Where Democracy Still Works In taverns, classrooms, libraries, and flood-stricken towns, neighbors are quietly practicing the everyday cooperation that keeps the American experiment alive while national politics flounders.
(Jewel Samad/AFP via Getty Images)
This past June, my husband and I found ourselves in a small Shenandoah town in western Virginia. As dusk approached, we wandered into a tavern where locals had assembled to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. As I enjoyed the band, I observed the crowd: old and young, black and white, gay and straight. Despite their differences, these neighbors clearly knew one another and had chosen to gather for a shared historic purpose that evening. They greeted each other with warmth and familiarity, chatting about local matters and recognizing the veterans in the crowd. Their conversations indicated a diversity of political opinions, yet they equally demonstrated respect and care for the members of their community. It was a striking everyday example illustrating the strength and resilience of American democracy, which often goes unnoticed in today’s discourse. Everywhere, pundits, pollsters, and talking heads are telling us that our democracy is failing, and the situation certainly appears bleak. Dysfunction and polarization have frustrated governing. Confidence in Congress, the presidency, and the courts has plummeted. Partisan rancor infects even the most innocuous public discourse, including how we preserve history at our nation’s cultural institutions and how we will celebrate America’s 250th birthday in 2026...
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