Democracy is on the line. 

I have heard a lot about the apathy and fatigue from hearing about "Democracy being on the line." People want to focus more on day-to-day issues like inflation and crime.

Folks, I get it, believe me; "Democracy" seems like this arbitrary notion, one that we as Americans take for granted.  Here's the thing: Billions of people across the world would literally die to have a chance at living in a Democracy.

I was born in Syria. I was fortunate enough to be raised here, and before the war, I spent summers there as a child. There were a lot of strange things I encountered that I never understood. Looking back now...it makes sense.

In a dictatorship or fascist country you do not get to speak your mind or criticize your government no matter how corrupt or unjust. If you are born into a specific family or lineage, you will be given everything and be fed with a golden spoon for your entire life. If you are not, you don't tend to get the opportunity to succeed regardless of how much intelligence or ambition you present. 

MAGA Republicans here in America are clamoring to join forces with the likes of Syria's Assad, Vladimir Putin, or President Xi of China. Think about it for a moment: this is who they want to be aligned with, who they look up to, and the styles of government they wish to emulate. In the Ukraine-Russia War, China has now jumped in, and they have made it known that they will not be backing down. China is providing arms as well as logistical support to the Russians to send a message to NATO (read: America.) Russia's army vastly outnumbers the Ukrainians, yet here we are one year in and the Ukrainians have shocked the world. They did not roll over to the mighty Russian army, in fact, they have won their fair share of battles and have taken back many cities.

I am not in favor of an endless war, nor is President Biden, nor any sane person. The difference between our side and theirs is we speak candidly, lay out the facts, and base our decisions on the information. That information can change, evolve, and fluctuate. DeSantis, Trump, and McCarthy - they have no problem lying to you, lying to their base, and relinquishing democracy in favor of authoritarianism as long as it is them who remain in power.

The irony has not gone unnoticed that the speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy shares the name of the Late Senator McCarthy. A man who spent the 1950s accusing people of being communists and ruining their lives. Meanwhile, this McCarthy is openly advocating for a dictatorial form of government right here in America. They want to control women's bodies, they want to control what books are read in our schools, and they want to rewrite history to fit their narrative. 

So, yes, I know we are all sick of this fight, but this is one fight we cannot afford to lose. The very soul of our nation, as well as global democracy, is at stake, and we must prevail. That is why we fight. That is why we do the work that we do. And that is why we need your support so that we can keep on fighting. 

- Hassan Martini
Executive Director,
No Dem Left Behind