V. Acting from Our Larger Selves Being Active Citizens vs. Passive Subjects
As citizens of a threatened democracy we are called to act – and we are called to act from our “larger selves.” That means having the courage to act outside of our comfort zones, taking risks, confronting doubts and uncertainties, challenging our sense of identity and place in the world, and for most of us, venturing into a significant amount of unknown territory.
It also means persevering and “holding the course” over an extended period of time and dealing with the inevitable frustrations and doubts in the face of slow or sporadic progress.
It means developing the resilience to renew ourselves as well as bounce back from disappointments, failures, setbacks, etc. And it means finding support and ways to renew our energy and commitment over a long period of time.
It also means acknowledging and confronting the pull to retreat into our “smaller selves” in the face of the daunting challenges – to fall prey to our doubts, insecurities, and anxieties and end up focused on grievances, feeling like victims, blaming others, and vulnerable to the false promises of authoritarians to save us.
The continued existence of the American experiment in democracy relies on our willingness to act from our larger selves. We have plenty of experience and capabilities built up over our lifetimes (whether it feels like it or not). We now have to make the commitment to act and call on our courage, values, perseverance and resilience to do so and to “hold the course.”
This is true for both of the core challenges we face. We must act from our larger selves whether we are taking on challenge #1 of supporting our democratic processes and institutions or challenge #2 of taking on the big, tough, complex, and intimidating issues we face in our world.
Starting small is OK. The key is to be engaged in some ways and not on the sideline.
Basic Guidelines
There is no formula for this. But there are some basic points to consider and the following sections have examples of actions for taking on either of the two core challenges.
#1 Where We Can Act. Focus on the Domains in Which We Live
We are all members of various “worlds” or domains and our actions can influence any of them – family, friends and acquaintances, neighborhoods, communities (local, national or international), organizations and corporations, faith communities, schools, etc. We can choose in which domain or domains to focus. We can start in one domain and then expand our involvement.
#2 How We Can Act. There is a Wide Range of Possible Actions
There is a surprising range of actions that we can take. Actions can range from developing self-awareness and self-management to protesting/challenging, advocating, donating, volunteering, collaborating, coaching/mentoring, teaching, setting policy, role modeling, etc. There are lots of places to act and lots of ways to act to make a difference – large or small.
Connections. We have connections to others – individuals, family, groups, organizations and networks. Those connections may be face-to-face, digital, etc. They may be connections to funding, political influence, individuals or groups of influence within specific organizations or communities. They may be connections to journalists, individuals or groups with information or data, or specific groups in a community, such as police or faith communities. Whether they are powerful or not so powerful, they are still connections and can still be used. This is a surprisingly powerful area in which to focus.
Money. Money matters because it makes things happen. We can’t fund everything, but we can make a thoughtful plan about where we want our money to go. We can do some research to ensure that our money will be likely to result in desired outcomes. We can donate individually or recruit others to donate with us. There are groups and organizations doing essential work and we can make a difference by supporting them financially.
Time and Energy – Volunteering. We have professional and personal capabilities. Volunteering where our capabilities match need can be a major contribution. There is an extraordinary range of capabilities that can make a difference – from fundraising and administrative or clerical support, to childcare, transportation, organizing, and getting out the vote. There is a broad range of need and a broad range of capabilities. Finding the fit is the key and that may take some effort. Making that effort is part of contributing as a citizen.
Make sure to leave “I’m just a volunteer” at the door. We make a difference as volunteers. We need to bring the same commitment and professionalism that we would for a highly paid position, parenting, etc. And, if the organization doesn’t take volunteers seriously, challenge them or move on.
Time and Energy – Being Present – Being Counted. This is very straight forward. We can make our presence matter. We can join groups or organizations and add our voices. We can vote (and bring others with us). We can advocate for people, policies, communities, desired organizational reforms etc. And we can protest when advocacy doesn’t work or in synch with advocacy. We can write, march, campaign, use social media, etc.
“The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high, and we miss it, but that it is too low, and we reach it.”
Michaelangelo
#3 It’s About Individual Action AND Systemic Change
There is a common statement that, “Supporting our democracy or taking on the big tough intimidating issues we face in our world will require systemic change, and individual action is not enough.” That statement is both true and deceptive. It is true that systemic change is required to deal with systemic issues like the ones we face.. The deceptive part is that individual action is also required because:
- Systemic change is totally dependent on focused individual action
- Changes in individual behavior and actions focused on families, neighborhoods, schools and organizations make a difference and create the ground in which systemic change can take root.
In other words, our actions, whether focused on systemic change or not, matter – so we act where we can. We do what we can – some of it we do individually and some of it we do together.
“Thou shalt not be a victim. Thou shalt not be a perpetrator. Above all,
thou shalt not be a bystander.”
Holocaust Museum, Washington, D.C.
#4 We Act Now - We do Not Need to Wait
The American experiment in democracy is threatened now. That means we need to act now. We can start small and increase our activity as we “learn the way” and get more comfortable acting. We can start even though we feel anxious and not ready and build our confidence and capability as we go.
Failing to act now is simply a way of passively supporting the authoritarians who want to rule us as subjects. We are either “in the game” or “out of the game” and on the sidelines. There is really no middle ground.
“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we have led.”
Nelson Mandela
#5 It’s a Different Challenge for Different People
There is no formula or recipe for being an active citizen. We all lead busy challenging lives with various demands. Some people are barely keeping their heads above water in general. Some people have resources and energy that they can redeploy to make a difference. Some people are more comfortable dealing with the unknown in the challenges we face than others. Some people have knowledge and skills that better match the challenges than others. Some people have family and friend groups that are more likely to support them than others.
In other words, “getting in the game” is a radically different call to action and challenge for different people. There is no single “right way” to respond to the call to act. Each person needs to find their own path and we need to respect the differences. The key is to act and play a role, even a small role. Small roles matter. Small roles can grow. Staying on the sidelines, however, is supporting the dramatic shift from citizen to subject.
“If you can’t fly, then run.
If you can’t run, then walk.
If you can’t walk, then crawl.
But whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
#6 Just Start
We can choose actions where we feel competent and start immediately. We can add actions as we are ready. Note. “Being ready” does not mean feeling comfortable. It means being willing to take the risks and take the next steps. Our comfort zones will expand, but we need to keep pushing the edges to make the difference we can make.
The example actions in the sections on the two core challenges are simply sets of possible actions that we can take. It is designed to make it easier for us to choose the actions that fit us – who we want to be and our current situation. They are examples to make it easier to begin. There are many more potential actions, and we will find many as we go.
Remember these Three Points
- To be a citizen vs. a subject we must act with intention – and persevere to sustain our actions. We can start small, but we need to start. We will “learn the way” and find new ways to act as we go.
2. There is a lot to learn, and the challenges are big and complex with no obvious certain answers. But we bring a lot of competencies, experience, and personal and professional qualities developed over a lifetime. So, we can bring a combination of confidence and humility to the challenge – and look forward to growing and making a difference as we meet the challenges.
3. We will often be outside our comfort zones, but that’s where the difference gets made and our growth happens. “Discomfort” is different than “damage” and we can tolerate a good deal of discomfort, particularly if we are connected to others for support.