“How do you view democracy, and what are possible threats to democracy?”
Steve Lin posed this question after viewing the “Fighting for Democracy” exhibit, which focused on the military contributions of Americans from various backgrounds. It highlighted the discrimination during the 1900s and how POC had to overcome constant challenges to pursue their goals. More importantly, how they dealt with alienation and cultural dissonance while serving their country; this exhibit showed that these people were courageous and instrumental in America’s progress.
Yet, despite their contributions, veterans were still punished for their culture and background, which questions the legacy of Asian Americans and other groups in this country as they continue to support and risk their lives for a government and institution that did not prioritize them.
While I am proud to be American and am thankful for the many offerings the United States has, it does sadden me when analyzing the U.S.’s tragic history and how the repercussions still affect several communities. As such, this led to a critical discussion about democracy in the United States. Democracy prioritizes self-government and representation based on elected officials, but how can this be when our current military does not respect its soldiers?
Cohort members engaging in a discussion at the Fighting for Democracy exhibit.
This notion opened a broader conversation in which most of my peers and I had a cynical view of the future. While the United States is a first-world country and has made tremendous changes over the last few decades, it is still a relatively new nation. Historically, most countries have had empires that fall during 250 years of establishment. Therefore, the United States is on a similar trajectory as the economy and workforce are still recovering from the impact of COVID.
Moreover, the discussion made me consider the threat of AI to democracy. I am majoring in Cybersecurity and Public Policy, so I am often fascinated by the impact of technology and cyber threats on policy and institutions. Considering this, my initial cynicism is defensible. With AI, voice recordings and images can be artificially created to “spin” narratives and aid the agendas of specific organizations — this can be seen both on the liberal and conservative sides. With this tool, it would be difficult to discern the truth and worsen the public’s trust in the government. Overall, it can alter election cycles and contribute to mass propaganda.
There have already been threats to the workforce as the introduction of ChatGPT cut Buzzfeed’s workforce by 30%, and other AI models are threatening the film industry — leading to writer strikes. Thus, many concerns and questions remain.
Despite my worries about America’s future and the perseverance of democracy, I am thankful for the opportunity to see the exhibit and have these discussions. What started as learning about the stories of unsung heroes segwayed into examining our current systems and impediments to America’s progress and democracy. Overall, I am happy to say this was just another day at CAUSE, where a Friday morning became an eye-opening experience.
The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not reflect the views or positions of CAUSE or the CAUSE network.
Written by Naya Dukkipati, Leadership Academy 2023 Intern.
The CAUSE Leadership Academy (CLA) for students is a nine-week, paid, internship program that prepares college undergraduates to lead and advocate for the Asian Pacific Islander community on their campuses and beyond.