President Joe Biden’s inaugural speech and Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman’s inaugural poem together summed up my political creed. Those texts bear reading and rereading.
In the President’s words: “We celebrate the triumph not of a candidate, but of a cause, the cause of Democracy. . . . Democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile.” We celebrate with great relief the culmination of the sacred process of voting, settling any disputes about vote counts in the courts and seating a President based on the sum of results.
I believe in that process and have participated actively in it for my whole life, but I’ve sometimes taken the process itself for granted. The recent assault on the democratic process through lies and ultimately violence reminds us all of the vulnerability of the process and highlights our common duty to defend it. As the President said, “Each of us has a duty and responsibility, as citizens, as Americans, and especially as leaders, leaders who have pledged to honor our Constitution and protect our nation, to defend the truth and defeat the lies.”
At the same time, the survival of the democratic process highlights the “resilience of our Constitution and . . . the strength of our nation.” The process survived thanks to enduring loyalty to our Constitution on the part of our elections officials, our judges, our homeland security forces, and a bipartisan majority in Congress. Our major institutions passed a great test.
Both Ms. Gorman and the President pointed to the deep flaws in our nation, but framed them as work to be done. Ms. Gorman said: “Somehow we’ve weathered and witnessed a nation that isn’t broken but simply unfinished.” The ideals are right. We just haven’t lived up to them yet. This is “The Hill we Climb.” We are not yet that shining city on hill, but we are climbing.
The President said: “Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we are all created equal and the harsh, ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear, and demonization have long torn us apart. The battle is perennial. Victory is never assured.” Yet he reviewed in a hopeful light the grave challenges that the nation now faces — “much to repair,” but also “much to gain.”
In the face of grave challenges, he offered unity as the way forward: “History, faith, and reason show the way, the way of unity. We can see each other not as adversaries but as neighbors. We can treat each other with dignity and respect. We can join forces, stop the shouting, and lower the temperature.”
We have overcome the great challenges of our past because “enough of us came together to carry all of us forward. . . . Politics need not be a raging fire destroying everything in its path. Every disagreement doesn’t have to be a cause for total war. And, we must reject a culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured.”
In the Poet’s words: “We lift our gazes not to what stands between us but what stands before us. We close the divide because we know, to put our future first, we must first put our differences aside.”
The President acknowledged that unity is “the most elusive of all things in a democracy” but dedicated himself to striving for it: “On this January day, my whole soul is in this: Bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation. And I ask every American to join me in this cause.” Count me in.
In the Poet’s words: “[B]eing American is more than a pride we inherit, it’s the past we step into and how we repair it.” Count me in.
At the state and local level, we have the chance to make a difference on all of the great challenges before us, from COVID-19 to racial justice to climate change to inclusive economic recovery. I’m grateful for the opportunity to play a part as your state senator and hope to live up to these words.
For there is always light, if only we are brave enough to see it.
If only we are brave enough to be it. Amanda Gorman
That was my favorite line
I especially liked the fireworks afterwards and Kamala and Douglas and Joe and Jill standing while a song was sung. My niece’s birthday (Lauren) is the same as Kamala’s(October 20th) — my brother’s name is Douglas(2 1/2 years younger than me) and Joe’s birthday is three days after mine(November 2oth) — all in the family!
THANK,YOU, THANK YOU, WILL….
this is what makes you such a great representative of ‘we the people’…you have ideals and try to make them happen.
Every time I reread Amanda’s poem I am refreshed…
You already have in spades. Know you will be there fighting for us.
A fine message. You are quietly emblematic of what a good elected official can and should be. I teach courses on Leonard Cohen, whose lyrics were linked with Amanda’s in a recent article and whose “Hallelujah” was played the night before the inauguration. “Tikkun olam” in Hebrew means to repair the world. It is a never-ending but essential task we all need to carry out, always. It is our collective responsibility.
Very nice! Thank you for sharing. And I share your perspective and your intention.
Be well, and I wish you success.
Dorothy
Thank you for this declaration and for your commitment. Our eyes and hearts should be wide open and ready to move forward, now that we have a fresh start.
Nancy Wrenn
I expect there will be about as much unity as people on the fascist left exhibited during Trump’s tenor.
Granted that there have been harsh words from left and right. I hope the difference now is that we have a President who is embracing the ideal of unity. Leadership tone can make a big difference.
Yes, maybe after a conviction of Trump we’ll heal. Give me a break. You must be gaslighting. Biden is a criminal and an agent of Communist China.
Mark, You need to get your meds reviewed.
Don’t have a cow, man!
I think you’re insane, sounds like you’d be happier in a different country…moving is an option, I’ll help you pack!
I don’t think that Biden is a spy for China, but I do believe he is compromised vis-a-vis that country for different reasons. And it’s a serious matter that at some point will be in the open. So instead of telling Mark to leave his own country, how about just asking him why he thinks there is something wrong with Biden’s relationship with China? What is the basis of his opinion? Are you not curious?
If we (Dems) lose the House and Senate in 2022 , it’s because of the filibuster rule in the senate . Say it loud, say it clear and say if often : end the filibuster! If we can’t achieve that , we’ll be dead ducks .
Howard, if we remove the filibuster, could it backfire on us and in what ways? I ask because the removal of the 2/3 majority for Supreme Court nominees has been a disaster. Thanks!
Right. It would have nothing to do with leading with culture war politics instead of a stimulus payment, explicitly promising Georgia voters $2k and turn switching to $1400 before taking office, proposing a divisive immigration package with literally zero chance of passage, coming to the table with no legislative agenda prepared (that’s reporting from Politico, not Fox), mulling over whether you will get to a stimulus payment in March, bait and switching your already anemic healthcare promises to literally adopt wholesale a memo provided by your insurance industry donors—no, of course none of that complete failure to deliver material support or make good on promises could have ANYTHING to do with the inevitable electoral losses of your dumpster fire of a political party. No, it must be the fault of all the people who ignorantly fail to recognize your clear moral superiority.
