Throughout history and culture, throughout our personal and collective lives, we are at times “called,” to a task, epic to the moment. Yet, the scope of such a calling can seem overwhelming, and for a number of reasons, many never get past an initial resistance to be more, be better, solve the problem, or to heed the call. This episode explores American resistance to political engagement, despite alarming threats to democracy.
Right wing extremism, white nationalism, and the rise of authoritarian tendencies are misunderstood, and fail to spark the engagement needed to strengthen and preserve democracy. Facing the greatest threat of our nation’s history since the Civil Wars, Americans sleepwalk their way forward with a lackluster response. Right wing extremism, white nationalism, and the rise of authoritarian tendencies are misunderstood, and fail to spark the engagement needed to strengthen and preserve democracy. What holds us back a full-throated “Hell NO!” when faced with this kind of “mayday?” How can we overcome our own resistance to responding? And how can we competently engage as dynamic citizens?
Topics discussed in this episode:
20:00 Complacency
23:15 Cynicism
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05/25/24 • 32 min
American Musecast - EP03 | American Democracy Relies on an Engaged Citizenry
Transcript
Welcome to American Musecast! I’m your host, Susan Travis, exploring American politics using the construct of the hero’s journey and the archetypes of the psyche.
Last episode we discussed a Mayday warning of the dire threat facing America – the ever-metastasizing deliberate dismantling of democracy accompanied by a rising authoritarian replacement. In other words, democracy, our system of rights and freedoms, is being dismantled so that a dictatorship can replace it. That’s the
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