Democracy Speech

They say we live in a democracy. We are free, and we should be grateful. But just how “free” are we? How democratic are our so-called “democracies”? Is it enough to simply elect our leaders and sit back, helpless, as they rule over us like dictators? What good is selecting our politicians, if we cannot control our media, police, or soldiers?

Millions of American families have turned to The Book of Virtues and The Moral Compass by William J. Bennett for moral guidance in troubled times. Our Sacred Honor offers inspiration and instruction as well -- this time of a particularly American sort.

In this short accessible book, leading democratic theorist Jason Brennan guides listeners through the evolution of the concept of democracy and actual democratic practice over time to help them understand the foundations of this longstanding and yet newly fragile political system. In his wide-ranging tour of the concept, Brennan will examine what democracy meant to the Greeks who first developed the concept before examining how it changed throughout European and later Western history.

For a century, the American Civil Liberties Union has fought to keep Americans in touch with the founding values of the Constitution. As its centennial approached, the organization invited Ellis Cose to become its first ever writer-in residence, serving as an "embedded journalist" with complete editorial independence. The result is Cose's groundbreaking Democracy, If We Can Keep It: The ACLU and Its 100-Year Battle for Our Rights, the most authoritative account ever of America's premier defender of civil liberties.

As a mom of four beautiful Black children, a small business owner, and a publisher, I felt that it was my duty to share the stories of those who have been impacted by racial injustices that have plagued our country since the beginning of its inception. I pray that as you read this collection of reflections, short stories, and poetry that you are motivated to help change the narrative of what it is like to be Black in America. I present to you: Speak up... We deserve to be heard. Stories and reflections on being Black in America. - Visionary Author: Chanel E. Martin “I feel like I’m ...

No political concept is more used, and misused, than that of democracy. Nearly every regime today claims to be democratic, but not all "democracies" allow free politics, and free politics existed long before democratic franchises. This book is a short account of the history of the doctrine and practice of democracy, from ancient Greece and Rome through the American, French, and Russian revolutions, and of the usages and practices associated with it in the modern world.

We are living in interesting times has been the mantra of many great women and men as of late. The last couple of years of battling COVID19 and the political controversies sweeping nations across the globe have been challenging for billions of citizens worldwide. With that said, there is nothing more democratic than the right to protest, and although many may not agree with what is being stated, it is a core democratic value that must be upheld. There's a fine line being protesting and mob violence and cyberactivism and online harassment. The bottom line is that people have the right to ...

Increasingly mass media in the United States has become owned by fewer people. The principle of net neutrality has come under assault from corporate lobbyists and politicians, alongside media pundits and commentators, and, recently, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced new efforts to gut regulations and end net neutrality. What is net neutrality? Why is it important? What does the end of net neutrality mean for democracy in America?

At what point do you stand up to power? Age 14, Joshua Wong made history. While the adults stayed silent, Joshua staged the first ever student protest in Hong Kong to oppose National Education - and won. Since then Joshua founded Demosisto, led the Umbrella Revolution and spearheaded the Extradition Bill protests, which have seen an estimated 2 million people - more than a quarter of the population - take to Hong Kong’s streets. His actions have sparked worldwide attention, a Nobel Peace Prize nomination and over 100 days in jail.

Growing up as the child of former sharecroppers in a segregated Baltimore, Elijah Cummings saw firsthand how injustice could run rampant, even in a democracy that promises fairness and equality. But with a strong support system and fiery self-discipline, Elijah utilized the momentum of the civil rights movement to overcome the obstacles of poverty and racism to effect change at a time when our country so badly needed it.

With the ideology under more global scrutiny than ever in the wake of the war on Iraq and suspicions over election results, David Beetham offers new insights into democracy. He looks at real examples, such as the role of the citizen and how large corporations affect democracy. He also contemplates the future of democracy in the developed and developing worlds.