Political Thought

Enough is Enough: Protect Our Children

By Semir Nailovic

People ask why we’re stepping into this fight. This. Right here. This is why.

Because somewhere along the way, this country stopped drawing the line. Somewhere, we forgot that protecting children is not controversial, it’s fundamental.

Western Kentucky University recently hosted its 10th Annual Drag Show. But this wasn’t just a performance for adults. Children were present. One child, just four years old, was photographed handing a dollar to a drag performer. That image, with the child’s full name, was published by WKU’s own student newspaper, The Herald.

Let that sink in. A preschooler. On a college campus. In front of a stage. Handing money to an adult performer. And the institution that allowed it didn’t just condone it, they hosted it.

Where were the age restrictions? Where was the adult judgment? Where was the basic decency?

This isn’t about drag as an art form. It’s not about hate or division. It’s about harm. Let’s be clear: adults have the right to express themselves. Drag, like other performance art, is protected speech. And for many, it serves as a place of community and identity. That’s not in question.


What is in question is why children are being brought into these spaces. This isn’t a gray area, it’s a failure to protect. That boundary should be absolute. And that line should never be blurred.

Public colleges, funded by your tax dollars, are not meant to be cultural battlegrounds. They are not meant to expose young children to adult themes under the excuse of “inclusivity.”

They are meant to educate. To stay neutral. To protect.

As for the WKU student newspaper, The Herald, publishing that photo wasn’t journalism. It was recklessness. It was exploitation. And it was a betrayal of public trust. Not only for the photo and publishing a minor’s name, but for turning a blind eye to the safety of a child.

This is why action must be taken.

Other States Are Leading, So Can Kentucky

In 2023, Tennessee passed the Tennessee Adult Entertainment Act, which bans adult cabaret performances, including drag shows, in public spaces and in places where children could be present. This law drew a firm line in the sand: protecting minors must come first.

Kentucky attempted to do the same with Senate Bill 115 in 2013 and Senate Bill 147 in 2024. SB 147 would have restricted adult-themed performances from taking place near schools, parks, and places of worship, and prohibited minors from attending such events. Unfortunately, despite passing the Senate, the bill stalled in the House and never became law.

But this fight isn’t over.

Fight Back by Signing This Petition

If we are successful with this petition, if we demonstrate that Kentuckians want to protect our children from exposure to adult content, we can revisit Senate Bill 147 in 2026 and push for its passage.

This is our opportunity to lead with common sense. To stand with parents. To stand for childhood. And to hold our public institutions accountable.

We are calling for immediate and decisive action.

We call for a complete ban on drag shows and similar adult-themed performances on all college and university property. Public institutions are not the place for this kind of content, especially not where children are involved.

We call for the enforcement of strict, non-negotiable age requirements for any adult-oriented events held in public venues. No child should ever be present at or exposed to sexually expressive performances.

We call for an end to the use of taxpayer dollars, directly or indirectly, to fund, promote, or support any event involving drag performances on campus grounds.

We call for institutional neutrality. State-funded colleges must not take sides in polarizing cultural battles. They exist to educate, not to indoctrinate.

Children are not political props. They are not social experiments. And they are not entertainment.

To every parent who is fed up… to every taxpayer who feels ignored… to every citizen who believes that children deserve a childhood, this is your moment.

Sign the petition. Share the message. Stand with us.

Because if we don’t protect them now, who will? Enough is enough.

Semir Nailovic is a father, small business owner and a concerned citizen using his voice to advocate for the protection of children and the preservation of family values.

Divide and Conquer

By Mark Doggett

In the “Art of War,” Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu asserted that an enemy can be defeated without firing a shot. That may be what is happening to America.

To win a conflict, Sun Tzu said, use manipulation, deception, and the exploitation of weakness. Tyrannical powers actively use these techniques against us to create internal chaos and division.

Abraham Lincoln’s speech in 1858 acknowledged internal conflict as a destructive force when he said, “a house divided against itself cannot stand,” echoing Jesus’ parable in Mark 3:25.

In politics, conventional wisdom recommends one should stay silent when the opposition is fighting among themselves. And battles are rarely won through full-frontal assault.

Rather diversion, sneak attacks, and flanking maneuvers are preferred. If you can split the opponent, you win. You would think we have learned that internal division is a recipe for disaster. But this is not the case. Only unity of purpose can save us.

Progressives believe that utopia is just around the corner if we only try a little harder, that extreme ideas pushed a little harder will finally work. They believe we will come to love cradle-to-grave entitlements and a state-run economy that provides equal outcomes for everyone.

Alternatively, advocates for the elimination of government, no regulatory control, and isolationism still think prosperity will reign if we just let the invisible hand of the market work. They believe we will all treat each other with respect, dignity and fairness without any state-imposed guardrails.

