The Courage to Act: Democracy's Call in Our Present Moment

In M. Night Shyamalan's "The Village," Lucius Hunt speaks words that resonate far beyond the fictional borders of his isolated community: "I do not worry about what will happen. Only what needs to be done." These words carry profound weight for Americans confronting our current democratic crisis.

We live in an age saturated with anxiety about democracy's future. Authoritarian rhetoric normalizes in our discourse. Misinformation spreads faster than truth. Institutions once considered sacred face relentless assault. Electoral integrity becomes contested territory. It's easy to feel paralyzed by catastrophic projections, to lose ourselves in endless speculation about how bad things might become.

But Lucius's wisdom cuts through this paralysis. He understood something essential: fear of future outcomes steals our power in the present. When we fixate on imagined disasters, we surrender the only time we actually possess—this moment, right now, where action remains possible.

Democracy doesn't die in some distant, inevitable future. It dies in the countless present moments when good people choose worry over action, when we surrender to fear rather than stand for principle. Every day that we merely wring our hands instead of making phone calls, attending town halls, or challenging falsehoods in our communities is a day democracy weakens.

The threats are real. Denying them would be foolish. But obsessing over potential catastrophes without taking present action is equally futile. What needs to be done right now? Register voters. Volunteer as poll workers. Support local journalism. Show up at school board meetings. Run for office yourself. Defend truth in conversations with family and neighbors. These aren't glamorous activities that will make you feel like a hero, but they're the essential work democracy requires.

Courage isn't the absence of fear—it's acting despite fear. Consider Ivy Walker from that same village in the movie, who ventured into the woods she could not see, navigating dangers she could only sense, driven by love and necessity rather than certainty of survival. She didn't wait until she felt brave; she moved forward because someone needed her to act. The founders who risked everything for democratic ideals were terrified. The suffragettes who endured brutality for voting rights were afraid. The civil rights marchers who faced fire hoses and dogs knew fear intimately. Yet they acted anyway, focused not on guaranteed outcomes but on necessary work.

This is our inheritance and our responsibility. Not to predict every possible future threat or craft perfect solutions to overwhelming problems, but simply to do what needs doing today. To be fully present in democracy's defense, casting aside the paralysis of worry for the power of purposeful action.

The future remains uncertain. It always has. But our duty at this moment is crystal clear.

Martin Luther King Jr. warned: "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."

Franklin D. Roosevelt famously said: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" - suggesting that paralysis from fear is more dangerous than the challenges we face.

Elie Wiesel observed: "Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."

If you are interested in watching the movie, at the time of this writing it is available to stream FREE on YouTube, with minimal ads.  Here is the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThytStMIl0A

Note:  it is a mystery/suspense type of movie.  Get comfy in your favorite chair or spot on the sofa and have a snack & beverage at hand.  

Here are three critical thinking questions designed to excavate the courage that lies dormant within you.

1. What would you do if you knew failure was impossible—and what does your answer reveal about the fears that currently govern your choices?

This question forces you to identify the invisible cage you've built around yourself. The gap between what you'd do without fear and what you're doing now reveals exactly where fear has stolen your agency. More importantly, it exposes an uncomfortable truth: your inaction isn't about capability—it's about the stories you tell yourself about consequences. What if those stories are lies?

2. In 20 years, when you look back at this moment in democracy's history, what will you need to tell yourself you did—not to be a hero, but to live with your own reflection?

This cuts past grand gestures to the bone-deep question of self-respect. It's not asking what historians will say or whether your actions changed everything. It's asking whether you can face yourself. Because courage isn't about outcomes—it's about alignment between your values and your actions. Can you live with being a bystander to the moments that mattered most?

3. Who benefits from your fear, and what are you protecting by staying afraid?

This is the most dangerous question because it suggests something radical: that your fear might be serving someone else's agenda, or that you're using it as shelter from the discomfort of meaningful action. Fear feels like protection, but what if it's actually a prison? What would you have to surrender—comfort, certainty, the approval of others—if you chose courage instead?

Here are five powerful books that teach readers to summon courage in the face of fear:

1. "The Obstacle Is the Way" by Ryan Holiday Drawing on Stoic philosophy, Holiday shows how obstacles and fears can become the path forward. Through historical examples and practical wisdom, he teaches readers to transform fear and adversity into fuel for courageous action.

2. "Daring Greatly" by Brené Brown Brown's research-based exploration of vulnerability reveals that courage isn't about fearlessness—it's about showing up despite fear. She provides practical strategies for embracing vulnerability as the birthplace of courage, creativity, and authentic connection.

3. "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl Frankl's account of surviving Nazi concentration camps demonstrates the ultimate triumph of human courage. His insights on finding meaning even in suffering teach readers how to maintain dignity and purpose when facing life's most terrifying circumstances.

4. "Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway" by Susan Jeffers This classic self-help book offers concrete tools for acknowledging fear while refusing to let it control your decisions. Jeffers provides practical exercises and reframes that help readers move from paralysis to action.

5. "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield While focused on creativity, Pressfield's battle against "Resistance"—that internal force of fear and self-doubt—applies to any courageous endeavor. His no-nonsense approach inspires readers to push through fear and take action on what matters most.

Each of these books offers a different lens on courage, from ancient philosophy to modern psychology, all united by one truth: courage is a practice, not a personality trait.

By Democracy Is Us Council Member, Joe Castagliola