How to have hope for American democracy | Sharon McMahon | TEDxBillings

America's Mission Statement and Gouverneur Morris

• America has a mission statement that outlines the country's goals, which include being just, peaceful, good, and free, and this mission statement was conceived by Governor Morris, a close friend of Alexander Hamilton (2m39s).
• In 1804, Alexander Hamilton was shot by the sitting Vice President of the United States, and on his deathbed, he was surrounded by his family and Governor Morris, who was a close friend of the Hamiltons (42s).
• Governor Morris came from a wealthy family and had a unique appearance, with a peg leg that he lost in a carriage accident, but he was also known for his charm and way with the ladies (2m21s).
• The mission statement that Governor Morris conceived is actually the preamble to the United States Constitution, which states that the country's goals are to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty (3m19s).

Hamilton's Death and Morris's Eulogy

• After Alexander Hamilton's death, Governor Morris delivered a eulogy at his funeral, where he struggled to find the right words to say, ultimately concluding that the audience would have to listen to the "Lamentations of a bewailing friend" (4m54s).

The Constitutional Convention and the Founding Fathers

• The preamble to the United States Constitution, which outlines America's mission statement, is often memorized by schoolchildren, particularly in the fifth grade (3m15s).
• Alexander Hamilton shared a story about the Constitutional Convention, where he and others worked together to write the Constitution, despite having many reservations and uncertainties about its success, and they "hoped better things" for America's future (5m17s).
• The Constitutional Convention was a volunteer group project where participants argued for months, and 25% of them eventually left before it was completed (5m45s).
• The Founding Fathers, who came up with the ideas for the Constitution, did not have infinite wisdom and were uncertain about the success of their ideas, but they still chose to hope for better things (6m36s).

Hope as a Choice

• Hope is not a feeling, but a choice that can be made every day, allowing individuals to take action from that place (7m55s).
• Gouverneur Morris, who wrote the phrase "We the People," accidentally killed himself with a whalebone while trying to relieve a kidney stone, illustrating that even individuals who made significant contributions to American history were not perfect and made mistakes (8m10s).
• Morris's story serves as a reminder not to let imposter syndrome or self-doubt hold one back, and to remember that even imperfect individuals can make a significant impact (9m22s).
• The idea that hope is not a feeling, but a choice, is reinforced by Morris's statement, emphasizing the importance of choosing to hope despite uncertainties and challenges (9m34s).
• Hope is not a feeling, but a choice that can be made despite evidence to the contrary, and it is the foundation for making a difference in the world (9m45s).
• Great Americans throughout history have worked towards making the country peaceful, good, and free, and they have done so by choosing to have hope that their actions will make a difference (10m14s).
• Hope is not something that can be calculated or waited for, but rather it is a decision that must be made every day, even in the face of adversity (10m1s).

Septima Clark and the Civil Rights Movement

• The story of Septima Clark, a teacher and civil rights activist, is an example of someone who chose to have hope despite facing numerous challenges, including poverty, racism, and personal tragedy (11m0s).
• Septima Clark was born in 1898 and became a teacher at a time when black teachers were not allowed to work in Charleston Public Schools, so she took a job on an island off the coast of South Carolina at a rundown school called Promised Land School (11m22s).
• Despite the difficult conditions at the school, including no glass in the windows and limited supplies, Septima Clark chose to have hope that her efforts would make a difference in the lives of her students (12m8s).
• Septima Clark went on to have a very impactful but also very challenging life, facing many obstacles, including the loss of a child, a troubled marriage, and false accusations, but she continued to choose to have hope (13m7s).
• Septima Clark was involved in lawsuits, stood up for herself at work, and was even arrested, but she continued to work towards creating positive change, including starting a network of community education classes called citizenship schools (13m28s).
• Citizenship schools ultimately became a large network of community education classes where people who had been excluded from the educational system could come and learn how to read and register to vote (14m3s).
• Septima Clark was a significant figure in the Civil Rights Movement, training Rosa Parks before she became a prominent figure, and her work had a substantial impact on the movement (14m19s).
• Despite her contributions, Clark's face and name are not well-known, and at the time, she faced opposition from white Southerners who tried to firebomb her house (14m42s).
• Clark had a soft speaking voice, but her words carried significant weight, and she believed that the measure of a person is how much they develop in their life (15m13s).
• Clark's philosophy was that people can change and grow, and she believed in working with her enemies, knowing that they might have a change of heart at any moment (15m27s).

Hope for Democracy and Engaging with Opposing Views

• This approach is what hope for democracy looks like, as it is a choice to believe that even those who oppose us can change, rather than a feeling (16m31s).
• Clark's approach encourages working with enemies, rather than isolating them, as this is the only way they can have a change of heart (17m11s).
• By interacting with those who hold different beliefs, we can create opportunities for them to change their minds and work towards a more just and peaceful society (17m29s).
• Hope for democracy requires a willingness to engage with others, even if they hold opposing views, and to believe that the world can become a better place through our efforts (17m55s).

Abraham Lincoln and the Choice of Hope

• This approach is exemplified by historical figures like Abraham Lincoln, who was hated by many Americans during his time but is now widely regarded as one of the best presidents (18m23s).
• Abraham Lincoln was not popular at the time, with hundreds of thousands of men dying and many not coming home, but he continued to make the choice to have hope, which led the US through some of its darkest times (18m59s).

The Importance of Hope and Individual Action

• It is the choice of individuals to continue to have hope, just like Governor Morris, SE McLark, and Abraham Lincoln, and to hope for better things (19m33s).
• Having hope requires making the choice that what one does matters, having the courage to believe that who one is becoming matters, and pursuing the next right thing with endurance, even when the results of one's labor are not visible (19m40s).
• The pursuit of hope and a better future is inspired by Abraham Lincoln's words to strive on to finish the work that has been started, with malice toward none and charity for all, and to bind up the nation's wounds (20m1s).
• America is considered one of the last best hopes of the world, and it is up to its citizens to work towards a better future (20m22s).