Today clearly defines the crossroads Americans face as we decide what avenue to travel, one that will either take apart our democracy, or save our democracy or devolve back to a monarchy. Millions of Americans believe we are about to be saved. Millions more believe we are about to be destroyed. Millions of others can’t or won’t pay attention but are still worried our democratic foundations have already or are about to be thwarted, many feel powerless and hopeless. Today we get a new administration in conflict with the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr celebrated today and former President Jimmy Carter who should have been honored with flags flown at half mast. It could not be a clearer distinction of values and democratic traditions between these two groups.

If we want to keep the legacies of great leaders such as MLK and Carter, we need to change our lens from the focus on labels such as Republican, Democrat, Liberal or Conservative to defining issues, seeking solutions that match our values guided by the historic way-finders that have gone before us. Martin Luther King, Jr was a beacon in the dark serving to bring to our awareness the cruelty and corruption in American society. King led peaceful protests against violent oppression that shocked the country. Because the main networks broadcast the cruelty and abuse against people of color, Americans became outraged and demanded change. And we got it. We need to do this again since we have now discovered our gains were superficial in some ways even if significant in others.

Today the American flag should have continued flying at half staff to honor former President Jimmy Carter but vanity negated this long held tradition. The continued degradation of honor, ethics, values and dignity are vanishing before our eyes and will be accelerated at a fast pace beginning today. Already at whitehouse. gov, the page describing Jimmy Carter’s presidency is no longer found, neither is any other president including George Washington, just the current president. They had this keyed up immediately. There will be mountains of such actions, but we must not let this dismay us. We must keep our focus on what we can do, not what they do. Awareness yes, panic no.

Consider Carter who was a man before his time. He led a historic peace agreement between Egypt and Israel with long lasting results in a tumultuous area of the world. In 1977, Carter created the Department of Energy to address energy issues, conservation, promote research into alternative energy and expanded National Parks and wildlife refuges. Always following ethical ideals and values led to the Panama Canal Treaties, normalizing relations with China and focusing on human rights in US foreign policy. Most important were civil and political rights at home and around the world. Understanding the importance of education for a functioning democracy and quality of life, Carter created the Department of Education to improve education no matter where in the country you attended school.

After his presidency, The Carter Center was created to support democracy and human rights goals around the world. One of its most impressive achievements was the eradication of the Guinea worm disease solely through education passed from neighbor to neighbor. The realization of these goals led to the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Carter, clearly ahead of his time regarding the climate crisis, peaceful diplomacy, support of worldwide democracy and human rights, met with resistance and criticism. That is the way of democracy, debate, trial, error, try again and incremental success.

This way of running a democracy seems to have died over the last forty plus years as powerful money interests have had their “alternate facts” become truths in the minds of many. It is up to us who revere MLK and Carter for their courage and foresight to maintain our democracy as best we can. As we move forward, look to Political Plaid to offer ideas on how we might pass from neighbor to neighbor the paths to healing and preserving our democratic tenets.

Hold on to hope. Send supportive emails to your Congresspeople as they will need encouragement as they wade through the actions of the new administration. Talk regularly with your local Representatives about what you want to see in your schools and communities. Converse with trusted friends and family about our American way of life you want to see preserved. We can do this. One day at a time.