Democracy Is Not a Spectator Sport

A Message From The Women of JDCA’s Board of Directors*

Do you think this could be the last free and fair election in our history? Did you ever think Roe v Wade would be overturned?

We are a group of leaders who have served our communities at all levels. We have learned over a lifetime that whatever we have chosen to support through our philanthropy, volunteerism, and activism only succeeds when it is supported and secured at all levels of government. We must have people in positions of power who support our values because the actions taken by our government impact our families, our community, and our world.

We are now living through the results of having had the wrong people making decisions about our country, our families, and for women, our bodies. Elections matter, and the results of elections determine whether our philanthropy, volunteerism, and activism will make a difference. Anyone who cares enough to get involved must get involved in politics.

The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was possible only because Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell enabled Donald Trump to appoint three justices willing to ignore 50 years of precedent. Republicans throughout the country are attempting to ban abortion with no exceptions for rape, incest, or the life of the mother. Whatever freedom means, it does not mean that the government can deny life-saving medical care or tell its citizens whether or not to carry fetuses to term. What Republicans are attempting is a cruel mockery of our constitutional rights, and they have made clear that they will ban abortions nationwide if they control Congress, which will override any protections currently afforded in blue states.

Our concern stems not just from the attack on our reproductive choice culminating with the overturn of Roe, but from the gradual attempts to chip away at our rights and freedoms by Republicans in government. Our beloved democracy is teetering into an autocracy where those in power tell us what we can do and what to believe. In our lifetime we have depended on our democracy to ensure personal freedoms like reproductive choice, to safeguard free and fair elections, to protect our Jewish community, and to partner with us to help the most vulnerable. All of that is at risk if Republicans win in November.

As we look toward the midterm elections, we are both hopeful and fearful. We are fearful that if the wrong people are elected to design an America we do not recognize, our country will not be safe for your families. We are hopeful that if you take heed of this call to action we can prevent that from happening. Democracy is not a spectator sport, and we control our fate–but only if we are willing to get off the sidelines and contribute our time and money in support of the values we cherish.

Of course, you need to make a plan to vote, whether in person or by mail. However, this year it is not enough just to vote. That’s the minimum, but we must do more. This year, we urge you to volunteer on behalf of candidates that reflect your values and if you can, donate to candidates who pledge to protect our democracy. Use your voice and your influence to inspire others by practicing relational outreach: Talk to your friends and family and encourage them to do the same. Remind them even if they do not agree with everything a candidate says, if they value our democratic way of life, if they value the lives of women and girls, then voting Democratic in this election is essential, even if they didn’t vote Democratic last time or if they don’t intend to vote Democratic in the future.

We will not be silent. We cannot stand idly by. And years from now, when history is written about these turbulent times, you will be proud to explain to “your people” what you did to safeguard our democracy, and that you did not remain silent: that you rose to the occasion.

This election is exceptional. What happens next is up to us, and we can make a difference.

*By Dede Feinberg (Bethesda, MD), Jill Goldenberg (Newton, MA), Barbara Goldberg Goldman (Potomac, MD), Elaine Hamilton (San Jose, CA), Ada Horwich (Beverly Hills, CA), Karen Kasner (New York, NY), Beth Kieffer Leonard (Minneapolis, MN), Marcie Orley (Detroit, MI), Marcia Riklis (New York, NY), Michele Rosen (Seattle, WA), Lynn Schrayer (Chicago, IL), Cynthia Shapira (Pittsburgh, PA), Carol Smokler (Boca Raton, FL), Debra Stein (Scottsdale, AZ), Susie Stern (New York, NY), June Trone (Potomac, MD), and Susan Wagner (New York, NY)