OOTC: Civic Engagement During Global Conflict
L. Joy is back and she has another lesson for us, the occupants of the Office of the Citizen, that is timely and important. Today’s topic: the responsibilities of the people at a time of war/global conflict and how Black political thought has long challenged people to understand freedom as a global struggle. Weaving together everything from Hip-hop culture, to Dubois, PanAfricanism, to Malcom X’s international human rights agenda, and Constitutional powers, L. Joy proves that citizens are not powerless. There is plenty of actions to be taken now.
Key Lessons:
War powers are a civic issue: Congress, the president, and the citizens all have roles in determining how and whether the nation enters into military conflict
Culture as civic education: Music, art, and storytelling have long helped people understand political struggles and connect local movements to global ones.
Information is part of the struggle: As discussed on a previous episode with Dr. Michelle Taylor, propaganda, misinformation, fear, and emotional appeals make critical thinking and media literacy extremely important at a time of war/global conflict.
Civic engagement matters most when the questions are difficult: Citizens always need to question power, demand accountability, exercise empathy, and insist that human life remain at the center of decisions about war/global conflict.
Do Now
Even at a time of war/global conflict, as citizens we have actions we can take:
Interrogate the information you consume: When you encounter breaking news, commentary, or claims about global conflict, ask yourself- Who is telling this story? What evidence supports it? Whose perspective is missing? What emotion is the information trying to provoke?
Question your representatives and candidates about war powers: Ask these folks specifically how they intend to limit or oversee presidential military authority. What congressional oversight will they demand? What limits should exist on executive action? What role should Congress play before the United States enters or expands a military conflict?
Make your questions public: Make calls, send emails, attend town halls and campaign events, use social media, and make clear, especially during an election year, that voters are paying attention to decisions involving war and executive power.