It has been one year since the passing of our founder, friend, and colleague Norman Lear. Somehow it feels like it was just yesterday, and at the same time it feels as if it’s been ages. I miss him.
Norman touched millions of lives, and he had a major impact on mine. At the height of his career, Norman stepped away from television to create People For the American Way, to fight for an America where all people—people like me and people very different from me—all have the freedom to follow their hearts, speak their minds, and pursue their dreams.
As a young person, my dreams led me to Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where I ran for city council while still a student. I was elected mayor a few years later. I met Norman shortly after joining People For’s network of young progressive elected officials.
I never imagined that one day Norman would become a mentor and friend. But after I became president of People For the American Way a few years ago, I heard from Norman often. He was filled with passionate ideas. Our conversations often ended with, “put me to work.”
Even after he turned 100, Norman was the most forward-looking person I knew. He threw himself wholeheartedly into everything he did, and he didn’t waste much time rehashing his failures or reminiscing about his accomplishments. You may have heard him talk about his favorite words being “over” and “next.”
In my final conversations with him, Norman wanted to hear about what was next for People For the American Way. He wanted to hear about the artists and young elected officials that so inspired him. He wanted to find ways to remind Americans of the ideals to which he devoted his life.
I wish I could pick up the phone and talk to Norman about the prospect of Trump’s return to power. I imagine he would bluntly express his sorrow and anger about all the ways that the American Way is about to be betrayed. He’d find some humor in the absurdity of it all. And he would focus on what we can do to inspire our fellow Americans to embrace this generation’s duty to defend democratic ideals against demagogues and fascists and the oligarchs that enable them.
I’m proud of the ways my colleagues and our members are already meeting the challenge head-on, exposing the extremism of Trump’s nominees, mobilizing opposition to the worst of them, and working with allies to prepare for what’s next.
Norman left us a great and inspiring legacy. He founded People For the American Way and spent the last four decades of his life supporting our mission to defend freedom, justice, and democracy, and build an America where basic rights and freedoms are upheld for all, not just the wealthy and the powerful.
Thank you for your partnership and for making it possible for us to fight for the country that Norman loved so deeply.
