Democracy Under Attack: We Need To Start Calling Out Wrongness

Thursday, January 6th, 2021, should have been a day full of optimism and new beginnings. After a weary 2020 which had given us plenty of hardships and loss, we were all ready to welcome a New Year. For many of us, this included welcoming a new President of the United States with great excitement by certifying his election win. This recognition by Congress is a standard procedure. Even when we may not like the outcome, it is an upheld practice that has been performed for generations and carried out respectfully.

Instead, what happened is what is being called one of the darkest days in American history.

After President Trump incited protesters to act against unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud, an organized mob of Trump supporters overtook our nation’s Capital with violent intent and conclusion.

I would have never said such a statement choosing these words two or three years ago. While I have always been an active voter, “being political” has never been a thing for me. This may sound odd coming from a politician, but it’s my truth. This aversion to getting caught up in political storms stems from the belief that offending someone, or a group of people, is a bad thing. Causing offense has been a fear of mine—no matter my job. I have always thought my desire to ‘not hurt anyone’s feelings’ is the right thing to do.

Therefore, I have conducted myself without veering too far in any direction, allowing me to stay safely out of the vortex. I always thought of this is as a victory of character and good leadership. And so, I have been mindful of never being too strong, too loud, too divisive with my words—especially now as a County Commissioner which is a non-partisan seat. Because our words hold power. I always remember this.

What I have forgotten is: silence can be just as treacherous.

I have been quiet too often. I have allowed the ill words and actions of others go unchallenged. In doing so, I have been complicit in shaping the outrageous political landscape of today.

We need to start naming actions properly. The politically and socially acceptable misuse of words over the last four years is what has gotten us to where we’re at. A lie is a lie. Saying it over and over does not make it true. There is no evidence of voter fraud. The election was not stolen. President Trump incited violence. And there is a clear, racist contrast to how the white rioters who stormed our Capitol were met with law enforcement versus the black and brown protesters of the Black Lives Matter movement.

In my first few years in office, I have been unwilling to let go of the idea that being quiet means being a good leader. Sadly, we are now in a place where a new outlook is needed. “See something - Say something” was the motto following the terrorist attacks two decades ago, and now after witnessing the attempted coup on January 6, it’s clear that I need to get over my fear of being “too political”. I am in fact a politician now, and if I want to be a good one, I can no longer cling to the luxury of my past anonymity. I must make myself known.

The quick degradation of our political culture in the last four years has me reeling. As a woman and person of color, I am heartbroken and angry that we have a President who is bent on keeping himself in power with racist and abusive tactics. What’s more, I am appalled that we have accepted this as normal for our great country.

We can’t heal from injury until we can first name our wounds. We can disagree about policies, about opinions, about issues. We should not disagree about ethics. The fact that we are disagreeing about ethics and have not openly named it, is one important reason why we find ourselves here.

Getting out of this mess is going to require being honest about our ideals and our motives. We need to challenge ourselves to think critically, instead of “politically”. And then we need to speak up when needed. This is my plan. It might mean offending someone. It might mean losing support. It might mean losing votes. I accept all of these possibilities.

I will no longer accept being silent.

Read my previous blog about politics HERE.

Read my next blog about politics HERE.

CALL TO ACTION: It can be intimidating to speak up. Especially about controversial issues. Learn skills on conflict resolution at Community Mediation Minnesota. There are more local resources at Mediation Services Anoka County where you can also get trained and become a volunteer.

I find books to be an excellent way to get educated, inspired and expand your world. Here is Obama’s Book List of 2020 as well as Oprah’s Book List of 2020. I am currently finishing up, “White Fragility” by Robin Diangelo.

Mandy Meisner is the Anoka County Commissioner for District 4 (Fridley, Columbia Heights, Hilltop and part of Spring Lake Park). District 4 is the most diverse district in Anoka County. You can connect with Mandy on Facebook.

This blog is not an official communication of Anoka County, and does not represent the opinion of anyone else on the Anoka County Board, Anoka County staff, or any other body Commissioner Meisner serves on.