In our Symphony ’77 Inquiry Circle: Where Curiosity Meets Connection on February 7, 2025, we Applied Meditativism to American Democracy and Fascism. We explored how these forces appear in the world and our bodies and minds. We felt freedom in our chests and the weight of oppression in our stomachs. These feelings reminded us that the fight for agency is both internal and external, and to win the battle, we must “Retain Our Agency.”
Agency is central to America’s political and social struggles. America built itself on ideas of freedom and self-rule. Agency means having the power to act, challenge, and shape society. But not everyone has shared this power equally. Marginalized groups have fought to gain their rightful place in democracy. The fight to gain and keep agency shows the gap between America’s democratic ideals and authoritarian habits. To face Fascism or embrace democracy, we must act, choose, and influence.
We explored how Fascism and Democracy are part of American institutions, culture, and identity. This tension is more than history. It is a lived experience that affects laws, education, and personal freedoms and shapes community life. To deal with this tension, we must maintain our agency. Both individual and group actions matter. Applied Meditativism helps connect awareness with action.
Definition of Meditativism and the Meditativist
Meditativism means using moment-to-moment awareness in our engagement with the world. It is more than personal reflection; it brings mindfulness into social, political, and cultural life.
A Meditativist practices this approach. They meditate for peace and to understand power, oppression, and liberation.
A Meditativist balances freedom and control. They use mindfulness to align their values with their actions.
American Fascism: The Threat to Agency
American Fascism works through exclusion, repression, and centralized power. It strips agency through voter suppression and systemic racism. It punishes dissent.
Fascism responds to democracy by controlling stories and silencing voices. It aims to put power in the hands of a few.
Key slogans and ideas include:
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- “Separate but Equal”
- “The Great Cause”
- “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.”
These slogans make oppression seem normal. They are more than words. They take agency from individuals and communities. They trap people in systems of fear and inequality.
The American Plantation System represents an early form of Fascism. It forced people into labor camps—violence, watching, and dehumanizing controlled enslaved people. Government laws upheld this system. Only a few people had agency.
American Democracy: The Expansion of Agency
American Democracy works through inclusion, representation, and shared power. It aims to grow agency.
Democracy protects freedoms, promotes voting rights, and encourages community activism. Though flawed, it grows through the fight for justice and equality.
Key phrases include:
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- “We the People”
- “Toward a More Perfect Union”
- “Liberty and Justice for All”
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These are not just slogans. They call us to action. They invite us to claim our agency and shape our country’s future.
Democracy does not run on its own. It needs active people to stop the drift toward authoritarianism. The same systems that give us power can twist under fascists. Keeping our agency is both personal and shared. Democracy depends on it.
Retain Your Agency: Applied Meditativism in Action
In our Symphony ’77 Inquiry Circle, we meditated on Democracy and Fascism. We saw how these forces show up in the world and our bodies. We felt freedom in our chests and the weight of oppression in our stomachs. These feelings reminded us that the fight for agency happens inside and outside.
The line between Fascism and democracy stays thin. We face these forces daily in ourselves and our communities.
First, we must see these forces of control. Then, we must keep our agency by resisting, engaging, and transforming.
Applied Meditativism helps with this. We feel how Fascism tightens our bodies. We feel how democracy opens our hearts to act. We respond with purpose.
“Retain Your Agency” becomes a powerful mantra. It reminds us that we can always choose our responses.
Even when facing Fascism, oppression, or fear, we can act with purpose. We can fight for justice and align our values with our actions.
Conclusion: Democracy and Fascism—As American As Cherry Pie
Both American Fascism and American Democracy shape our story. But by keeping our agency, we shift the story toward democracy. We ensure freedom, inclusion, and justice win. Every act of engagement strengthens democracy and weakens Fascism. These struggles are as American as cherry pie.
We choose which story wins by keeping our agency.
Democracy is more than a system; it is a daily practice. Fascism remains a threat, but we resist it through our shared power. We do not have to give up our voices.
Move forward with this mantra: “Retain Your Agency.”
Our mission: Keep democracy strong, open, and fair.
What will you do today to keep your agency? Join local meetings or support community groups. Learn and teach about key issues. Vote, volunteer, or push for better laws. Think about your daily actions. Align them with your values to keep your agency strong and focused.