Kudos to Charles Spanger for his recent letter to the editor (Aug. 26). Spanger takes issue with the comments of longtime grassroots activist Stephen J. Lyons, who wrote a syndicated Chicago Tribune commentary stating that, because of his age, he no longer has responsibility to work for issues of peace and social justice.

As a grassroots activist nearing 80, I agree with Spanger. I cut my teeth on civil rights work as young teenager and have remained active ever since on various issues. My husband, David Victor, has also been an activist for many years. We believe that unless good people stay active and organized, the other side wins. David likes to say that “there are more of us than there are of them.” The problem is that “they” tend to be better organized, with their many grievances and hatred.

Though grassroots work can be discouraging and exhausting, it is also life-affirming. It really is keeping us young as we work for a better future. And we’ve met the greatest folks!

We owe this to the generations that follow.

Barbara Doughty
Portland