In Memory of David Gergen (May 9, 1942 – July 10, 2025)
From Silence to Solidarity: Our Obligation to Name Injustice
Earlier this week—on July 10, 2025—we lost David Gergen, born May 9, 1942, advisor to four U.S. presidents and one of my instructors in Professor James Engell’s Rhetoric: The Art of Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking course on edX. Gergen’s wisdom on speaking truth to power continues to guide me.
Read NPR’s tribute here: https://www.npr.org/2025/07/11/g-s1-77303/david-gergen-obituary
In his honor, I’m sharing the speech I crafted during that course:
The Moral Duty to Speak Out
Good morning, everyone. It’s an honor to reflect on our moral duty to speak out when we witness injustice.
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressors.”
—Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Silence isn’t neutrality—it’s consent. Every time we hold back our voice, we allow harm to spread.
Why speaking out matters
Silence empowers harm.
Unchallenged bigotry or sexism becomes “acceptable.”
A single question—“What do you mean by that?”—can interrupt it.
Our voices have ripple effects.
I once challenged a friend’s careless remark about the Middle East. That awkward moment nearly ended our friendship—but planted the seeds for a deeper, respectful conversation.
Speaking up preserves our integrity.
Naming injustice (“That caricature made me indignant”) reconnects us to our values.
History favors the brave.
From Frederick Douglass to modern whistleblowers, progress happens when individuals refuse to stay silent.
How to raise your voice effectively
Ask a question.
“Is that what you really think?”
“Where did you hear that?”
Name the impact.
“That language feels disrespectful.”
Pair compassion with challenge.
“I hear hostility in that take—can we unpack it together?”
Speaking out isn’t aggression; it’s care. Start small—in a coffee shop, around the water cooler, or with a colleague.
Which world will you choose?
One governed by fear and silence? Or one where every voice matters? When people look back on your life, they won’t recall your title or bank balance—they’ll ask:
“When it was hard, did you stand up for what was right?”
Our chorus can bring down the walls of injustice—if each of us adds our note.
Your challenge: The next time you witness injustice, ask the question. Name what’s wrong. Offer support. Don’t ask whether you’ll face injustice—ask whether you’ll respond.
Thank you.