by Barbara Norris
My hair was on fire over the new reality—a fascist in the White House! For a few weeks I just watched Rachel Maddow and ate ice cream on the couch. Then she told us we had to get off the couch and go do something, anything. So I joined a couple of friends at an Indivisible meeting.
We worked on the legislative session all through the Spring and I liked the sense of purpose. But then the session ended, and boredom set in. Going to meetings became another chore that I didn’t want to do. So I stopped going for a few weeks.
Sure I felt guilty, but my cat had kept my place on the couch toasty warm. He welcomed me back, and we watched stupid television together.
This past Saturday, marching with a few thousand brothers and sisters of all ages and colors, I had a little epiphany. We were chanting, This is What Democracy Looks Like. And sure. Democracy is that heady feeling of connection with so many people walking shoulder to shoulder for our country. That’s the fun part.
But there are other parts too. Standing up and taking action for democracy is not always about big moments like speaking up at legislative committees or making those phone calls or marching to chants and a salsa percussion band.
Unfortunately, activism often requires that we sit in a roomful of folks, each with their own ideas about what needs to happen next. We take turns speaking, and listen respectfully. Sometimes it’s incredibly boring. Other times, we are deeply moved. It’s a meeting of hearts and minds. And sometimes it’s a chore.
When did we get the idea that living in a democracy did not require work on our part? It’s not just voting, which many people don’t bother with. It also requires studying the issues and the candidates. It means you stay aware of what is happening to your fellow citizens. You form opinions about the right path for our community and our country. It’s a chore.
I adopted my cat after being without one for a couple of years. I forgot how annoying it is to clean the litter box each day. Really? I will have to do this every single day forever? Yeah. If you want that sweet companion in your life.
We do a lot of things we don’t particularly love. I suppose it’s because we understand the reward. But we seem to have lost sight of the rewards of living in a democracy, and so we skip the chores that maintaining a democracy requires.
I’m going back to the Monday night meetings. I’m going back to sit with my brothers and sisters. Together we’re going to hash out what needs to be done and how we will do it. Sometimes I’ll be bored. I might even get pissed off now and then. And there will be times I’ll get inspired, inspired to act, to resist, to stand up for all of Us.
I hope to see you there.
