I am now 81, but when I was in high school in a small Midwestern town, I won the “I Speak for Democracy” contest, sponsored by the local Rotary Club (which, by the way, at that time did not allow women). But now, when democracy seems threatened, I wanted to remind my fellow citizens of the importance of these two catchphrases: “Democracy requires constant vigilance” and “Democracy is not a spectator sport,” meaning to vote and peacefully participate.
I am also of the generation that believed nonviolent protest led to action — which led to reaction, and that people change, things change and institutions respond for the common good of all. The meticulous Jan. 6 hearings have given me hope, but the recent Supreme Court rulings have been disheartening.
— Sandy Harper
Anchorage
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