a massive piece of legislation that by design moved through the Arkansas General Assembly with historic speed, absent any meaningful levels of understanding from our legislature or the general public.

Had there been meaningful debate, lawmakers and citizens alike might have better understood how this scheme would divert hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars from public schools and the communities they support to private and home schools that are not held to the same standards, oversight, or obligations. They might have heard about how this law would primarily benefit the wealthy, with nearly 90 percent of voucher recipients already attending private schools. They might have had time to ponder the wisdom of creating a new educational system in which there's nothing stopping taxpayer dollars from being used for horseback riding lessons, karate classes, ski lift tickets, or even an "educational" trip to Europe.

"Most of all, the Legislature and the general public might have seen that the LEARNS Act is not about education at all, but more about a political strategy, one aimed at dismantling public schools rather than strengthening them, and at dividing our communities rather than bringing them together, all orchestrated by out-of-state coalitions and fueled by dark money.

"So what does this all mean? Well, clearly, we have to work harder than ever to protect and preserve our communities. We can't forget that we have been given the opportunity to live in what still remains the greatest country on our planet, enjoying blessings that the rest of the world only dreams of. These blessings, however, carry a moral responsibility: to find the truth, and fight for it.

"I repeat what I stated earlier: Our responsibility is to the next generation. To our children. And to our grandchildren. They are going to need places like Charleston more than ever before--places rooted in stability, opportunity, values, and a sense of belonging. But most of all, they are going to need leaders just like you who are ready and willing to fight to keep it."

When Fenter sent me this speech, I noticed he edited one part out. It is important to note because it speaks to his character, the kind I am looking for in a leader. It should be the standard when deciding how to vote, surpassing party platform or anything else.

He told a little story about sitting around his table and discussing with his wife and children whether he should run for governor. They all asked questions like, "Why would you do this to yourself?" and "Why would you put us all through it?"

Fenter admitted to the crowd at the banquet that he burst into tears. "Because this is home. And it's not right. It is not right what's happening, and somebody has to do something about it."

Gwen Ford Faulkenberry is an author, teacher, and award-winning columnist from Ozark. Email her at gfaulkenberry@hotmail.com. Watch her vodcast here: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/podcast/smalltowngirl/, https://www.nwaonline.com/news/podcast/smalltowngirl/.

Gwen Ford Faulkenberry is a mother, author, English professor, and award-winning columnist from Ozark, Arkansas. She has written for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette since 2021.

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