With our processes and institutions under increased attack, this is surprisingly important. As with the actions to address the big complex issues we face, supporting our democratic institutions and processes can be intimidating at first. The key is to simply start acting and see where that leads. We make a difference once we engage – but not while we’re on the sidelines.
“Let no one be discouraged by the belief that there is nothing one manor one woman can do against the enormous array of the world’s ills — against misery and ignorance, injustice, and violence… Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation. It is from the numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man (or a woman) stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he (or she or they) sends a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
Robert Francis Kennedy speech at Day of Affirmation,
University of Capetown, South Africa