Our democracy is in danger; our country is at a crossroads. Those who support democracy, whether Independent, Republican, or Democrat, must speak out powerfully.
We must educate ourselves and others, including our family and friends. We must contest the errors and misrepresentations in the media. Above all, we must identify people who support our democracy as we do and enlist them to stand up and communicate the enormity of the situation.
According to an August 2023 American Values Survey by the Public Religion Research Institute, 84% of Democrats, 77% of Republicans, and 73% of Independents feel our democracy is at stake in the upcoming election. This is a major issue that national media have largely ignored.
The study also found that 57% of Americans (91% of Democrats) agree that the re-election of Donald Trump to the White House poses a threat to American democracy and way of life. That’s not a surprise. However, it was a surprise to me that 53% of Americans (86% of Republicans) agree that the re-election of Joe Biden poses a threat to American democracy and way of life.
I find that stunning, given that MAGA-affiliated actors have launched what appears to be a direct assault on democracy while the current President has been working to save it. The perception and reality do not align, in my opinion.
It strikes me that anti-democratic forces do much better to control the narrative than those who support democracy. They are in the news daily, with strong support from influential national media outlets. President Biden sometimes seems like a lone voice in the wilderness who we hear from only occasionally. The rest of the national media rarely discusses attacks on democracy or the positive things democracy has done.
We need to change this.
We must be clear-eyed and honest about the forces that threaten our democracy but inclusive in finding those who share our concerns. Grounding this work in our Unitarian Universalist faith is essential. Our faith asks us to be radically inclusive in our approach to relationships, including being radically inclusive in our efforts to save our democracy. We must find ways to help our fellow country members cope with the cultural changes they fear. We must help each other act in defense of our democracy.
As Unitarian Universalists, we all need to get comfortable talking to each other, to friends and family, to others we meet, and to news outlets. Perhaps we must become brave for our democracy in this way—our Executive Director calls this “civic bravery.”
We need to tell a story that gives us hope for the future and shows the contrast between what we want and what the detractors of our democracy are pursuing. We need a narrative to get people’s attention and invite more folks to join us in our concern.
In 2024, we need to create the biggest turnout of pro-democracy voters. The alternative is bleak indeed.