The silent majority can no longer remain silent: James Holcepl

In 1969, our federation was confronting nan Vietnam War, governmental division, societal justice, personality and values erstwhile President Richard Nixon invoked nan word “silent majority” successful an reside to nan nation. He said to those Americans who, though not nan loudest voices, would style nan nation’s destiny successful nan 1970s. We find ourselves coming again divided astir nan early guidance successful our country.

The Trump administration’s repeated abuses frighten nan very foundations of our populist and, erstwhile again, nan silent mostly must determine whether to stay connected nan sidelines aliases to guidelines up and make their voices heard.

The situation is clear: From attacks connected law authorities and nan norm of law, to policies that undermine civilian liberties and nan separation of religion and state, nan existent management has shown a willingness to spot individual and partisan interests supra nan nation’s halfway values. These actions are not conscionable governmental disagreements — they are assaults connected nan principles that hindrance america together arsenic Americans.

History teaches america that soundlessness successful nan look of injustice is itself a prime — 1 that enables nan erosion of our freedoms. As nan Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded america successful his 1963 Letter from Birmingham Jail, “Injustice anyplace is simply a threat to justness everywhere.” Elie Wiesel, nan precocious Holocaust survivor, writer and activist, noted, “There whitethorn beryllium times erstwhile we are powerless to forestall injustice, but location must ne'er beryllium a clip erstwhile we neglect to protest.”

Said nan precocious civilian authorities leader John Lewis: “When you spot thing that is not right, not just, not fair, you person a civilized responsibility to opportunity something. To do something. Our children and their children will inquire us, ‘What did you do? What did you say?’”

Likewise, nan precocious Nobel Peace Prize victor Desmond Tutu of South Africa warned, “If you are neutral successful situations of injustice, you person chosen nan broadside of nan oppressor.” Added different Nobel laureate, Pakistani activistic Malala Yousafzai, “When nan full world is silent, moreover 1 sound becomes powerful.”

The James Russel Lowell hymn’s first 2 lines are arsenic existent coming arsenic successful 1845: “Once to each man and federation comes nan infinitesimal to decide, successful nan strife of truth pinch falsehood, for nan bully aliases evil side.”

Recent polling reveals astir Americans judge President Donald Trump is operating extracurricular his ineligible and law authority, pinch 54% saying he is exceeding his statesmanlike power. The attraction of powerfulness successful nan president’s hands is not conscionable a argumentation issue, it is besides a threat to nan checks and balances that protect our liberty.

Here is what we must do:

• Break nan silence. Speak retired successful your communities, workplaces, and online. Refuse to fto misinformation and extremism predominate nan conversation.
• Hold leaders accountable. Contact your representatives and request that they take sides nan Constitution and nan norm of law.
• Vote — and thief others vote. “Ask not what your state tin do for you; inquire what you tin do for your country,” urged President John F. Kennedy successful his 1961 Inaugural Address. Our populist depends connected participation.
• Support organizations defending democracy. Stand pinch those fighting for civilian rights, equality, and nan checks and balances that protect america all.

Our nation’s early depends connected nan willingness of mean citizens to act. The silent majority, a immense group of Republicans, Democrats and independents, has nan powerfulness to reconstruct equilibrium and integrity to our authorities — but only if we take to usage it. Let this powerful mostly not beryllium remembered for our soundlessness but for our courageousness to speak retired erstwhile it mattered most.

Holcepl, a veteran, is retired aft a 35-year profession successful book publishing. He writes from North Olmsted.

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