There’s a question sitting at the heart of this moment in America’s history and it’s worth asking directly, “Will we carry American Greatness forward or give up and be the generations that let the American experiment in democracy die?”
We will each answer that question and our answer matters. We either step up as extraordinary citizens or we get stepped on as ordinary subjects. Every generation faces defining moments. These are the times when we cannot simply enjoy the benefits of democracy – we must also protect and improve it.
#1 We Either Step Up as “Citizens” or We Get Stepped on as “Subjects”
#2 Being “Extraordinary Citizens”
At the heart of this moment is a basic choice – the fundamental choice of independent democratic self-rule vs. dependent authoritarian dominance. It is a test of our fundamental belief that all people are created equal and capable of self-rule vs. the belief that some people are born superior and should rule the others.
This is not just a political question. It is a test of our character – our commitment, courage, perseverance and resilience and our ability to connect and work together even when we disagree.
Nor is it about liberals and conservatives or any other social or political group. This is not about religion, race, ideological tribe, or gender. America has always been made up of different groups with different views. Those differences do not need to be a weakness. When managed well, they provide creativity, resilience, and balance. And they fit within the common ground of our founding vision.
The different groups are all essential parts of the American experiment in democracy. Each has its part to play, and the managing of the natural dynamic tensions between them is not to be feared or suppressed. Managing those tensions is what keeps America healthy and creative and keeps the authoritarian threat at bay. Democracy has always depended on people who disagree yet remain committed to solving problems together.
It is about acting from our best – and acting even if we are busy and tired and unsure of what actions to take. We all have a “larger self” – the part of us that finds courage when courage is called for, that perseveres when things get hard and we’re tired and uncertain the part that gets stronger as we are tested. It’s the part that shows up when we’re in danger of retreating in the face of our fears, anxieties, doubts, or even apathy.
This is also about our willingness to go outside of our normal comfort zones to do what is required – to be what is required. We don’t need to be perfect. We don’t even need to feel ready. But we do need to show up.
The good news is that our larger selves do tend to show up when called upon, often to a surprising degree – so we can act from our best and we can then find new bests along the way.
Any democracy is naturally messy, flawed, and often frustrating – and it will decay over time if not maintained. Our democracy is currently not meeting the needs of too many Americans – too many people are struggling to find a healthy sense of identity and belonging. They are struggling to find confidence in the future as well as the ability to meet basic needs.
A democracy asks a lot of its citizens – at some times much more than other times. It requires that we find a way to transcend our natural differences and come together to govern ourselves in an ever-changing world– a surprisingly difficult and complex task.
We need to significantly improve our democratic processes and institutions. We are called to step up whether we feel like it or not. We are called to act even if we don’t feel ready.
We can’t just ride on our history and the courage and sacrifices of the Americans who came before us. We can’t be passive. As citizens of the American democracy we are naturally called to step up and to take active ownership – not only of our freedoms, but also of the responsibilities that come with them. We are called to protect and improve our democratic institutions and processes – and to take on the big complex issues we face in our world.
It’s a big ask (deleted phrase), but we can approach it with a “no fear” attitude and build on the strengths we bring – as individuals and as a country. We can take responsibility for ourselves as citizens – and support each other through the challenge – emerging stronger and more resilient.
Giving up in the face of the natural challenges of being a citizen of a democracy is always an option. Giving up and being subjects is a powerful seductive trap because of the classic authoritarian promise to “take care of” or “save” us – particularly if we are feeling small, powerless, discouraged and hopeless or victimized. But it’s always a trap – always.
That promise obscures the reality that authoritarians always lie and they always end up controlling, disempowering, and feeding upon their “subjects.” It’s tough to be a citizen, but citizens are empowered and challenged. It’s easy to be a subject, but subjects are managed and used.
Democracies ask a lot of their citizens. Both protecting and defending our democracy and taking on the big tough challenges in our world require true American greatness – a critical mass of citizens calling on our best and persevering – together – over time – often outside of our normal comfort zones (acting from our “larger selves”).
Our democracy has been resilient and there are times when we, as citizens can sit back and enjoy our form of government without having to actively and intentionally support it. There are other times when we have to step up, call on our best, and act forcefully and relentlessly – together. This is one of those times. This is a time to rise.
