Through my service, I try to make this world better than the one I was born into and honor those who came before me whose shoulders I stand upon. I hope my efforts create connection, understanding and a community where our lived experiences are valued, and we can all be our authentic selves. I know there is much work to do. Again, as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “[I]t’s only when it’s dark enough that you can see the stars.” I truly believe it is possible for the stars to be reachable for everyone by living in abundance, rather than in fear or scarcity. So, I have an ask of each of you to be aware of the discontent in our country today but to not be overwhelmed or silenced by it. Look beyond your assumptions and see the person before you. It is uncomfortable to talk about why we are so disconnected to each other, but we must do it. Part of what keeps us separate is we don’t connect in an open-hearted way that allows us to understand each other’s lived experiences. Although we are what we are exposed to and we don’t trust what we don’t understand, we now should step beyond our exposure to create the change in our daily lives, communities and country that we envision. With tools of civics, civility and collaboration, I encourage you to do something to create a better America than the America our forefathers envisioned, because it is the obligation of every citizen to do their part to sustain a democracy. As Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Do something to build community and a better country because individual and collective action can make a difference with commitment and sustained effort. Just doing the right thing can set the pace for others to follow in all kinds of settings. Our voices and efforts are more important than ever. It is our moral imperative to make this country better than we found it just as generations have done before us — not just for ourselves or our families but for our neighbors and future generations to come. 1. White House Office of the Press Secretary, Remarks by the President at Naturalization Ceremony, Nat’l Archives (2015). 2. See id. 3. See, e.g., USA Civics Act of 2022, S. 4403, 117th Cong. (2022) (proposed by Senator Cornyn, a Republican, seeking same goals as USA Civics Act of 2021); USA Civics Act of 2021, H.R. 3242, 117th Cong. (2021) (proposed by Representative Blumenaeur, a Democrat, seeking to reauthorize American history and civics grant program to “promote knowledge of American political thought and history, free institutions, democracy, and participation in political and civic life”). 4. Deborah Enix-Ross, Agree to Disagree: Civics, Civility and Collaboration Can Guide Us to a Better Society, Am. Bar Ass’n J., Oct.–Nov. 2022, at 6. 5. See id. (“Lawyers appreciate that although our differences may be stark, we know how to work together to resolve them.”). View from the Bench continued from p. 13 14 Trial Lawyer | Summer 2024
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