“The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment.”
Robert Maynard Hutchens
This quote by the famous educator and president of the University of Chicago is cited by Senator Graham as the appropos warning for all those Floridians who want to work towards getting young voters, as well as other citizens, as a "call to action" for 18-21 year olds more involved in politics and government, as a way to reform and improving these "calcified" American institutions.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Mobilize.org's Democracy 2.0 Declaration for Millennial Leaders---that means YOU!!! Check it out!
Dear SLS AFS class members and other UWF students,
This is the story of the Democracy 2.0 Declaration.
Mobilize.org
On October 3, 2007, 47 youth leaders ages 16 to 30 gathered
in Washington, D.C to participate in Mobilize.org’s Democracy
2.0 Summit—part of a national movement known as "Democracy 2.0,"
which was launched to upgrade and renew our political process
in America by providing guidelines for positive social
change that take advantage of both the tremendous passion of
today's youth leaders, and the powerful socialnetworking
and technological tools they are using to create communities.
The text at the bottom is the Declaration that emerged
out of the Summit. The "Democracy 2.0
Declaration" is a visionary
document, designed to call attention to the ways
that our democratic process and institutions are
properly serving - and failing to serve - the
interests of young Americans. The Declaration was
written by youth leaders with the sincere
belief that America's youth are a major source
of untapped political power, energy,
and innovative ideas. Democracy 2.0 is designed
to address the civic participation needs
and interests of the Millennial Generation
(targeting the 16-30 age group).
You can support the Democracy 2.0 campaign by
signing on to the Declaration at http://
www.petitiononline.com/Mobilize/petition.html
If you are interested in getting further involved
in creating the final version of this Declaration
and/or play a role in the local action plans
that will organize around the Democracy 2.0
ideals, we encourage you to apply and attend
the Party for the Presidency and join
us in Hollywood, CA on December 29-31, 2007.
Learn more and apply today!
Keep Mobilizin',
The Mobilize.org Team
Join www.mobilize.org
Democracy 2.0 Declaration
DEMOCRACY IS AN ONGOING PROJECT. ITS TIME WE UPGRADE.
We, the Millennial Generation,
are uniquely positioned to call attention to today’s issues
and shape the future based on the great legacy we have
inherited. Our founding fathers intended for every
generation to build, indeed to innovate, on the American
experience. We realize that as young people we are
expected to be the leaders of tomorrow,
but we understand that as citizens we are
called to be the leaders of today.
We are compelled by the
critical state of our present democracy to establish a new vision.
In a world often damaged by conflict and intolerance, we must
commit to develop common ground through equality and open
mindedness.
In a world often damaged by social isolation and materialism,
we must commit to community at the family, local,
national and global levels.
In a world often damaged by instant gratification,
we must commit to creating sustainable solutions.
In a world often damaged by apathy and disillusionment,
we must commit to civic participation and inclusion of
all voices.
The present state of our democracy impedes opportunity
for real change. We must connect the specific issues
failing our population with their underlying
systemic causes.
Our government seems unable or unwilling to adequately
address our broadest problems, including economic
inequality, America’s role in the world, and
the effect of money on the democratic process.
But we must remember, our government is only as
effective as the sum of its citizens. Low civic
participation means the most disadvantaged people
in society are neglected and we overlook many
potential solutions to our problems.
Our generation
is telling a different story. We are uniquely
positioned to foster community engagement
through social networks of all kinds. It is
our responsibility to use information and
technology to upgrade democracy,
transform communication and advance
political engagement and civic
participation.
We are social networkers, we are multi-taskers,
we are communicators and we are opinionated. The
informality of our generation breaks down
traditional barriers and for inclusiveness
and equality. Most importantly, we are leaders
in a society that yearns for leadership.
It’s our democracy,
it’s time to act.
This is the story of the Democracy 2.0 Declaration.
Mobilize.org
On October 3, 2007, 47 youth leaders ages 16 to 30 gathered
in Washington, D.C to participate in Mobilize.org’s Democracy
2.0 Summit—part of a national movement known as "Democracy 2.0,"
which was launched to upgrade and renew our political process
in America by providing guidelines for positive social
change that take advantage of both the tremendous passion of
today's youth leaders, and the powerful socialnetworking
and technological tools they are using to create communities.