Sometimes we have to go outside our comfort zones and stay there for an extended period, which might be uncomfortable, but it’s not a bad thing or damaging. There are moments in history that demand more – more courage, more unity, more action, more perseverance. This is one of those moments.
“Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life, and when it comes, hold your head high, look it squarely in the eye and say, ‘I will be bigger than you. You cannot defeat me.’”
Every generation must earn its democracy. Americans were extraordinary citizens at our founding and have been extraordinary citizens at many points in our 250-year “no quit” trajectory since our founding. American citizens have taken responsibility and acted vs. waiting to be saved or taken care of. They found sufficient solidarity. They acted even when it felt hard or inconvenient and the solutions weren’t clear. They were rarely certain that they would succeed. They simply decided that the work was worth doing.
We are now being called to be exceptional citizens to meet our current challenges. We are clearly challenged to protect and improve our democratic processes and institutions. And we need to take on the big tough intimidating issues we face in our world, from climate change and foreign threats to economic opportunity and affordable housing.
The American experiment in democracy requires that we now step up and accept those challenges. Those are extraordinary challenges requiring a critical mass of extraordinary citizens – not everyone is required to be engaged on the front lines, but a critical mass is required.
Unfortunately, almost a third of the American population prefers an authoritarian form of government – the classic con of “being taken care of” – to be ruled vs. self-rule – to kneel and cower vs. standing up and fighting. That’s not surprising, but it means that the critical mass of extraordinary citizens needs to come from the other two thirds, which means not leaving many people on the sidelines.
The subjects of the English colony that became America were not all aligned at our founding. Nor have Americans been all together throughout our 250-year history. That’s just not America. But there was a critical mass of Americans that transcended their natural differences to found America and there have been critical masses of Americans that have come together throughout our history to transcend their differences and do what needed to be done to preserve our democracy.
We’re not starting from scratch. To successfully take on the challenges we are called to engage we can stand confidently on both our founding as well as on the 250-year trajectory since our founding. (deleted phrase) Our founding was imperfect but a genuinely remarkable vision of human equality and self-government that was radical for the time and is still a beacon today.
And for 250 years Americans have refused to quit in pursuing the initial vision. There have been lots of ups and downs and successes and failures, but “no quit.” (Deleted phrase somewhere here)
Our “call to action” is clear – to protect and improve our democratic institutions and processes and to take on the big tough complex issues we face in our world. Both challenges are intimidating and probably require us to go outside our normal comfort zones. Both challenges will require us to act from our “larger selves” vs. our “smaller selves.” There is also clear guidance and examples of the types of action we can take, whether we are countering the authoritarians who wish to rule us, modeling our values and principles, or taking on the tough complex intimidating issues we face in the world.
Even if we feel small we can act large. We are often not asked for our best or challenged to leave our comfort zone, but that is what is being asked of us now. Fortunately, we have a “larger self” from which we can act – a surprising array of strengths and qualities. We can act from a sense that we matter, that we make a difference – large or small. We have a base of courage that we can call on and enlarge. We can persevere in the face of the unknown or set-backs and we can build our resilience to support our consistent action. We can connect with others (even if we are introverts) for support as well as collective action. And we can extend “grace” to ourselves and others. (One definition of “grace” is unearned kindness, mercy, dignity, patience, and generosity, especially under strain or offense. Grace towards others, and ourselves, means recognizing and accepting imperfections and mistakes as part of the human journey. And grace provides the common ground required for us to be able to stand together with all of our differences and still effectively take on the challenges we face as citizens.)
Note. Grace might seem like an unusual quality to include, but it’s surprisingly appropriate. One definition of “grace” is unearned kindness, mercy, dignity, patience, and generosity, especially under strain or offense. Grace towards others, and ourselves, means recognizing and accepting imperfections and mistakes as part of the human journey. And grace provides the common ground required for us to be able to stand together with all of our differences and still effectively take on the challenges we face as citizens.
Saying “Yes”
Being and extraordinary citizen is a stretch for most of us. But it’s not an impossible stretch – and we have more to draw upon than we typically realize. We just need to say “yes.” Yes to the call. Yes to showing up imperfectly. Yes to each other.
That “yes” is a fundamental difference between a citizen of a democracy and a subject of authoritarians. And choosing to say “yes” isn’t just a duty – it’s an opportunity to discover something in ourselves and to feel genuinely proud of who we are and what we are a part of.