The future is not far away
We can see the potential for the grand experiment in democracy that has formed the United States to end in dictatorship, in our lifetimes. We have the power to stop it.
If we could see into the future, and we knew a possible disaster was coming, would we take action to stop it?
That is the situation we find ourselves in, and somehow, remarkably, it raises little urgency among many of the most powerful voices in our social and political landscape.
We can see the potential for the grand experiment in democracy that has formed the United States to end in disaster, in dictatorship, in our lifetimes. Within the next year, in fact.
Somehow, fomenting violent action to prevent the peaceful transfer of power does not disqualify a presidential candidate in the opinion of many potential voters. Somehow, the use of demeaning and dehumanizing, anti-Semitic language reminiscent of Nazi Germany does not turn up the urgency of peaceful response. It’s as if we are watching a repeat of history as a movie, waiting for the “good guys” to intervene, not realizing that it is only us, ordinary people leading ordinary lives, who have the full power to ensure the survival of our democracy.
Our power lies not in force or violence, not even in well-intentioned “debates” on social media. It lies in our ability to connect with one another, as full and complex humans, and act with full awareness of the calls of compassion, justice, and inclusion.
And our votes. We have not yet lost the power of the vote, despite many attempts to undermine it. We must use it, fully and fairly, enfranchising the true majority.
If you are interested in learning more about the precarious moment we are in, here are two good sources. They are not easy to read or listen to, as they describe the worst of what has been said and what can happen next, if we are not vigilant in our commitment to democracy.
From On the Media, broadcast Nov. 29, 2023: https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/episodes/media-coverage-trump-movement-missing-vital-context
Opinion Editorial, Washington Post, by Robert Kagan, published Nov. 30, 2023: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/11/30/trump-dictator-2024-election-robert-kagan/
Thank you for your work and your commitment.