Libraries and Journalists are the Bedrock of Democracy
While I am not a politician, a journalist, or a historian, I do know a good bit about activism. I attended a college that specializes in craft, design, and the arts. As part of our first year, we studied the fundamentals of design. Two of the mandatory courses we have to take are History and Art for Social Change. Artists have always been at the forefront of politics. From the Medieval minstrels being paid to serve as spies and propagandists, all the way up to the antics of Banksy, artists have always been in the foreground when it comes to influencing hearts and minds for change. During the course of my education, I learned something very important. Information is King. Who controls it, who writes it, who hides it, and who distributes it. The person who has command of the information seen by the people is the person who controls the Overton Window.In many of my articles and letters, I have commented that democracy only functions on the shoulders of its citizens. An informed, well-educated populace that understands its rights, how its political system functions, and is kept up to date with current events. That is the best-case scenario for a healthy democracy, as it ensures that the people are able to vote for their leaders with the confidence that their choice is truly the best available. It is deeply important that every child be raised to read, question, think critically, and exercise good judgment when considering big decisions. Media literacy, like knowing how to parse a headline and how to recognize bad-faith actors is incredibly important. Ensuring that your citizens have easy access to education, knowledge, and a free press is the best way to protect democracy from being cut down at the…
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