Out of the Mouths of Babes

Democracy Newsletter: September 2024

By Steve Zolno

Photo by Caio

I mentioned in a recent Newsletter that I have been working with a diverse group of young people to write a book about democracy for other young people. Many of them are excited about the fact that this is an election year and that they soon will be eligible to vote. I consider this their project and the end product will have their names on it, with old Steve only mentioned as an editor. 
 
You might think that this group, who now are becoming high school seniors, are in need of education before they can formulate their ideas about how democracy best can function. But I think it is much the opposite: young people can teach us and each other about the essential purpose of democracy because they have fresh ideas and are less jaded by life experience. 
 
Our hope is to distribute this book to young people in parts of the country where curriculums have been limited to avoid providing students a clear picture about mistakes our country has made, and from which we might learn, such as slavery, segregation and the tragic history of how we treated Native Americans. Books throughout the South also have been banned that teach tolerance and understanding for diversity of all kinds — including racial, religious, ethnic and sexual minorities. 
 
What I have learned so far from this group is a primer in what I think we all should be looking for in those who seek to represent us in a voting year. The quotes below are from our draft and may not be included in our final product. Our working title is What is Democracy?
 
Democracy comes from the ancient Greek language, and means “rule by the people.” This rarely has been accomplished: in every society — including democracies — there have been those who gain power and want to impose their own interests on others. Human nature always has been both competitive and cooperative. It is no different in our country today, and likely will not change in the future. 

The difference in democratic situations is that people work together to determine what is the common good, which always is being redefined, and to design the best society possible based on that principle. If politicians represent only one part of the population, they are not working in the interest of “the people.” 
 
Democracy can be brought into all life situations: our families, schools, organizations, and governments. Here is what our book says about that so far: ​

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When leaders welcome the input of others, everyone feels heard. That type of inclusive situation would be an example of how democracy functions best; participants see themselves as valuable contributors to the group. But if a leader tries to make everyone go along with her or his will and doesn’t take the views of others into account, that would be an example of authoritarian rule, or even of a dictator. 

You might think that young people only would want to emphasize their rights and privileges, but that is not the case with this group. They encourage each other, and hopefully those who read our book, to work hard and take responsibility for developing their talents and skills so that they can be the best they can be while contributing to making our democracy strong:

For each of us to become all we can be, we need to do our best to push ourselves to expand our knowledge and understanding. We also need to be aware that our relationship with our parents and teachers is not a one-way street. In other words, we each need to take responsibility for making our best efforts toward improving ourselves in every area of our lives. 

And they also have a clear idea about justice and injustice, no doubt from what they have seen and experienced themselves: 

Since we want to live in a just world, we can stand up and let our voices be heard when we see injustice. When young people — or others — are being put down because of their backgrounds, beliefs, religious preferences, life choices, or other areas, we can remember that we all are unique individuals who deserve to be honored for who we are. 

The above is just a sample of the excellent ideas that this group has worked hard to put into words. The final version of our book is quite a way off, but I will give you updates periodically. 
 
Next month we will be providing some voting recommendations based on what we believe to be candidates and propositions that best represent democratic principles.

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Steve Zolno graduated from Shimer College with a bachelor's degree in Social Sciences and holds a master’s in Educational Psychology from Sonoma State University. Steve has founded and directed private schools and a health care agency in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is the author of seven books.

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