The Dinners for Democracy discussion guides covering each chapter of Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times highlight the main points of the chapter, offer questions for reflection and discussion, and reference actions you can take in your community.

In Chapter 7 of Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times, Democracy Forward CEO and President Skye Perryman encourages readers to keep going. She writes, “We must be able to see what is happening and understand: This is where we are. There are no shortcuts out of this. The only way out is through. But we are far from powerless” (p. 182).  

There are times when we all feel despair or lose hope, but we must keep going. We must get to work because autocratic governments rely on people giving up. Skye tells us, “the number one tool that autocratic leaders use to consolidate power is not voter suppression, election denialism, or gerrymandering—it is convincing people that there is nothing they can do to change their circumstances” (182). We the people have the power to change our circumstances. We can reimagine our democracy and work together to create a more just society. 

Skye writes, “The work of justice has always been urgent. The ultimate action that strikes the blow to injustice—and yes, to autocracy—will make its mark because of the work of ordinary people like you who in this extraordinary time took singular steps, day by day, conversation by conversation, to move the mountain of despair” (p. 184). We must take care of ourselves and others. We must, “Keep going. Just keep going” (p. 186).