Democracy's Edge
Chapter One
THE LONG ARC
tracing democracy's journey
The arc of the moral universe is long,
but it bends toward justice.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
One evening not long ago, I wandered alone around "old Philadelphia."
As dusk fell, I caught a glimpse of Constitution
Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the fine brick home of one of the Constitution's
signers. Nearly two million Americans visit here each
year to pay homage to those responsible for the liberty and opportunity
we enjoy.
But while many of us may imagine that we have largely our
Founders to thank-those august gentlemen who gathered in Philadelphia
that hot summer of 1787-our democracy has actually
been in a continual process of development for more than two centuries.
Our nation's first black federal judge, William Hastie, nailed
it: "Democracy is a process, not a static condition."
For me, it helps to think of our history as a journey with two
competing strains, one pushing democracy forward, one impeding
it. To orient us on this journey, here I'll briefly touch on both.
Remember first that in the eyes of our Founders, only abou ... read full excerpt from Democracy's Edge: Choosing to Save Our Country by Bringing Democracy to Life ebook
