What Does Democracy Demand of Us?
Democracy promises us a voice in the decisions that shape our lives, but it also asks something of us in return. More than just showing up to vote, democratic participation requires us to engage with people whose views we find troubling, to compromise when we'd rather have our way, and to take responsibility for collective choices even when we personally disagree. This creates ongoing tension between individual conscience and community obligation.
The question becomes especially challenging when we discover that our democratic systems produce outcomes that harm others or when our comfortable lives depend on injustices we didn't directly create. How do we balance the desire to maintain our personal integrity with the messy work of trying to improve imperfect institutions from within?
Our conversation will explore:
Is it ever ethical to benefit from a system that harms others?
What does it mean to stay and fight rather than walk away?
How do we live with both hope and responsibility in a flawed world?
What Does Democracy Demand of Us?
Democracy promises us a voice in the decisions that shape our lives, but it also asks something of us in return. More than just showing up to vote, democratic participation requires us to engage with people whose views we find troubling, to compromise when we'd rather have our way, and to take responsibility for collective choices even when we personally disagree. This creates ongoing tension between individual conscience and community obligation.
The question becomes especially challenging when we discover that our democratic systems produce outcomes that harm others or when our comfortable lives depend on injustices we didn't directly create. How do we balance the desire to maintain our personal integrity with the messy work of trying to improve imperfect institutions from within?
Our conversation will explore:
Is it ever ethical to benefit from a system that harms others?
What does it mean to stay and fight rather than walk away?
How do we live with both hope and responsibility in a flawed world?
Democracy promises us a voice in the decisions that shape our lives, but it also asks something of us in return. More than just showing up to vote, democratic participation requires us to engage with people whose views we find troubling, to compromise when we'd rather have our way, and to take responsibility for collective choices even when we personally disagree. This creates ongoing tension between individual conscience and community obligation.
The question becomes especially challenging when we discover that our democratic systems produce outcomes that harm others or when our comfortable lives depend on injustices we didn't directly create. How do we balance the desire to maintain our personal integrity with the messy work of trying to improve imperfect institutions from within?
Our conversation will explore:
Is it ever ethical to benefit from a system that harms others?
What does it mean to stay and fight rather than walk away?
How do we live with both hope and responsibility in a flawed world?
Conversation Catalysts
At Premise, a Conversation Catalyst is a short story, essay, film, or poem that sparks reflection and connection. It’s the shared reference point that grounds each session and opens the door to meaningful and deep conversation.
"The Ones Who Stay and Fight" by N.K. Jemisin
"The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin
Preparation: < 1.5 hours
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We consider how imagined societies reveal the moral complexities of democratic participation and resistance.
"The Ones Who Stay and Fight" by N.K. Jemisin
Jemisin's story responds directly to Le Guin's "Omelas," imagining a society that actively fights against injustice rather than walking away from it. In her utopia, citizens take responsibility for identifying and confronting harmful ideologies before they can take root, even when this requires difficult conversations and uncomfortable interventions.
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"The Ones Who Stay and Fight" by N.K. Jemisin
"The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin
Preparation: < 1.5 hours
We consider how imagined societies reveal the moral complexities of democratic participation and resistance.
"The Ones Who Stay and Fight" by N.K. Jemisin
Jemisin's story responds directly to Le Guin's "Omelas," imagining a society that actively fights against injustice rather than walking away from it. In her utopia, citizens take responsibility for identifying and confronting harmful ideologies before they can take root, even when this requires difficult conversations and uncomfortable interventions.
Conversation Catalysts
At Premise, a Conversation Catalyst is a short story, essay, film, or poem that sparks reflection and connection. It’s the shared reference point that grounds each session and opens the door to meaningful and deep conversation.
"The Ones Who Stay and Fight" by N.K. Jemisin
"The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin
Text Set A
Preparation: < 1.5 hours
Session Description
We consider how imagined societies reveal the moral complexities of democratic participation and resistance.