Neither side seems to understand that human nature is neither capable nor willing to do either. Neither utopia nor revolution are not going to save us from ourselves. Continued name calling simply means we are all losing.

America’s enemies prefer to divide us to conquer us. There will be no frontal assault. Americans can split ourselves into tribes just fine. China, Russia, and Iran will certainly stay silent while we convince ourselves to hate each other. Divided we will fall, if we haven’t already.

What is the solution? Exactly the opposite of what we are doing. Here are some places to start:

First, encourage more speech, even speech that is offensive or hurtful. The most powerful words are those spoken with respect and transparency. Reasonable voices always prevail. Those who censor are never the good guys.

Second, love your neighbor. Care about your community more than the personality of the politician. Legislators come and go. The family next door is your best protection against the uncertainties of life.

Be an example of the behavior you would like to see in others.

Finally, get off the internet and social media. Read a book. Call a friend. Join a gym. Take a dance class.

Do something productive. Be a maker, not a taker. Learn a new skill. Work with your hands. Help someone. Stop trying to change everyone else. Start a change within yourself.

I believe that doing these things would make a difference. It may not completely heal the current divisions in our culture, but it would certainly lessen a few problems and contribute more to a solution.

About Mark

Mark Doggett is a professor in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Western Kentucky University.

Get Involved with the Republican Party

Every four years, after the presidential election, the Warren County GOP elects a new Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Youth Chair (18-40 years old). Each position serves a four-year term.

What Are the Roles and Responsibilities of Party Officers?

Chair – Voting Member of the Republican Party State Central Committee. Serves as the CEO of the County Party and oversees an annual plan that reflects the County’s goals and priorities.

Vice-Chair – Voting member of the Republican Party State Central Committee. Assists and supports the Chairman in carrying out important tasks and acts as a go-between for the Chairman and other key stakeholders as needed. While this is one of the most undefined roles, it plays a critical role in maintaining the relationship between the State and County.

Treasurer – The lead officer responsible for the financial compliance of the County Republican Party and ensures proper adherence to all reporting rules and regulations.

Secretary – Keeps and is responsible for the minutes and records, including correspondence, of all County Party meetings.

Youth Chair – Encourages party engagement among young voters. They should design and implement programs that will build engagement among young voters throughout the county and share with the District and State Youth Chair to build coordination throughout the state.

Who Can Vote in the Selection of Party Officers?

Precinct Officers

What is a Precinct Officer?

Precinct officers are registered Republican voters who serve as the elected representatives for a voting precinct. There are 53 voting precincts in Warren County. Each precinct has a Chair, Co-chair and a Youth Chair.

How Do You Become a Precinct Officer?

Attend the Warren County Republican Party Reorganization in Bowling Green and volunteer to serve as a Chair, Co-chair or Youth Chair for your voting precinct. If there are more volunteers than positions in a precinct, an election is held and representatives are selected by majority vote.

When will the Warren County Reorganization Be Held?

The date and location has not been announced. The Warren County GOP is required to announce the reorganization date by January 25. If you are interested in serving as a County Officer or Precinct Officer, contact Warren County GOP Chairman John Williams.

What is a Precinct Captain?

Precinct captains are the backbone of the Republican Party and leaders in the community. Warren County has 53 precincts and each must be filled with strong leaders so that we continue to elect Republicans to office.  Every precinct has a Captain, Co-Captain and Youth Chair.

Most precincts have 1800-2400 Republican voters.

Duties & Responsibilities:

*Precinct Captain & Co-Captain: These are volunteer grassroots roles that play a vital part in building relationships within the community and or precincts, sharing information from both the party and the community, and supporting election campaigns. Responsibilities also include facilitating voter registration and absentee ballot access, leading get-out-the-vote efforts, distributing campaign materials, promoting our party, and addressing voter concerns.

*Precinct Youth Captain: As a Precinct Youth Captain, you’ll energize young voters in your community and engage them in county and party events. This is your chance to design dynamic programs that spark interest in politics! Lead fun initiatives and discussions that resonate with the youth of Warren County. Join us on this exciting journey to cultivate a vibrant future for our party—one enthusiastic young voter at a time (must be under the age of 40).

Grassroots volunteers play the most important role in the Republican Party. They bring in energy and fresh new ideas. Inspiration for this role may be drawn from Lawrence Tribble’s poem “Awaken” written in 1750, prior to the American Revolution.

“Awaken”

One man awake,

 Awakens another.

The second awakens

His next door brother.

The three awake can rouse

A town

By turning the whole place

Upside down

The many awake

Can cause such a fuss

It finally awakens the

Rest of us.

One man up

With dawn in his eyes
Surely then

Multiplies.