By PETER SOMSSICH

The nationwide attacks on our democracy, and the attempts by our federal government in Washington DC to dictate to states on issues such as the rule of law, education, health care, and the role of law enforcement call on all of us to come to the defense of the values on which our country was founded.  Those of us who came to America from countries in which a dictatorship or a government threatened the lives of anyone who opposed their policies, should now stand up to defend democracy here in the United States. 

 I, like many others who came to this country as a child, was too young to fight for democracy in the country of my birth.  Until now, I have never been required to engage in protecting the democratic rights that I have enjoyed in this country.  Under the present administration, however, we should give back to this country by engaging in pro-democracy activities. Such activities should be non-violent, focused on contacting our lawmakers and our media outlets (e.g. letter to the editor), organized in our local communities and include non-cooperation with illegal laws. 

Even if you are not a first or second generation American, the odds are good that many of your ancestors came from countries where their opportunities and democratic freedoms were limited by religion or class.   If you have not yet been engaged in protecting democratic rights before, consider your heritage and decide how you can honor your ancestors by protecting the constitutional freedoms that are under attack now.

Peter Somssich, former NH State Representative