The power of ONE — an open letter to the COS grassroots

One author picked up a pen and paper and composed an epoch-making essay. One mother loved her soon-to-be-famous stepson dearly and believed in him, even when no one else did. One 10-year-old child influenced lawmakers to vote in favor of a crucial piece of legislation.

Every day, we are surrounded by everyday difference-makers, ordinary men and women who hold the power to shape our future. History attests time and again that sometimes, all it takes is one — one patriot, one dreamer, one fearless soldier, unwavering pioneer, or relentless activist — to change the course of history.

That author’s name was Thomas Paine; his eloquent words, contained within the seminal pamphlet, The American Crisis, reinvigorated George Washington’s troops and led them to victory. That mother’s name was Sarah Bush Lincoln; after Abe’s mother died when he was nine, she adopted him, nourished him, and “saw the diamond when virtually everyone else around this gangly, awkward boy saw the rough.”

That child’s name is Cody; a member of the Maryland Convention of States grassroots team, Cody testified to the Maryland Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee about Article V of the U.S. Constitution.

“You’re probably thinking and asking yourselves, ‘What is a 10-year-old doing here today,’” he said. “‘What does he know about governance and passing laws?’”

Well, quite a lot, actually.

This brilliant young scholar and leader explained to the committee that he had recently written an award-winning essay defining American federalism (how many adults can define that term?) and answering the question—“Why did the Framers and Founders create such a government for America?”

“The Founding Fathers built America to have freedom from the excessive power of the monarchy of England,” he posited. “The Founders and Framers made sure that [our] government would work to protect the people’s rights and freedom. The Constitution was written, and federalism was born in America.”

“Today,” he added, “we children mostly read and hear news about Biden versus Trump, Democrats versus Republicans, war, inflation, corruption. It’s all about pointing fingers. We children do not want self-serving politicians; we do not want war. We want good education and great leaders to teach us. You are our leaders; you are our examples. I humbly ask you, senators, please…. Do not let our federal government grow unchecked. Protect us—your children, your future.”

Out of the mouth of babes…

You see, if even a 10-year-old can make a difference, so can you. Whether you’re an author like Paine, a mother like Sarah, or a child like Cody, you can make a difference. As writer J. R. R. Tolkien described, “Such is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere.”

Sometimes, that’s all it takes—one brave soul swimming relentlessly against the stream, never surrendering to the pressure to keep quiet.

In his landmark tome, Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville warned future generations of the insidious scheme by which despots would seek to erect tyranny in America: “After having thus taken each individual one by one into its powerful hands, and having molded him as it pleases,” he wrote, “the sovereign power extends its arms over the entire society; it covers the surface of society with a network of small, complicated, minute, and uniform rules, which the most original minds and the most vigorous souls cannot break through to go beyond the crowd; it does not break wills, but it softens them, bends them and directs them; it rarely forces action, but it constantly opposes your acting; it does not destroy, it prevents birth; it does not tyrannize, it hinders, it represses, it enervates, it extinguishes, it stupefies, and finally it reduces each nation to being nothing more than a flock of timid and industrious animals, of which the government is the shepherd.”

No doubt, these tactics are actively being employed in society today. How should we resist? There’s only one way—with an engaged, vigilant, and watchful grassroots army.

Fortunately, the Convention of States movement is teeming with exactly those kinds of people. From young patriots like Cody to seasoned veterans and battle-scarred soldiers, We the People are waking up, one by one, to fight for liberty.

Will you join the “flock of timid and industrious animals, of which the government is the shepherd”? The masses around you may—but you can be the one who refuses.

“‘But what can I do?’” You might wonder. “‘I'm just one person.’” Ah, but so said seven billion people.

Pick up your pen and start writing. Invest in the next generation. Speak out in favor of Convention of States. Take history into your hands and mold it. It doesn’t matter if the crowds around you agree with you, applaud you, or even notice you.

One is enough.