OPINION: Use your voice, even if it’s quiet
Maybe you’ve noticed it too: people who usually stay silent are starting to slowly speak up. For a lot of people, this moment in American history is a turning point.
Skyrocketing prices are not a future concern tied to tariffs; they are today’s reality. Losing Medicaid coverage is no longer hypothetical. Legislative budget writers are calling for cuts to public education, in addition to disability and dental benefits for state Medicaid recipients. We are watching a federal government that allows firearms for Jan. 6 protesters but says the Second Amendment has limits for people who disagree with the government. Meanwhile we are seeing the detaining of legal U.S. residents through haphazard immigration enforcement.
In today’s political climate — loud, polarized and overwhelming — it’s easy to feel powerless. But your voice already has power, even if you don’t recognize it yet. It’s not always planned or scripted; often it rises organically, in the very moments you feel most unsure.
There is an option for everyone who wants to use their voice. No matter your situation, you can make a difference. That’s because it’s not about shouting over the noise. A subtle, direct message, a clear stance or a quiet truth can cut through the deafening chaos.
Try a short social media post that reflects your values — something as simple as, “I believe in the dignity of every human being,” or “I believe in fair elections,” or “I believe in caring for one another.” In today’s world, those quiet declarations matter more than ever.
Your short declaration of values might provide comfort to that one person who wonders if they are alone.
Advocacy also lives in small, steady, human moments. The advocacy of your voice can go beyond words — extending a hand, holding a door, offering a smile. In those moments, space opens to see past the silos of us vs. them and recognize that, despite everything, we want the same things: safety, dignity and a future that holds hope. When one part of your soul reaches another, connection becomes power — and that is where real change begins.
One of the easiest ways to begin finding your voice, and practice using it in connecting ways, is to surround yourself with people who are already using theirs. Courage is contagious. You can feel it just by being in the room.
You might consider joining the local Dems Club for coffee one week. It’s just neighbors gathering, listening and sharing what matters to them — sometimes with fascinating speakers from organizations in our community. You can email [email protected] for the time and place.
Another opportunity is the Democracy Dinner on Feb. 21 at 5 p.m., where you’ll hear from nationally recognized constitutional scholar Dr. David Gray Adler. The evening is a reminder that our Constitution deserves defense. Visit KootenaiDemocrats.org/events for more information.
You can also use your voice directly with our state government. An online app, 5calls.com, makes it simple. It connects you with your representatives and provides short scripts sorted by topic if you’re nervous about what to say.
You can even use your voice with your wallet. A small recurring donation — even $5 a month — to a candidate or cause you believe in adds up in powerful ways when many people do it together.
In moments of despair, true courage is found in igniting the spark of your voice — stepping into discomfort, speaking truth even when your voice shakes and allowing conviction to light the way. By finding our voice, and using it even if it is quiet, we create a more perfect union.
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Sarah Martin is chairman of the Kootenai County Democrats.