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______________________________________________________ Apathy or Action? by JAMES LEE Apathy is no longer the exception. This sad reality looms over and around us as the biggest threat to what genuine Democrats stand for. The primary prevailing attitude in our great nation these days seems to be, "We have survived worse," or "There's nothing I can do about it." Would we have our country now if that attitude prevailed back in 1776? Scary thought, isn't it? Yes, compared to most countries, we enjoy a free society, but whatever liberties we still possess need constant protection. Authoritarian predators are at the front door, and somebody has left it unlocked. We must never forget that freedom is high maintenance. We still have a voice, my friends, but we'll lose it if we don't use it. If we do not continually speak up for what is right, we will lose the right to do so. Then what? The laws of nature tell us that which ceases to function ceases to exist. Maybe it seems easier to be quiet and not get involved, but we must find the courage within ourselves to resist the false comfort of apathy. We have to care. If we do not, no one else will. We also need to stand together to retain our principles and promote human decency. We need to reach within ourselves for the courage to speak out. Together, we must nurture our common voice and use it to keep the hope of freedom alive in America. It is simply not adequate only to believe in freedom. We must actively cultivate that belief, or it will wither and pass to dust. Our Democratic Party is our bond and our strength to keep the dream of liberty alive. Think of the McCarthy victims of 50 years ago. Apathy is slapping the faces of these martyrs of freedom. They embraced their solidarity and spoke up for the rights so many of us take for granted. They took nothing for granted other than their obligation to act. Now we have the USA Patriot Act with its new version of McCarthyism. Are we not every bit as obligated to act? We can no longer simply call
ourselves Democrats and let the world just take care of itself.
The Democratic Party is our collective voice-liberals, moderates,
all of us. This voice could be silenced if we allow ourselves
to become Democrats in name only. Nominal Democrats are pawns
and drones. Active Democrats are patriots. |