History is at its core a collection of diverse stories and experiences that we tell about ourselves. The literature, objects, land, and people all have stories and perspectives. They are not straight lines, nor are they universal experiences, rather they are collections of narratives that intersect and interact with each other. The storyteller and the listener construct meaning together. History is not a fixed thing, rather it is constantly evolving and growing based on people sharing and being included. The more stories and experiences that are invited to sit at the table and share, the deeper the knowledge, and richer the understanding. 

In the earliest days of our Republic, the concept of natural law was inscribed in the code of our civic religion. Certain concepts like freedom of speech, a free press, security, and freedom of assembly to petition for a redress of grievances were not rights granted by a government, but natural rights that existed outside of governmental power. Central to these concepts is the notion that government should be formed by the consent of the governed, with all people welcomed and all perspectives welcomed, and those natural rights and laws understood to apply to all living things. Yet, we must also be honest that despite aspiring to these lofty ideals, the founders were not able to live up to them. Certain attitudes, prejudices, and failings prevented them from fulfilling that promise. It is incumbent upon us as the inheritors of their legacy to learn from both their successes and their failures, to live up to those goals ourselves and ensure that the natural rights of all living beings are respected, understood, and protected. Inherent in that concept is the responsibility that we leave our children a better legacy than we received ourselves.

We stand in solidarity against institutionalized, governmental, and societal oppression. We stand against racism, majoritarian tyranny, cultural hegemony, and bigotry in any form. Those concepts are abhorrent to natural law and deny living beings their natural rights.  We commit to be a space where stories and ideas that challenge and dismantle systems of domination and oppression can be told and shared. We commit to leaving our children’s legacy, our society, and our home better than we found it.