On this hallowed Veterans Day, we honor those Americans who have practiced the highest possible form of service in the defense of the United States and the ideals for which it has proudly stood. In particular, we owe a profound measure of respect and honor to the men and women of Luther College who have participated in military service, dating back to World War I. All are part of an unbreaking chain of patriots who have served this nation, selflessly, both in times of war and peace. They are the best of us. It is during one of these few moments that I am strongly reminded of the profoundness of that single, solitary idea for which these brave men and women, sung and unsung, have so valiantly fought and died: democracy. The price paid in the defense of this idea has at times been high. That democracy might endure, they fought and died on the beaches of Normandy and Omaha, on the islands of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, in the far-off deserts of Kunduz and Kandahar, and in the forests of the Argonne. Through their selfless service, we have learned that while Freedom is a sacred gift from the almighty, it must be earned by His people here on Earth. At this inflection point in our shared global history, we must not only express gratitude to those who have served in the defense of the nation but also reflect on the challenges that now bedevil democracies worldwide. As I sit here today, we find ourselves confronted with an ever-changing and often perilous world, where the solemn idea of democracy is being tested by various threats of varying scopes on varied fronts. Today, the brave people of Ukraine are confronted by a great war launched by a devout autocrat brazenly intent on crushing their aspirations for greater democracy. The erosion of truth and the rise of misinformation remains a perilous threat and distress to the health of democracy around the world. In a world where information is instantaneous and unabating, the distortion of facts and proliferation of false narratives by bad actors have sown the seeds of doubt and confusion, mistrust and discord, undermining the very foundations of democracy.

Perhaps most troubling of all is this growing sense of disillusionment about democracy rising within youth populations, including here at Luther College. Over my extensive, candid, and sometimes difficult conversations with peers from various parts of the world in recent months, I have realized a growing many appear to be constructing meanings in casting doubt on democratic values and processes. Many have relegated the description of democracy to a mere hodgepodge of “unrealistic ideals” penned on paper. There are unceasing complaints about the cynical horse trading politics that have taken root in the halls of Congress and the hyper-partisanship that has so often upended the promise of progressive change in these United States. I am no stranger to the embitterment of fellow students, especially from Africa and Latin America where their collective aspirations for a functioning democracy have so often been quashed by the corruption of the ruling class. Of course, all of these concerns and doubts are valid. Nonetheless, these difficulties we today see in democracy represent evidence not of the inadequacies of democratic values and processes, but of the transitory nature of politics and our dissenting tendencies as human beings. Here’s one thing I believe in: While it may be self-evident—at least on paper—that democracy is a sturdy system capable of change, it is never self-executing. It is always up to us as individuals to raise our voices in the defense of this idea, not just by the votes we cast for our leaders during periodic elections. To seize and fully realize the unabridged promise of democracy, we as individuals must sustain a rigorous engagement in the process to make it all the more better. Each time the world makes us more cynical as it often has, we need not look beyond the courage and resilience embodied by the lives and stories of Veterans, many of whom have given their lives for the very idea we today take for granted. We each must embrace the belief that democracy is not just another form of government, alternate to autocracy, but a solemn idea that best sums up the spirit of a people. That is the immutable promise of democracy—not just any democracy, but a democracy preserved, not so much by elected leaders but by everyday citizens.

In the face of the threats confronting democracy in America and the world, ranging from wars waged by autocrats to hyper-partisanship, election denialism and systemic misinformation, democracy still stands strong. It has now fallen upon us as individuals to draw inspiration from the noble example of veterans as we confront an increasingly uncertain future. On this Veterans Day, let us express our deepest gratitude to all those who have served but also recommit ourselves to the promise of democracy Tocqueville wrote about and Lincoln spoke of on the Civil War battlefield of Gettysburg. On this day, let us not honor Veterans with mere words of thanks, but with actions aimed at strengthening the values of democracy they so bravely defended, not just in these United States but also around the world. May we each bear the shield of democracy and carry its precious light into the uncertain future on the horizon. May this be the story that guides and inspires us. May this be the story that resonates through the ages—that we answered the clarion call of history. There is no time to waste.

Editor’s note: Mansur Kasali Jr. (’27) is an international student double-majoring in Data Science and International Studies. Opinions expressed in Guest Essays do not represent the views of the CHIPS organization and do not necessarily represent the views of individual CHIPS staff members. The author of the letter is solely responsible for opinions expressed in their writing.