A look at our nation's history shows us that the United States was born out of a spirit of revolution; the Enlightenment ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness inspired an entire nation of individuals to rise up against oppression and injustice in order to boldly begin anew on democratic foundations. This tenacious democratic spirit has lived on with us through the centuries, as time and time again Americans prove that change is worth the fight.
After the turmoil of the 19th century, with a country nearly torn apart in war, the 20th century brought with it a new, vocal sense of democracy. With what appeared to be more stable foundations, advocates took to the books and the podiums to use words in the creation of change.
Democracy became an active practice, something that could be done by people themselves, rather than just politicians and those in power. As the suffragettes rose, the labor unions gathered, and civil rights activists risked their very lives for equality, a new narrative was written about the American spirit: it became determined to create a society of individuals with a voice.
With an increased opportunity for personal political action, there also comes tied with it the responsibility of the individual to act. "The personal is political,” a phrase which rose out of feminist activism during the 1960s, has been used ever since to call attention to the personal nature of oppression, as well as to the personal responsibility we hold to act against it.
While on the surface this seems like a reasonable notion, I have found that many tense up at the mention of this phrase. There is a narrative that has developed in our country that defines 'politics' as a dirty word, evoking images of corruption, injustice, and partisan narrow-mindedness.
Somewhere along the line, discussing politics became an act of screaming half-informed opinions at each other over the dinner table. Far too quickly, politics became about detached political figures and abstract legislation, rather than the human beings that are affected by these very forces.
The moment we begin to re-humanize politics, we will find that it is about much more than biased opinions and social media comment wars. Every policy, every movement, every action has consequences, and those consequences affect the people that make up our daily existence.
It is time to break the silence and to challenge the social courtesy of keeping politics a taboo subject. It is time for us to recognize our voices and the power that they hold to rewrite this narrative of political impotence and to abolish the notion that our voices do not matter.
We must recognize that to speak is not always a simple task, but it is one worth undertaking; using your voice demands courage. While it is easier for some to be heard over others, we must never forget that actions speak just as loudly as words. Our presence, our stories, and our experiences equip us to advocate for a stronger, more equitable society. Our very lives tell a story that demands to be valued.
If we are truly a nation that values individualism, we must demonstrate this with a belief in the power and value of the individual voice. If we are truly a nation that values freedom, we have an obligation to use ours to fight for even more.
If we are truly one nation under God, it is our duty to stand together and love our neighbor in every way we can. In the way of the true American spirit, it is time we make this fight for justice personal.