Tag Archive for: restoring democracy

Has the Moment for a New America Arrived?

heart of a new america

Has the time for a new America—America 2.0—arrived?

A growing number of people think so. Civil rights leader Al Sharpton announced a second historic March on Washington for August 28, the 57th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

But what if, instead of a demand for unfulfilled justice, this event becomes a victory march?

In tandem with the March on Washington, we can rise together in a peaceful protest that surrounds the U.S. Capitol. We can demand an amended Constitution that ensures our government finally and fully realizes its promise to be a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Yes, we are serious. Yes, we believe it can be done. We know it can heal America. The time for this sweeping, revolutionary change is now.

Let me explain.

A crumbling democracy calls for a New America

We have entered our fourth year of “Making America Great Again,” yet by all measurable criteria, the United States of America is anything but. It’s not great, not united, and is broken beyond repair.

Consider what this vision of a “great America” has brought:

●       A failed response to a global pandemic that has needlessly cost tens of thousands of lives, swiftly crushed the economy, and displaced millions of workers.

●       A rampant string of falsehoods from our highest leaders that have left the entire populace without institutions to believe in.

●       A heightened distrust in medical science at a time when our communities need to depend on it.

●       A police and justice system that is bigoted to its core and open to presidential and partisan interference, while black and brown people are targets of institutional violence.

●       A failed public policy that has accelerated the climate emergency that looms as the greatest threat to humankind in our known history.

It’s time for a little rebellion

In recent weeks, our nation’s highest-ranked military leaders have shattered long-standing norms to speak out against the president and his threat to use military force to quell the voices of dissent pouring into streets nationwide.

Former Republican Secretary of State Colin Powell objected with crystal-clear clarity: “We have a Constitution. And we have to follow that Constitution. And the president has drifted away from it.”

Since making America great has failed, why shouldn’t we shift our efforts toward making a New America instead? Perhaps a moment like this is what President Thomas Jefferson had in mind in his letter to James Madison when he wrote, “A little rebellion now and then is a good thing.”

Think back, just a few months ago, to the 2020 State of the Union address. Climate change was finally an issue (sadly, not the issue) for the coming election in November. Words like coronavirus and pandemic were unfamiliar to most. The Green New Deal seemed ridiculous with its cost. And Black Lives Matter had been relegated to a minor point of recent history.

Does this seem like a lifetime ago? A different world? An alternate reality?

Remember when Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden told Bernie Sanders, “People are looking for results, not a revolution”?

“Now, in virtual town hall meetings, media interviews, his own podcast, and in a rare formal address Tuesday, Biden has pointed toward a transformational era in which government would play a bigger role in curing the country’s public health, economic, and racial woes,” the Washington Post reported.

This is a moment crying out for historic, revolutionary change

During the pandemic, people often spoke about returning to “normal.” Two months of quarantine, 44.2 million newly unemployed, and weeks of dramatic and determined protests for racial justice have ensured we’ll never go back to that world again, even if we wanted to.

Whatever comes next will not be normal. This upheaval sets the stage for a revolution that changes how the American government functions.

“Revolutions do not necessarily erupt at the moment when people are most oppressed. Rather, revolutions have more often been the result of ‘rising expectations,’” author Christine Adams recently wrote in the Washington Post. “Periods of progress followed by crushed hopes can be especially dangerous, leading to rage and violence.”

I launched Build a Movement 2020 on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2018 with one purpose: to create a grassroots movement committed to solving our country’s biggest challenges. One we haven’t shied away from is the need for America 2.0, which starts with sweeping constitutional reform that finally realizes the great call for liberty and justice for ALL people.

In our 244-year history, the United States has never realized this vision.

The protests that have grown over the past weeks demand this. If we can come together around these common bonds and keep the pressure on through August, we can secure sweeping constitutional changes to heal America, restore our climate, and responsibly end COVID-19.

Now is our moment for a little rebellion.

Healing America: Waging Optimism

If you were sick and your physician said you had to take urgent action to remain alive, would you sit around and debate it? Not if you wanted to get well. If I were your doctor I’ll tell you to start by waging optimism and taking action! 

Well, here we are, at the conclusion of this Healing American series. The time for debate is over. The next government of the United States will be elected in less than 400 days. This is the time for action. 

In part one of this Healing America series, we recognized the urgency and illness

In part two, we diagnosed the cause

In part three, we decided to become a miracle cure.

In part four, we set a course for bold action, with America 2.0. 

So, how do we get from where we are today, a sick and dying nation embroiled in political scandal and ineffective government to where we will be upon signing an America 2.0 constitution as soon as possible? 

We start WAGING OPTIMISM and taking action. 

  • We build a movement together. Click here now to take our pledge and get started.
  • We call all justice-hearted Americans mobilize in mass, peaceful, non-violent demonstrations between now and Constitution Day.
  • We make our presence felt at the Democratic and Republic Conventions when the candidates for the President are formally chosen.
  • We demand candidates that will support our America 2.0 Constitution.

Now, it’s time for action.

waging optimism

Who am I to call you to action?

I’m a doctor and the father of five sons.

I am committed to ensuring that my family and all of your families have the opportunity to pursue the American ideal of liberty and justice for all.

My work for the last 30 years has been to hold the United States government accountable. I’ve been waging justice for all Americans and I want you to join me.

I’m an optimist to the core. I’m Waging Optimism now because I’ve seen what happens when people come together, like the time we changed the course of the AIDS epidemic. Like the Climate Justice movement that is making a huge push to save our planet.

On Martin Luther King’s birthday earlier this year, I launched Build A Movement 2020 (#BAM2020) to spark a patriotic revolutionary political movement. The pillars of BAM2020 can be seen here. (Link to blog with pillars). 

I commit my life to healing America and I know we can do it. 

But who I am isn’t as important who you are. 

Will you be the person who at this moment in history took bold action to demand life, liberty and justice for all? 

Will you wage optimism with me? 

Let Justice Ring!

A Vision for Impact in 2020

Eight billion people call this planet home. 

Each of us, every one of us, faces existential challenges that don’t discriminate by politics, race, religion or wealth. We’re in this together.

We’re also in a time of globalization and digitalization. Solutions are at our fingertips. One person can make a greater impact than ever before.

This is our world. Together we can save it. 

The Build a Movement 2020 mission is to bring together political movement, organizations and individuals to heal America and ensure our country advances solutions that protect our world and ensure the survival of all humanity.

Today, we turn the calendar. We are now 364 days away from the next election of the President and Congress. We have just one year to impact this election and ensure accountability in 2021 and beyond.

Over the next two months our vision for 2020 and how we’ll catalyze a movement of change.

At Build a Movement 2020:

  • We call for the restoration of democracy.
  • We call for climate restoration.
  • We call for a sustainable future. 
  • We call for gender equality and universal health care.
  • We call for the end of childhood sexual abuse and trauma that stems from inequalities, racism and gun violence.

To learn more about our five pillars and how they are interconnected, click here.

BAM 2020 seeks to unify behind grassroots activism and institutional advocacy to do better, accomplish more and see our calls to action realized in the upcoming American political election.

Together we will not only ensure the survival of life here on Earth for our grandchildren and their grandchildren, but we will usher in a more just and peaceful world.

Join us.

Text BAM2020 to 52886 and take the pledge to build a movement in 2020.