widespread threats/opportunities emerge

Widespread Threats/Opportunities Emerge

Part 1

Click Here For Part 2: You Can Make A Difference

Click Here For Part 3: Do What You Can Within The Political System

Click Here For Part 4: Decide To Be A Serious Activist

Developed By Alice Holstein, Ed.D.

OP-EDs

Click Here "Waging" nonviolence and peace

Click Here Reasons for Hope In A New Year Full of Trouble

The news is grim. Newscasters parse it out in small doses, occasionally highlighting large chunks that are as troubling as the country has seen for several hundred years. Our democracy is under attack in both large and small ways. Too often we do not put the disturbing pieces together. Some do not even bother to try because of busy lives, disinterest or the desire to avoid depressing news.

  But we must put the pieces together; we must care about the state of our Republic, and we must move beyond helplessness to make a difference, whether in large or seemingly small ways. In the face of overwhelming national news, we must turn to one another to support each other and perhaps to work at least locally.

My own question, “what can I do to make a difference” unfolded when I woke up during the Women’s March of 2017. Seeing millions protesting Trump’s election all over the world was a rallying cry. My answer then was that I would use the power of the pen. I developed website material about “Movements That Can Shift the World. “ This was an idealistic picture, based upon years of research, which described movements that had captured national/international attention. I believed, or at least hoped, that these combined efforts would someday yield a larger movement that could shift us to a more humane, peaceful and just world.

Such a shift did not happen, although there were many spinoff events from the Women’s March that affected subsequent elections and helped birth several important grass roots organizations. Despite the fact that my “Movements That Can Shift the World” did not happen, there is still the chance that dealing with dire circumstances, such as climate change, could become so severe that we will make a major shift, similar to the mobilization that occurred when we entered World War II.

Now, however, I hear others asking, “what can I do to make a difference?” People feel both helpless and eager to contribute to solutions, but the problems are so huge, so seemingly insoluble, that they often give up without acting. They, or we, do not know how to engage. I believe, however, that there are several ways to answer the question, several possibilities to empower ourselves to make a difference.

The first is to become informed, at least in part, about the major issues of our time. 1) Climate change may be the most urgent. It poses an existential threat to the world. The need to act is becoming increasingly visible in the form of fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and devastation for millions. The results of climate change are causing havoc and death, costing billions. 2) Racial conflicts are reaching decibel level, especially in the United States. 3) COVID threats invite death while many defy the science of vaccination safety. 4) Issues of lack of equity keep us fighting for power, along with severe threats to our democracy.

Never before, or at least since the Civil War, have we been so deeply divided. This modern version exists with the help of autocratic leadership spreading disinformation and deception. Never before have our democratic institutions been so thoroughly threatened, much of it through the existence of social media promoting outright lies and mistruths. Then there is the political party, the Republicans, who insist on blocking legislation with unreasonable No’s to everything proposed. They may be the biggest threat of all.

Threats Are Widespread

The insurrection at the capitol on January 6, 2021 is but one aspect of our serious trouble; without a functioning democracy, we lose our rights and cannot solve the larger problems. The riots almost succeeded in installing autocracy. They did considerable damage, not just physically to the capitol but to the life and limbs of some Capitol police. The rise of white supremacy was evident, further encouraged by the angry crowd. Later, the majority of Republican lawmakers, several of whom at first castigated Trump and his followers, subsequently caved to his power. They rejoined his camp despite his proven incompetence, lies and deception. (A University of Chicago poll, according to Heather Cox Richardson, says that 26% of the public believes the election was stolen while 6% believe it is justified to use force to restore Trump to the presidency.) These are alarming percentages.

Equally frightening, if not more so, is the fact that 18 states have passed 30 laws to suppress voter participation. In addition, the unnecessary audits in Arizona and other swing states are designed to reduce faith in the legitimacy of elections in general. Local level officials, including attorney’s general, have been threatened and harassed, causing them to quit, thereby assuring that local elections in the future can be thrown to Trump or his successor. As Heather Cox Richardson suggests, this means the Democratic safeguard of a basic social safety net, business regulation and infrastructure investment will be bygone efforts.

My fear is that our civil rights will be destroyed beyond their current demise; autocracy and unbridled power in the hands of the incompetent few will be the rule of the day. (To remain informed, beyond your favorite mainline newscasts, read a newsletter or Facebook post by Heather Cox Richardson or another by Amy Goodman of “Democracy Now.”

Some Opportunities Emerge

There are, however, some opportunities beneath the bad news. Never before, for example, has the common person been able to access such breadth and depth of information. A knowledge revolution exists. Never before have we seen such advances in technology. Never have we realized, at least by some, that we are one world that must solve problems together, especially the existential crisis of climate change. The latter subject can no longer be denied.

Another plus is that race issues are finally out in the open, even shared by the world, not just the United States. The Black Lives Matter movement is both outwardly and quietly gathering force. The #MeToo movement similarly raised issues that require action and healing. Police power is being scrutinized. Gun control is on the table. Mental health has come out of the closet. By no means have we begun to solve these problems, but we cannot heal what remains hidden. We live with multiple, overlapping crises; we also live with unprecedented opportunities. The point is to become educated about these issues, then discuss them wisely with others. An uninformed public is a dangerous one, incapable of taking responsibility for making a difference through bold, sane, humane choices.

© Alice A. Holstein, 2022

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