Anyone who regularly reads this weekly column knows that I rarely get political in this space. I tend to leave the heavy politics to the op-ed pages.

While this week’s column may come off as politically-motivated, it’s not. With that being said, I will first say that I never cared for former president Joe Biden and his political leanings. However, I have always respected the office of the President of the United States.

The fact that we, the voting public, elect the person to hold that title is somewhat sacred to me. As for the former president, I was saddened and moved by what I and everyone else saw happening to the man as his presidency waned.

It was clear that there were obvious physical and mental changes happening to Mr. Biden. And as it progressed, all I could think about was my father. My dad suffered numerous mini strokes before a complete shutdown of his circulatory system contributed to the end of his life.

During those days following my dad’s last serious stroke, he changed. He was not able to do the physical things he used to do. His ability to walk normally was stilted. His speech was slurred and unrecognizable sometimes. He got angry more easily and he could curse a blue streak, something we rarely heard from his Christian lips prior to the stroke.

I can only imagine my father’s anger at the unfortunate and debilitating health events in his life. It didn’t seem fair for someone who survived the Battle of the Bulge in World War II to be felled with such physical and mental challenges. But as a family, my mother and siblings did our best to see that our dad got the care and love he needed while going through such trying times.

So when I saw Mr. Biden walking stiffly across a stage or attempting to complete a thought, it sort of angered me that it was not properly addressed by those around him. Besides that, it was downright frightening to know Mr. Biden had his hand on the nuclear button while not at his full health both physically and mentally.

There is no shame in admitting when someone needs help or can no longer do the job. There is real shame and danger in ignoring the obvious.

My dad was not the president of the United States, but we made sure he felt as important as ever to us. Whether it’s an illness, disease or simply the aging process that changes someone, ignoring it will not make it go away. Take care of the people you love and elect.

Heather Ziegler can be reached via email at hziegler@theintelligencer.net.