Happy Birthday, By the People!

Happy Birthday, By the People! One year ago today, I posted the first entry on By the People. We (I and a team of bloggers) had just set out to examine through blogging what it means to be a citizen in a democracy. We wanted to get past the talk of documents and governments and focus more on our everyday actions that make a democratic society a reality. We wanted to show that democracy is a way of life.

Did we succeed in reaching our goal through this blog? I’d like to think so. In the past year we’ve blogged about resolving to get more involved in your community, The World Cup, serving on a jury, and we asked if 100,000 people can make a difference. We’ve brought our military experience, travel, and shopping habits into the mix. Taking inspiration from Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, we even asked about the role of women in a democracy.

But most importantly, we’ve heard from YOU! Your comments have been inquisitive, enlightening, and thoughtful. And we love reading them.

What would you like to see in the second year of By the People? If you have ideas about where the next year should take us – what topics, ideas, and issues interest you the most – please let us know.

Thanks for reading.

tonia, of toni58@hotmail.co.uk says:

30 March 2010 at 3:36 pm

I am from the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. What I see coming into my country via the emdedded problems poverty, corruption of government officials and their civil accomplices, makes it imperative to me to be interested in how the impending civil war can be averted. In what way do you think I may be of service to my country? nI am a woman by the way. Your suggestions will be highly appreciated.

Jane Morse says:

1 April 2010 at 11:02 am

As you already know – but many men and even some women may not – women are critical to the economic and social health of their families, their communities, and their nations. In Nigeria, the U.S. Agency for International Development has a number of programs in cooperation with Nigerian citizens to improve the lot of the people. It may be possible for you to get involved with one of those. You might seek out nongovernmental organizations and civil society groups (or establish one yourself) in your region dedicated to rooting out corruption and bringing greater transparency to your government.

You might also find inspiration from the amazing women who have been recognized by the United States with the International Women of Courage Award . Some of them are well educated and have used their talents to correct abuses in their countries. Others have very little education or money, but their devotion and persistence to correcting social wrongs have been successful.

Jennifer Williams of Zimbabwe, for example, founded a civil society organization to protest government abuses. Reem Al Numery of Yemen was forced to marry when she was only 12 years old. Her fight to make her own decisions has garnered international attention and, perhaps, some change in attitudes among her countrymen. Hadizatou Mani of the Republic of Niger was sold as a slave as a child, yet she was able to win her liberation and a judgment as well as compensation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

You might also find some great ideas in Nonviolent Paths to Social Change.
It won’t be easy, but positive change is only possible with efforts by concerned people like you. Good luck

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