Citizenship

Did you take a Civics class in high school? I did.

We learned the nuts and bolts of how our democracy works (or is supposed to) based on the Constitution : three separate branches—legislative , executive, judicial—kept co-equal by checks and balances. Even without a specific high school (or college) course, most of us have managed to learn these basics alon the way.

What we too often forget is that the entire massive enterprise is supposed to be directed by the will of the people. The citizens. The voters. Us.

Ideally, one of us should make it a point to be informed—by keeping abreast of the news in order to vote thoughtfully.

Being an informed eaoibauvkw citizen means more than just voting. It means making your voice heard outside and beyond the ballot box.

How can we expect our elected leaders to make decisions in response to our opinions if we don’t tell them what are opinions are? How will they be motivated to make changes if we don’t demand changes?

It’s our job to tell them.

Don’t be an Ostrich

More than a few commentators have characterized what’s going on here…and now…is a surreal dystopian circus run by a clown car of incompetents.
With every morning’s outrageous and appalling headlines, we just want to tune out the day’s news, pretend none of it is happening, and go about our lives.

But we can’t afford do that. Because to if we don’t make it clear that we are appalled, “the powers that be” (as my Uncle Joe used to call the people in charge), will think we’re okay with it all. Which we’re not.

Silence is acquiescence

 

We have to make our voices heard. All of us!

Going to a rally or march  is one way to do this. And millions of us already doing that.

Bearing witness is another. The brave citizens who stand in solidarity with neighbors when I.C.E. shows up  are making profound a statement. By being present… observing, recording, silently or not … they are making it clear that storm troopers are not welcome on the streets of America.

Just days ago, it was unimaginable that standing up for neighbors would cost a woman her life.

All the more reason to be brave enough not to give up.

If we everyday citizens don’t make our voices heard, we are letting the current band of idealogues in the White House—and the enablers in Congress who have made no moves to stop them—think we aren’t paying attention. Or don’t care.

So let’s ratchet up our third option: direct communication…by telephone, email, or even old-fashioned snail mail. 

In the interest of effective communication, address only one issue at a time. State your opinion. Say why. And be brief.

You can always call or write again (as many times as you want) on a the same topic, or a different one.
These communications are logged. All of them. And the numbers of constituents calling or writing, the issues that they’re concerned about, and their positions (pro and con) are noted. For this reason, expressions or support are just as important as a criticism and complaints.

It’s Easier Than You Think

The President

https://www.whitehouse.gov

Click on the menu bar at the top left of the White House Home page.
Choose “GET INVOLVED” from the menu
Choose “Contact the White House
A fill-in-the-blank email page will appear

Or call: 202-456-1111

Although not displayed on its website, The White House Comment Line still existed the last time I called. It’s staffed twelve hours a week (an indicator, I can only surmise, of how much Donald Trump really cares what any of us thinks): Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m Eastern Time,

Members of Congress

https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member

Fill in your address, the contact information for your Representative in Congress and two Senators will be displayed. Instantly.


Find your voice. Use your words.

You’ll finally feel that you’ve done something.

And trust me, doing something feels a lot better than doing nothing.

And if enough of us do what we can, we’ll make a difference.

Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.

–Helen Keller