Our country is in flux, clearly. If we’re clinging to the status quo, we’re probably privileged. Those who are deprived of basic necessities (income, justice, equality, safety, health care) desire change.

Modern culture tells me that I only need to look out for myself. Our social norms allow me to tout high values, yet utterly fail to show up for other people’s problems. And if life is working for me – i.e., I’m white, not in poverty, etc. – why should I examine my me-centered choices? We may think we deserve justice and democracy (and quick results) so we fail to dig in for the long haul and hard work. We hand off responsibility to someone else, too content with our status quo to take it ourselves.

American history is the scorecard of folks taking responsibility: figuring out together how to deal with the latest assault or manipulation, the latest subversion of democracy. In each decade of our history, folks put themselves on the line to win the rights that some of us take for granted today. They bore pick-ax handle blows and bullets to establish worker rights, civil rights and women’s rights.

This decade is about confronting abuse of power. We can create a shift by providing what is lacking: personal responsibility for others. Once you start, stay involved in issues you care about. If you exercise or work, you know it’s all about showing up. Keep showing up.

Karen PontiusDurango