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​Bart Pogue, US Department of State Foreign Service Officer for USAID, discusses his posting in Guatemala.

Message from Angela Weck

2/1/2021

 
​January 6, 2021, was a day that should have represented the highest achievement of our republic.
It should distress us all that the day turned out very differently.                
 
For those of us who value discourse over discord, persuasion over coercion, and democracy over authoritarianism, know that you are on the right side of history, of humanity, today and always. The voices of reason ultimately prevailed in the early hours of this morning, and these voices of reason must be supported and amplified.
 
The world shows us many examples of people who let passion overrule their judgement, who follow leaders more bent on their own glory than on the goodwill of their own people. We, in this republic, are not like those other places in the world, but yesterday showed that we could be.
 
Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer spoke to the WACA conference in 2018, observing that that many countries, in fact most, have constitutions and laws. The difference between the United States and places like Russia or China is that we believe in our Constitution and have agreed, as a society, to follow the rule of law. It seems so simple, but that observation is profound.
 
Join me in renewing your commitment to education, engagement, and civil discourse. In the words of Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.” The emphasis is mine – be thoughtful, be informed, change the world with reason and goodwill.

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Peoria Area World Affairs Council   |  1501 W. Bradley Avenue, Peoria, IL  61625
(309) 677-2454 (phone)  |  (309) 677-3256 (fax)
director@pawac.org

Photos copyright  Joe Couri/Kristin McHugh/Kristin McHugh for The Stanley Foundation

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