OPINION: Igniting hope in Kootenai County
On Saturday evening, I had the privilege of welcoming hundreds of local Democrats to our largest annual event. The Democracy Dinner inspired all of us to stand up for a government rooted in values.
As I looked out across the room, I saw friends and neighbors, longtime advocates and first-time attendees, students and retirees. I saw people who care deeply about our community, our state, and our nation. It was more than a dinner. It was a reminder of what happens when people gather with purpose.
This year’s theme was “We the People.” That phrase is more than a title pulled from the preamble of our Constitution. It is a declaration. It is a reminder that democracy has never been a spectator sport. It has always been shaped by everyday people who choose to engage, organize, and act.
The future is not written for us. It is written by us — We the People.
Terri Pickens, who is challenging Brad Little for the Idaho governorship, reminded event guests, “Freedom is not free. Freedom requires participation. It requires courage. And courage is contagious. It is so contagious that when one person shows up with a sign, the second person feels like it’s OK. And then three, then four, then we saw with No Kings — thousands. That’s ‘We the People.’”
We have seen that spirit alive here in North Idaho. People of all ages, backgrounds, and political affiliations are flocking to peaceful protests and finding their voices. That is democracy in action.
We are living in challenging times. Many of us feel the strain on our pocketbooks and our health care, tension in our public discourse, and uncertainty about the road ahead.
In his keynote address, constitutional scholar Dr. David Adler articulated the parallels and stark differences between our modern era and other challenging times in our nation’s history.
“The great question before us is the same one it has always been: Will America endure?” Adler said. “If this is not the America we want, then we roll up our sleeves and fight for the Republic.”
Real change does not come from waiting for someone else to fix what concerns us. It comes from ordinary people stepping forward. It comes from neighbors deciding to volunteer. It comes from citizens choosing to become precinct captains, to attend town halls, to serve on boards and commissions, to have difficult but respectful conversations, and to vote in every election — not just the high-profile ones.
The choices we make, the courage we show, and the voices we raise — even when they shake — form the foundation of the democracy we cherish. Hope is not something that appears on its own. It is something we ignite through action.
It can feel overwhelming. But the truth is that the power to shape our country has always rested with us. Silence in the face of oppression is a blank check to authority. Democracy works when we show up.
When we stand shoulder to shoulder — across generations, backgrounds, and experiences — we become stronger than any attempt to divide us. We become louder than any effort to silence us. We become more powerful than any force that seeks to weaken the systems that protect our rights and freedoms.
Saturday night was a declaration of that strength. It was a reminder of who we are and what we believe: that community matters, that public service is honorable, and that participation is powerful.
I was deeply grateful for our speakers, who offered wisdom and inspiration. I was grateful for our donors, whose generosity funds voter outreach, candidate support, and community engagement. I was grateful for our volunteers, who worked tirelessly to make the evening possible. And I was grateful for every guest who chose to spend their Saturday night investing in democracy.
On Saturday, we were inspired. Today, we must use our voices. My call to action remains the same today as it was Saturday night: Stay connected. Stay engaged. Take your place in shaping Kootenai County’s future. Bring back the spirit of community by showing up for one another. Every act matters. Every voice counts.
The future is not written for us. It is written by us — We the People.
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Sarah Martin is chairman of the Kootenai County Democrats.