"The Ones Who Stay and Fight" by N.K. Jemisin
Jemisin's story responds directly to Le Guin's "Omelas," imagining a society that actively fights against injustice rather than walking away from it. In her utopia, citizens take responsibility for identifying and confronting harmful ideologies before they can take root, even when this requires difficult conversations and uncomfortable interventions.
The story challenges readers to consider the costs and responsibilities of creating just societies. Jemisin asks: What does it mean to actively participate in building justice rather than simply avoiding complicity? How do we balance tolerance with the need to confront harmful beliefs?
"The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin
Le Guin's haunting story describes a beautiful city whose happiness depends on the perpetual suffering of a single child locked in a basement. Most citizens accept this arrangement as necessary for the greater good, but some choose exile rather than complicity in this injustice, walking away into the unknown.
The story serves as a parable about the hidden costs of prosperity and the moral choices we face when confronted with systemic harm. Le Guin asks: What do we do when we discover our way of life depends on others' suffering? Is walking away from injustice an act of moral courage or moral cowardice?
Text Set A
Preparation: < 1.5 hours
Session Description
We consider how imagined societies reveal the moral complexities of democratic participation and resistance.
"The Ones Who Stay and Fight" by N.K. Jemisin
Jemisin's story responds directly to Le Guin's "Omelas," imagining a society that actively fights against injustice rather than walking away from it. In her utopia, citizens take responsibility for identifying and confronting harmful ideologies before they can take root, even when this requires difficult conversations and uncomfortable interventions.
The story challenges readers to consider the costs and responsibilities of creating just societies. Jemisin asks: What does it mean to actively participate in building justice rather than simply avoiding complicity? How do we balance tolerance with the need to confront harmful beliefs?
"The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin
Le Guin's haunting story describes a beautiful city whose happiness depends on the perpetual suffering of a single child locked in a basement. Most citizens accept this arrangement as necessary for the greater good, but some choose exile rather than complicity in this injustice, walking away into the unknown.
The story serves as a parable about the hidden costs of prosperity and the moral choices we face when confronted with systemic harm. Le Guin asks: What do we do when we discover our way of life depends on others' suffering? Is walking away from injustice an act of moral courage or moral cowardice?
Conversation Catalysts
At Premise, a Conversation Catalyst is a short story, essay, film, or poem that sparks reflection and connection. It’s the shared reference point that grounds each session and opens the door to meaningful and deep conversation.
More conversation catalysts coming soon!
Text Set B
Preparation: < 1.5 hours
Session Description
At Premise, we’re always growing. Our sessions are shaped not only by the enduring questions we ask but also by the ideas and contributions of our participants and Chapter Leaders. We are a constructivist learning community, which means we build our learning experiences together.
More text sets for this question are on the way. Each one will follow our approach: short enough to prepare in under three hours, substantial and thought-provoking enough to spark deep discussion, and accessible to a wide audience.
In the meantime, we’d love to hear from you. If you have a suggestion for a story, essay, film, or poem that belongs here, please share it in the section below.
Text Set A
Preparation: < 1.5 hours
Session Description
We consider how imagined societies reveal the moral complexities of democratic participation and resistance.
"The Ones Who Stay and Fight" by N.K. Jemisin
Jemisin's story responds directly to Le Guin's "Omelas," imagining a society that actively fights against injustice rather than walking away from it. In her utopia, citizens take responsibility for identifying and confronting harmful ideologies before they can take root, even when this requires difficult conversations and uncomfortable interventions.
The story challenges readers to consider the costs and responsibilities of creating just societies. Jemisin asks: What does it mean to actively participate in building justice rather than simply avoiding complicity? How do we balance tolerance with the need to confront harmful beliefs?
"The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin
Le Guin's haunting story describes a beautiful city whose happiness depends on the perpetual suffering of a single child locked in a basement. Most citizens accept this arrangement as necessary for the greater good, but some choose exile rather than complicity in this injustice, walking away into the unknown.
The story serves as a parable about the hidden costs of prosperity and the moral choices we face when confronted with systemic harm. Le Guin asks: What do we do when we discover our way of life depends on others' suffering? Is walking away from injustice an act of moral courage or moral cowardice?