Grab a glass of wine. For me, it is coffee.
Did you hear it? I didn’t. And yet, my body vibrated with the frequency waves.
Nous sommes unis. Somos unidos. Ua lokahi kakou. हम एकजुट हैं. Táimid aontaithe. Siamo uniti. Wir sind vereint. מיר זענען פאראייניגט. Tumeungana. Tha sinn aonaichte. نحن متحدون.
“We are united”
. . . the United States and in democracy, no matter the language. This statement is undeniable. Various European settlers risked their lives to establish a presence. Indigenous peoples taught the Europeans how to survive. Peoples from Africa built structures, farmed, cooked, cleaned and underpinned the culture and society that was weaving itself, fiber by fiber. Italians came and constructed bridges and buildings, defying death as they climbed and walked upon beams many stories high, without safety mechanisms. Irish immigrants took roles as police and firemen. More and more people from additional countries arrived, contributed and the tapestry being woven sprang to life with textures, colors, sights, sounds, tastes and experiences that truly can cause one’s head to spin – in the best ways. This vibrancy. This melody. This intricately detailed fabric. This intoxicating broth of life that awakens the soul and freshens the spirit is uniquely the United States and built person by person, over time.
And it is always a work in progress. But there is always a loose thread.
This tapestry is precious. We must protect it. It is us. It is democracy. It is within us.
Set aside party identification for a moment. This is about ideology.
But what about the call? Oh, it wasn’t what you might expect. No one blew a horn – not even a ram’s horn. It was silent. Here, let me play the silent sound for you now.

WAIT A MINUTE! What? Huh? No, that was Elon signaling to some people that they are going to divide us. No, he was just waving hello awkwardly. Twice? It was a wave.
No, it wasn’t. Some people saw it that way. But in reality, regardless of the message it may have conveyed to some, that was YOUR clarion call to keep us united. Some signs are not what they appear to be. And sometimes, the messenger messes up. But that was YOUR clarion call to keep our society thriving and help it heal from the damage it is suffering. That was YOUR clarion call to help shape and improve our shared culture. That was YOUR clarion call to have courage. No, not bravery. Courage. Bravery enables you to confront fear, danger, or difficulty without hesitation, often impulsively. Courage is the mental or moral strength to face fear, danger, or adversity with deliberation and purpose. Courage is more reflective and involves conscious decision-making, often in the face of significant personal cost.
It is 100% natural to experience fear. It is 100% natural to impulsively act. It is often difficult to be courageous. But, if there was ever a time when courageous people are needed, that time is now. No one is asking you to pick up a sword, chainmail, armor and a shield. However, this is not the time to be silent and still. “Yeah, but what do I know about democracy?” you may ask.
Everyone needs a starting place. Whether or not a person knows a lot or a little about democracy doesn’t matter. What matters is to be a participant who learns and lives democracy. No, not “lives in democracy” as autocorrect keeps prompting me as I type this. Living “in a democracy” is passive. What matters is to “live democracy” because that is active. I’m suggesting that your starting place begins with courageous conversations. We have them every Monday evening.
Your invitation is here: Click for your upcoming event.
By Joe Castagliola, Democracy Is Us Council Member

Comments