Making Democracy Work in Hard Times
- It has been a tough year throughout the world.
- It has been a tough time for democracy in our own country.
- The last week has seen a series of decisions by the Supreme Court of the United States which will vastly change the way democracy works in our country – and I don’t think I need to enumerate them for readers of this blog – follow our articles for those topics, now and in the months to come.
- It is hard not to despair.
- Here are some things that have inspired me:
In the past few days one of the oldest members of our League sent out three articles she read recently, with her own clear, compelling commentary addressing:
- Threats to the separation of church and state:
- Not only as regards reproductive freedom;
- But also prayer in schools; and
- The curtailment of voting rights.
Among her comments, she wisely observed that “Our founding fathers knew from bitter history the damage to freedom done to societies by overzealous religious movements. Most of them were religious men of faith but that is precisely why they strongly supported separation of church and state.”
Another elderly League member emailed me that she needed a League yard sign for the fall election and wanted to know when she could get it.
The League of Women Voters of California (LWVC) continues its seminal work on criminal justice reform and the League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS) just adopted LWVC’s Position on criminal justice.
The youngest of our four grandchildren of voting age (our oldest grandson), texted me about going to a Pro-Choice rally and protest after work on Friday night.
My husband Riley and I have four children, three sons-and-daughters-in law and eight grandchildren.
- They will not stop fighting for what is just and right.
- We will not stop fighting for what is just and right for their generations’ futures.
- Our siblings and friends will not stop fighting for what is just and right.
- The League will not stop fighting for what is just and right.
- We cannot give up the movement to form a “more perfect union, “with liberty and justice for all.”
- Our country needs us to keep going.
Blog Date: July 1, 2022
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Becky Newman
