Defending democracy where it was born

Right here. In the United States. Ok, democracy is not a perfect system, but it’s acknowledged to be the best system we have so far, and most of us want to keep it.  Those who don’t are not choosing the side of humanity in this struggle for a future with hope, so they aren’t the audience for this discussion.

It’s less than 40 days until this wildly crazy election, and the tensions –  the fear even – on all sides is nationally palpable. Arkansas no less than anyplace in the country.  A poll I did a couple weeks ago confirmed that of all the tensions besetting us, the election is the tension highest on people’s minds.

The best way to meet fear is to have a plan.  Always.  What kind of plan can help us move away from fear and distrust and move toward a place where we’re closer to coming together post-election?  

All of us agree that we want this election to be fair, though the vast difference in values we’re experiencing makes our understanding of “fair” very hard to negotiate this year. But there are still some things we can find agreement about, and it’s time we start looking for those.

I’ve been following the nonviolence thinkers of Campaign Nonviolence on the situation. You’ll be relieved to know that strategies for preparing for and managing election confusion are emerging.  They’re something Omni people can participate in, starting now, and be better prepared for whatever happens.

Here’s what Campaign Nonviolence strategist George Lakey says:

OK, here’s the idea: Go to people who hold elective political power near you, in your town, county, city, state. Urge them to “Join us in demanding every vote be counted.”

That’s the key:  every vote must be counted, and if it comes to that, nothing happens until every vote is counted.  People in cities and towns all across the country just don’t work, spend or do whatever.  This is something we’ve been practicing since last March, so we know how to do that.

Right now what we do is to visit and write elected officials and ask them to sign a pledge defending the vote: All votes must be counted.  The tone of this visit is important.  It’s been well documented that in a hyper-partisan situation like we find ourselves in, angry demands are met with angry response.  This is why protest appears to be less effective and sometimes tends to feed the fire more than accomplish the goal. 

The strategic tone that Campaign Nonvolence suggests is this:

“Instead of protesting something the elected official is doing wrong, you’re insisting they do something right. Something that is as American as the flag. If they refuse, they’re the ones trying to justify an impossible position. Instead of complaining, moaning or otherwise creating the drama of exasperation, all you need to do is insist (boldly, nonviolently, firmly) that they do the right thing, the fair thing. (If you’re OK to put it this way, “the American thing.”) Your tone is full expectation that they’ll figure out sooner or later that it’s wise for their future as politicians to say yes.

Notice this is not about opinions on Trump’s politics — pro-Trump politicians can agree that every vote should be counted, that the election should be concluded fairly.”

This is the kind of focused, clear strategy that makes sense to me.  I’m imagining that it could be initiated by a few peace people willing to contact public officials and strategize about goals and tactics that can reach out to local, state and national political leaders, but also to groups here who are feeling the same tensions we are but feeling as helpless as we are.  A simple, clear and focused goal of “all votes counted” gives us a benchmark of agreement when wild accusations and claims of false news get thrown around.

More of George Lakey’s plan is at this link

  • What will it take to defend the election? Here’s one winning strategy
  • If you agree that we need a plan, and this one might work for you, please send your interest to omni@omnicenter.org and stay tuned for more information.

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A two-session online training for volunteers is being organized by Choose Democracy:

How to Beat an Election-Related Power Grab

This is a two-session national workshop led by George Lakey, with Zein Nakhoda

Part 1: Thursday, October 1, 4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT / 7:30pm ET
Part 2: Tuesday, October 6, 4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT / 7:30pm ET

Note: Workshops will be held via Zoom. Attendance at both sessions is required. This training is non-partisan and does not endorse any candidates for election.

There’s a chance that a desperate Trump will respond to a narrow victory by Biden by declaring the election fraudulent, urging his base to support his continued Presidency. This training will share the most important things to know and practice in order to be ready for that possibility.

This is a moment for peace people to show how nonviolence is a workable strategy for solving human problems.  Even complex problems of power imbalance.  We need this for our nation, but we also need it for our own communities and families.  Violence is never going to be the answer that resolves anything in a good way.  This is an opportunity and a challenge that deserves our hearts and our energies.

Please Omni folks

  1. Email omni@omnicenter.org that you are willing to participate in this outreach campaign
  2. Sign up for the national training on October 1 and 6.
  3. Be ready to join others who agree that our democracy is worth defending, and nonviolent methods do that best

An online meeting to discuss this will be organized by Oct 1.  Please join soon!

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Here are more cool links to information on this campaign you may like to see:

10 things you need to know to stop a coup

What does history tell us about successfully stopping a coup?

Waging Nonvolence

George Lakey and others with deep thinking about effectively using nonviolence to create social change

Waging Nonviolence

George Lakey is different than the cognitive linguist George Lakoff who studies values and values evolution that I’ve written about before.  George LAKEY is a Quaker, and a now-retired Sociology professor who taught at Swarthmore College.  Among many activities, books and articles he’s responsible for, two things stand out for me.

  1. He co-founded the activist training group Training for Change, where he developed his method for “Direct Education”.  Training for Change is now very active in helping groups around the country develop strategies and methods for social change.
  2. He also co-founded Earth Quaker Action Team (EQAT), started by young Quakers to build a just and sustainable economy through nonviolent direct-action campaigns.  Their first campaign, with Lakey’s supervision, successfully forced PNC Bank / Financial Services Group to stop financing mountain top coal mining in Appalachia.  That was amazing!

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