Loving Our Democracy and Nation in a Moment of Despair

An Independence Day message from Executive Director Beth Low-Smith

“With fear for our democracy, I dissent.”

          -U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor, Trump v. United States

“When we choose to love, we choose to move against fear, against alienation and separation. The choice to love is a choice to connect, to find ourselves in the other.”

          -Dr. bell hooks, All About Love, 2018

The final sentence of Justice Sotomayor’s dissent captures the initial reaction that many Americans had to Trump v. United States when it was released, just three days before Independence Day. Fear arises when things we love and cherish are threatened. As we approach the day dedicated to celebrating democracy, patriotism and freedom from tyranny in the USA, there has never been a better moment for Americans to reflect upon what it means to love our nation and our democracy.

I believe respect, honesty, accountability and action are the foundation of love. I believe this nation is strong enough to withstand honesty and accountability, and that it is not served well by blind devotion or denying its imperfections. My patriotism is strong enough to celebrate our nation’s many strengths and also maintain a clear-eyed understanding that the USA has always fallen far short of its democratic ideals and has caused great suffering as a result. My love of our nation doesn’t prevent me from acknowledging the suffering that continues to result from its shortcomings. Rather, I view our failures as a call to action. As a co-owner of this democracy, I am accountable for its impacts and must do all I can to improve them.

This type of honest, accountable love for the people and democratic ideals of our nation leads many, including me and perhaps you, to careers in civic do-goodery. It is also the motivation for countless others who volunteer their time and energy for pro-democracy efforts.

Such service centers what Dr. bell hooks describes as an “ethic of love” in her essay Love as the Practice of Freedom. I encourage you to read that essay and her book “All About Love” to better understand what is meant by that. For now, simply note that Hooks was not endorsing love as a simplistic tool, nor do I. Rather, accountable, action-oriented love is an “..ethical foundation for politics..” which makes transformation possible.

Along with many candidates, campaign staff, elected officials and citizens, I am managing the anger, anxiety and grief contained in patriotic despair. The expansion of presidential immunity is merely the latest assault on democracy. The scope of the challenges to freedom and justice can feel overwhelming, leading many to wonder “What can I possibly do that will make a difference?” The weight of that unspoken question is a lot to carry alone and can become a barrier to getting into or staying in pro-democracy work. It can feel easier to withdraw than face our individual insignificance.

“Choosing love, we also choose to live in community, and that means that we do not have to change by ourselves.” 

           -Dr. bell hooks 

I love our nation and the people in it too damn much to hand over our messy, imperfect democracy to crooks, special interests and despots. I bet you do too. That means we are in this together.

We must not shrug and withdraw from civic life as though it was a broken toy, or hide our fear and pain behind flippant remarks about not having time for a revolt. The stakes are too high. What we do next matters a great deal, and will matter most if we do it together.  

Over two decades of experience has shown me that there is no better salve for political despair than rolling up your sleeves, taking someone else’s hand, and stepping forward together to get the job done. In fact, doing so will probably result in joy. Something amazing happens when we discover that we don’t have to do it all alone. I suspect that the relief felt upon discovering we are part of a community is what makes smiles and laughter a nearly unavoidable part of civic-do-goodery. 

The work needed to restore and protect our democracy is enormous, urgent, and demands that all Americans step up to the moment. But voter disaffection and disconnection is widespread. Perhaps it isn’t surprising that campaigns are reporting unprecedented difficulty recruiting volunteers this year, but that is a problem we can solve.

Here are a few ways to move against alienation and separation as a community: 

• LeadMO helps volunteers and staff connect with campaigns that need them on HiredUpMissouri.org. Please use the site to share or find job and volunteer opportunities. If you are searching for a job or volunteer opportunity and don’t find one, please contact us at hiredup@leadmo.org. 
• Check your voter registration status through the Missouri Secretary of State or your local election authority and encourage others to do the same. The deadline to register for the August 5, 2024, primary election is July 10, 2024.
• Volunteer for one of the Missouri ballot issue campaigns such as Missourians for Healthy Families and Missourians for Constitutional Freedom. 
• Show up! Stay informed about LeadMO’s upcoming trainings, networking events and more by signing up for our newsletter at LeadMo.org.