Elaine, your comments brought to mind this Bob Marley song: youtube.com/watch?v=X2W…
Heather Cox Richardson’s poignant retelling of Doris Miller’s heroism reminds us not just of the immense courage shown during one of America’s darkest hours, but of the spirit that sustains democracy itself: ordinary people rising to extraordinary challenges.
Miller, a Black man denied full equality in the very nation he served, exemplified the promise of democracy—not as a perfect system but as a framework that allows human dignity and shared responsibility to flourish. It is this promise that …
Thank you, Dr. Richardson, for reminding everyone that WW2 wasn't fought and won exclusively by WHITE men, that people of all ethnic backgrounds, including Americans of Japanese decent, who were among the brave fighters for freedom in spite of our ill treatment of their families at home.
I’ve recently joined Indivisible, a movement that began after the first Trump election. They are a national group but decentralize their organizing to the state and local level, to address the particular issues and needs in each place and help others “do what we can”. We will find and create actions to fight against looming tyranny, community by community. indivisible.org
In the mid 90's, I partnered with another parent volunteer to develop a year long program for our kids' elementary school. Based in large part on the Giraffe Project, students who 'stuck their necks out' were awarded giraffe spots that were displayed on a giraffe poster outside of every classroom. Each grade chose a service project, and a year end assembly recognized a community hero.
The program focused on self confidence, empathy, and community, where every child matters. It was embraced by ev…
Betsy, well said. Like you, I don't know what I would do. I also grateful for every courageous person who has had shown strength against darkness. These people are true heroes and we often do not hear about them. Once again I appreciate Heather and the people who share their insights and experiences here.
Frankl is a powerful guide. I think that being a citizen in a democracy should always involve us asking what needs to be done…in Human Rights theory it is called the struggle approach …not only to defend rights when threatened but to actually dynamically define rights. The daily practice of democracy as a hearts and mind endeavor.
Most of the time, we don't hear the stories of the everyday people who turn into heroes when a hero is called for. Would I be able to act heroically, without taking the time to weigh the pluses and minuses, if I were faced with a situation that called for instant and generous action? I don't know. I hope that I'll never be tested that way. But I am grateful for everyone who has found that strength when it was needed, and I'm grateful to be reminded that people I've never heard of were capable of acting heroically.
Viktor Frankl in his book : Man’s Search For Meaning said that enduring his years in a concentration camp revealed to him that survivors and hero’s share an ability to understand that instead of asking “What’s the meaning of Life?”, they ask what Life is showing them needs to be done. In doing what needs to be done, we give meaning and purpose to Life. We all are capable of this. And the answers are unique to each of us. And unique to each new situation. Do what you can. Every moment, every action is transforming.