CIVIC LIFE TODAY // VOICE // POINTS OF LIGHT
What is “Voice” and Why Does It Matter? “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter1,” a quote attributed to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., still rings as true today as it did in 1965. Using your voice matters because it can be the spark that generates greater awareness and understanding about an issue, mobilizes people to take meaningful action, and gains the attention of leaders who can help drive the change you want to see. When we choose silence, progress can stand still and the issues we care about may remain unchanged – or change in ways we hoped they wouldn’t. Voice represents an individual’s ability to influence their network, interpersonal connections, and even people they don't know to raise awareness, promote, protest, advocate for or even unlock the assets of others to advance a cause or social issue. There are many ways to use your voice – from sharing information on social media, speaking at a local town hall meeting, or simply having a conversation at the dinner table with family. Often times, in fact, it’s these intimate conversations with family and friends, had over coffee, while taking a walk, together in small settings like a faith-based study group, that have more power and influence to make others think about an issue. There is no-one-size fits all for amplifying what matters. And it’s not about doing everything; it’s about finding what’s right for you that best supports the causes you care about. From global issues like climate change to local issues like advocating to convert a public space into a community garden, there’s power in each voice.
But with that power comes great responsibility. Your voice can be a force that uplifts society and promotes greater equality by breaking down power structures to effect change. But as we’ve seen throughout history, such as with the rise of several authoritarian regimes worldwide, someone’s voice can also be used to repress the voices and rights of others. Being well-intentioned about using your voice to promote social change is not enough. If you’re not well-informed about what to share and how to best share it, you may end up doing the exact opposite of what you had hoped to achieve or even cause harm. In many countries such as the United States, freedom of speech is a constitutional cornerstone of democracy and a universal value whereby even when there’s disagreement on an issue, there’s generally agreement on the importance of having the right to disagree. However, using your voice is not without risk. People throughout history and even today have faced threats of retaliation, arrest or even violence; or jeopardized their careers or personal relationships. Given these risks, people might abstain from using their voice or even go so far as to exercise “preference falsification” making statements about one’s beliefs that are in contrast to what they actually believe.2 Dr. King challenged people to use their voices as a force for good and he lost his life in his quest to ensure equality for all. There’s bravery in standing up for what you believe in. But with more voices, much can be accomplished together.
The Privilege of Voice While certain countries protect free speech, there are many parts of the world where it’s dangerous or even illegal to challenge the status quo. Examples of this type of suppression include state-run media that filters what the public is allowed to hear, violent government responses to peaceful demonstrations, and instances of opposition groups or leaders being repressed or harmed. Even when free speech is protected, some groups feel they have less agency to use their voice compared to others. Often these are individuals who are members of communities that have faced, or are still experiencing, inequalities due to race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, and more. It’s important to recognize how others may feel these protections differently so that we may better understand the very issues they are advocating for.
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