These days I often ask myself if we are ready for the long haul. What is it going to take to save a representative democracy, the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law, along with the institutions that help maintain a balance of power? I do not know, but we must stay hopeful that we can build a better world, engage with others, and take action.

Small actions add up. For many, this is a very sad and distressing moment in American history. But movements often begin as small actions. I am reminded of the small actions people took on many fronts over 60 years ago. People came together to work on voter registration and civil rights as well as opposition to the Vietnam War.

After the passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in August 1964, some thought that it was wrong to expand the war in Vietnam. That fall in 1964, I stood with a small group at a busy city intersection to voice opposition to the expansion of the war. Small groups were gathering in many places to oppose the expansion. Some had recently returned from work in the South on voter registration projects and had started work in their own neighborhoods.

All of this grew into a social movement, but it meant digging in for the long haul on many fronts.

I share this because it will take long, hard work to rebuild and bring change that includes all people in this country having a place at the table, where everyone has basic needs met including food security, adequate housing, good public education, health care for all, an environment free of fossil fuels, and clean air to breathe. Yes, the United States makes mistakes, but we can do better.

As conservative columnist David Brooks stated recently in reference to the White House’s interaction with Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy, “I feel moral shame. It’s a moral injury to see the country you love behave in this way.”

No one knows when the tipping point will come to change course, but I believe it will come. We cannot stand by and say it is too distressing to learn more about what is going on. as it is our duty to be engaged. We are seeing attacks on the Constitution and the rule of law during this presidency. We cannot stand by to see people fired from federal agencies such as USAID, the Department of Education, USDA, Social Security Administration, IRS, and other agencies in cruel ways.

Cuts to Medicaid, foreign aid, scientific research, the Veterans Administration, farm programs, and many other federal programs will affect millions of people. We must act and stand together now.

Patricia Katherine Larson lives in Orange.