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As America Sleeps, Democracy Burns
The Sleep of Apathy
January 4, 2025
“Democracy doesn’t die in an instant; it fades as people stop paying attention. Those in power understand this, and they rely on apathy, fear, and division to keep us asleep. To be anti-woke is to be unaware — and to remain unaware is to hand over our future. The time to wake up is now.” — Effenus Henderson
How does a democracy die? It does not perish in a single cataclysmic event, but through the quiet erosion of its foundation, as the powerful manipulate narratives and the average citizen slumbers in apathy. Today, America faces this existential question: Are we awake to the shifts threatening our democracy, or are we being lulled into complacency by those who benefit from our inattention?
The phrase “Nero fiddled while Rome burned” has endured for centuries as a cautionary tale about apathy in the face of crisis. Legend tells us that while flames consumed the city, Nero turned his attention to frivolities, ignoring the suffering and destruction around him. While the historical accuracy of this account is debated, its lesson is timeless: neglect and distraction during moments of peril can lead to irreversible collapse. Today, as democracy smolders from an all out assault on our institutions, we too face the question: Are we fiddling with distractions while…
