›› IN HIS OUTGOING speech, former- President Barack Obama reiterates the importance of upholding civil rights. He says, “Democracy can buckle when we give in to fear. So just as we, as citizens, must remain vigilant against external aggression, we must guard against a weakening of the values that make us who we are… We cannot withdraw from global fights to expand democracy, and human rights, women’s rights, and LGBT rights – no matter how imperfect our efforts, no matter how expedient ignoring such values may seem.”