The text at the bottom is the Declaration that emerged
out of the Summit. The "Democracy 2.0
Declaration" is a visionary
document, designed to call attention to the ways
that our democratic process and institutions are
properly serving - and failing to serve - the
interests of young Americans. The Declaration was
written by youth leaders with the sincere
belief that America's youth are a major source
of untapped political power, energy,
and innovative ideas. Democracy 2.0 is designed
to address the civic participation needs
and interests of the Millennial Generation
(targeting the 16-30 age group).
You can support the Democracy 2.0 campaign by
signing on to the Declaration at http://
www.petitiononline.com/Mobilize/petition.html
If you are interested in getting further involved
in creating the final version of this Declaration
and/or play a role in the local action plans
that will organize around the Democracy 2.0
ideals, we encourage you to apply and attend
the Party for the Presidency and join
us in Hollywood, CA on December 29-31, 2007.
Learn more and apply today!
Keep Mobilizin',
The Mobilize.org Team
Join www.mobilize.org
Democracy 2.0 Declaration
DEMOCRACY IS AN ONGOING PROJECT. ITS TIME WE UPGRADE.
We, the Millennial Generation,
are uniquely positioned to call attention to today’s issues
and shape the future based on the great legacy we have
inherited. Our founding fathers intended for every
generation to build, indeed to innovate, on the American
experience. We realize that as young people we are
expected to be the leaders of tomorrow,
but we understand that as citizens we are
called to be the leaders of today.
We are compelled by the
critical state of our present democracy to establish a new vision.
In a world often damaged by conflict and intolerance, we must
commit to develop common ground through equality and open
mindedness.
In a world often damaged by social isolation and materialism,
we must commit to community at the family, local,
national and global levels.
In a world often damaged by instant gratification,
we must commit to creating sustainable solutions.
In a world often damaged by apathy and disillusionment,
we must commit to civic participation and inclusion of
all voices.
The present state of our democracy impedes opportunity
for real change. We must connect the specific issues
failing our population with their underlying
systemic causes.
Our government seems unable or unwilling to adequately
address our broadest problems, including economic
inequality, America’s role in the world, and
the effect of money on the democratic process.
But we must remember, our government is only as
effective as the sum of its citizens. Low civic
participation means the most disadvantaged people
in society are neglected and we overlook many
potential solutions to our problems.
Our generation
is telling a different story. We are uniquely
positioned to foster community engagement
through social networks of all kinds. It is
our responsibility to use information and
technology to upgrade democracy,
transform communication and advance
political engagement and civic
participation.
We are social networkers, we are multi-taskers,
we are communicators and we are opinionated. The
informality of our generation breaks down
traditional barriers and for inclusiveness
and equality. Most importantly, we are leaders
in a society that yearns for leadership.
It’s our democracy,
it’s time to act.
Bob Graham 2.0-what's he doing in retirement? More Active than Ever!!
His book, Intelligence Matters, warned of the lapses in America's intelligence capabilities before and after 9-11. He will discuss his upcoming book, What Every Citizen Needs to Know to Make Democracy Work for Them, with UWF faculty and students next month.http://www.bobgrahamnow.com/author_bio.html
Though he's retired from public office for over three years,
former Florida governor and US Senator Bob Graham is far from being retired from public life. He is currently working out of UF's Bob Graham Center for Public Service (http://www.graham.centers.ufl.edu/)lobbying the legislature to pass a law requiring the teaching of civics in our schools, and suing the state to allow its public universities to set their own tuition, and appearing throughout the state, country, and the world promoting his many worthy causes! Not bad for someone supposedly retired from public life three years ago!!
But on November 28, 2007, he will be visiting UWF to address students, faculty, staff, as well as community members!
He is also meeting our Academic Foundations Seminar class to hear and react to their class presentation on how to engage more college freshmen in civics, public affairs, and voting! He will meet the class and hear their presentation at 2:30 to 3:30 pm on Wed, Nov 28 in the Commons Conference Center at UWF's Pensacola campus.
All students and faculty are welcomed to attend.
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