Democracy is not just about having elections. Fledgling democracies around the world continually demonstrate this. There are a number of institutions and practices required to support and sustain a democracy in the long run. When a nation forgets this, they pay a heavy price.
I attended the Denver Women’s March today at the Capitol. Estimates ranging from 100,000 – 250,000 attendees speak to the energy that assembled downtown. I nearly came to tears on a few occasions at the passion and devotion to the greatness of our country that came through from my companions. This was a shared experience similar to attending a transcendent concert, but it touched on deeper emotions than even those that the Boss can evoke from the stage.
The most common and powerful chant I heard at the rally was “What does democracy look like? THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE!”. And I came to a more powerful realization than I have ever had before of how important protest is among the practices that sustain a democracy.
We just lived through what is the certainly the most contentious national election in my lifetime, one that fundamentally divided people on a level I have never seen. But while this divide roughly adhered to party lines and had many basic disagreements about liberal vs. conservative, that is not at all what this election was truly about to many of us.
Donald Trump had many chances throughout his campaign to show basic human decency. But he consistently took the low road. He stoked fear and resentment of others to build support for himself. He blatantly lied at a level I have never seen from a politician, with no shame when caught in a lie. He showed that he cares most about himself, even while portraying his election as returning the government to the people. He has shown a contempt for even the most basic responsibilities of ethics in government, only a short time after promising to drain the swamp. He attacked the institutions and practices of democracy whenever they were inconvenient for him or dealt a blow to his ego.
My response is to use one of those most important of our democratic practices to say that these are not my values. To stand up with my fellow Americans and say that we believe our country is better than this. To say to those who disagree with me that I don’t hate you for disagreeing. But that if we are going to live in this society together, I need you to understand that I see the election of such an awful man and leader as an American tragedy.
And that while I understand that alignment on policy positions and hope in a new approach to solving our problems may put many in a position to give him more latitude than I will, it hurts me to see that so many people are unwilling to hold him accountable at all when he attacks the very core of our democracy and the humanity of so many of us.
This is no longer about the choice of Clinton vs. Trump. That debate is now in the past and I want to look at what we can and should do now. I will give him the benefit of the doubt when he earns it, but I will not look the other way when he opposes the core values of our country, and I will not brush away the terrible behavior he has exhibited already and the harm it has caused. I will listen to those of you who disagree with my assessment of Trump and will try to understand why you are not as troubled by him as I am. And I will expect empathy in return, and for anyone who wants to earn my respect to avoid name calling and to try to understand why others hold different views rather than rushing to judgment.
Wonderfully worded. I am seeing a lot on facebook from folks who don’t know why we marched and I think you explained it so well. A couple of additions from my perspective.
I am seeing a lot online about how we had no unifying political message. I believe we had one at my 6000 strong march in Trenton, NJ, it was get involved. There are a lot of choices on how-runn for office, support a cause, speak out against or for a bill you believe in, act locally not just nationally and vote. There were many causes and political ideas represented (although I fully admit it was very left) and, while I didn’t agree with all of them, it was just representative of the variety of options we have and not presented in a way that was offensive.
I think the bigger purpose of the march was exactly what you said above, we may have differences but we should respect those differences and understand that folks feel victimized at this moment in history. That victimization extends directly to our president.
I’d like to share a story from the march yesterday. My 11 year old son came with me to the march. At one point we were listening to the story of a female civil rights activist. Aiden turned to me and said “I feel guilty to be a white man.” I told him that it was not the purpose to make him feel guilty and I never wanted him to feel guilty; I want him to recognize the differences he faces as a white male. Being at the march was his way of acknowleging that there are differences in the way people are treated based on skin color, gender sexual orientation, religion and other marginalizing characteristics. Supporting those who feel marginalized by marching is a first step. The next step is to take that support back to daily life and really recognize when folks are being marginalized, then speak up and defend them.
Thanks for sharing Lisa. I like the way to responded to Aiden. I did see a vast amount of diversity in the message coming from different people, and I would not say that it is bad thing that a couple of million people did not agree on everything. I would say your assessment of the unifying theme is pretty accurate. My comments were mine alone, but I believe these thoughts are shared by many.
One important point that I left out is the focus on women’s issues that was also critical to the march. Politics aside, the response to Trump’s boasts about sexual assaults was sickening. It would have been one thing for people to say that he is deeply flawed personally and that they strongly disapprove of these comments but they would vote for him anyway, which many people did. But it is unacceptable level of disrespect towards women that so many people actually defended and excused his comments along with the numerous allegations of sexual assault against him. It was a message that our society does not value women and is perfectly okay with men treating women as objects for their own gratification. This attitude, which manifests itself in many other ways, must be recognized and challenged.