Democracy doesn’t fail overnight—it fades when good people stop using their voices.
“So now is the time, more than ever, for those who truly value all the principles of democracy, especially including dissent, to be the most forceful in speaking up, standing up and speaking out.” ~ Jim Hightower
Reflection
Jim Hightower’s words arrive like a clear bell in a noisy room. Democracy doesn’t sustain itself on autopilot; it survives because ordinary people choose courage over comfort. Dissent is not disloyalty—it is devotion to the idea that our shared future can be better. Speaking up, standing up, and speaking out are not acts reserved for the powerful; they are daily responsibilities of citizens who care. Silence may feel safe, but it slowly erodes the very freedoms that protect us. When we lend our voices to truth and justice, we keep democracy alive—not as an abstract ideal, but as a living practice.
Something to Think About:
Where in your own life could speaking up—calmly, respectfully, and firmly—help protect a value you believe in?