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As part of civic conversations, I would like to add to Armstrong Williams’ recent column on the need for civic engagement (“Armstrong Williams: Keeping our republic requires civic engagement,” May 5).
In both my professional role at work and my volunteer role, I talk to a wide range of Americans and see the lack of knowledge about what it takes to have a functioning republic, including how our government works. This clearly points to the need for more effective practices in classrooms and communities.
What I hope to add is the need to have more conversations, both private and public. It seems to me that we need to know each other as people, trust each other, learn more history, hear different perspectives and model leading with curiosity. That means we need to go into uncomfortable spaces to talk about problems.
I thank the Marylanders who came to talk to us about non-partisan, effective solutions to climate change at Green Spring Fling at Oakland Mills Interfaith Center in Columbia this past Sunday and at Howard County Greenfest last month. It takes time and energy to talk about complex problems and viable, non-partisan solutions. Can we have more nuanced conversations in our homes, our neighborhoods, our classrooms, our campuses, our workplaces and in our newspapers?
Having thoughtful conversations through letters to the editor is one way to achieve this. Thank you, Baltimore Sun, for providing the space to go beyond false binaries (for versus against) and provide space to think about what we can all do better — having difficult conversations such as how to have a functioning republic, essential to solving complex problems like climate change.
Civic organizations such as Citizens Climate Lobby offer training and opportunities to engage with our government. One way to strengthen our government is for people to participate in the various decision-making processes that are part of our republic. Join a civic organization and be part of solutions.
— Sabrina S. Fu, Ellicott City
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