Thanks for reminding me to tear up my Democratic Party registration.
It went from $2,000 to $1,400 because people just got $600. $1,400 is the difference between the $600 people received and the $2,000 they originally proposed. It’s simple.
Yes, you’re simple. Biden, Ostroff and Warnock explicitly campaigned on a $2K check after the $600 went out. One literally posed next to a big $2K check prop. Maybe that $600 is your golf fees but it actually matters to the people who voted for it. Which is why in 2 years we will have a Republican house, a Republican senate and impeachment. The one thing Democrats could have done to promote unity and of course they turned it into an epic fail.
I totally agree… Let’s worry about what we need to accomplish for the next four years not the ultimate long term affects us could have. We live through many filibuster years with the Republicans and it was a nightmare.
I’d also like to comment that I think we should stack the SJC. After the atrocious moves the Republicans pulled with Garland and after RBG, we need to take back the balance of the Court.
Apologies for my typos, voice dictated and I didn’t check well enough!
Will – the people whose unity democrats need to retain the house and senate in 2022, are not going to come around just because of Biden’s or anybody else’s calls for unity. Actions speak louder than words. Some of the Executive Orders that Biden signed on his first day (such as stopping deportations of criminals who are here illegally), and appointments of strong proponents of racial preferences and identity politics to key positions in his administration, are not going to bring unity. Anyone expecting that is naive.
Words matter a lot. That’s one thing we’ve learned over the past few years. This President’s words are a great start. But agreed that actions matter a lot too. Let’s see how it goes over the coming months.
fascist and left are mutually exclusive
Nate, fascist and left are absolutely not mutually exclusive. Fascism is about the methods that are used to subjugate the people and eliminate political opponents. With those goals in mind, the extreme left can get pretty close to fascism, just as Stalin was not far from Hitler.
Lefts are the fascists and absolutely oblivious to how demented they are. Will, your job for the next four years is to STAND UP FOR FREE SPEECH AND THE CONSTITUTION, not silence opinions the left doesn’t like. Americans don’t want Davos’ Great Reset.
Well put Lisa. We cannot allow our elected leaders to gaslight us with BS. Glad to see others are aware of the larger agenda and the great reset.
One can be rightly suspicious that Biden’s team will be full of neoliberals who front for globalist agendas, but to call anti-fascists fascists is quite a stretch and an offensive smear on grass-roots resisters standing up for justice and equality. Trump brought America closer to fascism than ever before, with big lies, stirring up hatred, self-dealing, and rejection of international laws and treaties. Everyone knows he’s a con artist, and some of his base seems to admire him for it—why, I will never know. What did he accomplish for which you are grateful?
Well said, Geoff.
Orange man bad….I get it. You guys are deep.
Omg… they walk among us.
If self-proclaimed anti-fascists are using fascist methods (such as violence, intimidation, harassment; denying political opponents free speech and punishing them for it; removing their livelihoods by canceling them, so they can’t even defend themselves in the court of law), then those “anti-fascists” are indeed fascists, regardless of what they call themselves.
I think you mean tenure, not tenor. A tenor is a singer, whose voice is between baritone and alto, or a piece of music written for a tenor. Tenure is the holding of an office (or the conditions under which land or buildings are held). The expression “fascist left” is quite loaded language, suggesting the opposite of an attempt to unify through dialogue — building walls rather than bridges.
You are so correct. Thank you for pointing out my mistake of tenure vs. tenor. Really adds a lot to the dialogue. You can’t build walls and bridges with dishonest people.
Or perhaps pointing out that today’s extreme left is using tricks from a fascist book is actually needed, in order to bring things back to the center, where all rational people can meet.
Thank you so much for highlighting these words, feelings, and goals, with recognizing the reality that our democracy is a constant struggle and cannot be taken for granted ever again. We came so very close to losing our country as it has been.
Please – can people think for themselves for once, instead of just parroting out what they hear on CNN or see in the mainstream papers? The riot in the Capitol was just a riot. Those rioters had no ability to stage an effective coup d’?tat. They would have been crushed if they tried. They were rebels (didn’t even have most of republicans behind them). The establishment controls everything necessary to deal with rebellious rioters – but curiously didn’t use it last summer. What does it tell you?
Those people went into the Capitol looking for people in order to hurt them. To literally take them out with no other intent than to prevent the carrying out of our democratic process. That was a treasonous, violent, terrorist mob, similar to the lynching mobs in the south, and those folks looked just like them with their T-shirts and flags emblazoned with anti-Semitic and racist words and symbols. If you think that qualifies as “independent” political thinking, then you’ve learned nothing from history and have lost your way. Where you see “violence” in trying to defend against neo-Nazi white supremacists I see nothing but a concerted effort to use truth, science, history and reason to combat the worst side of human nature. As a holocaust survivor said, the veneer of civilization is paper thin. We are seeing our civilization tearing before our eyes, and must do everything we can to stop the horror that lies behind the rent.
Dolores, are you not at all concerned about the destruction that can just as well come for the extreme left? The difference between the extreme left and the extreme right is that the former clearly controls the system, and with the Big Tech doing its bidding, actually has the power to destroy our freedoms and everything good that America has stood for. The violent leftist mobs were rioting last summer, looting, killing and injuring people (causing 40 fatalities), burning police precincts, taking over a federal courthouse, etc. – and it was all getting swept under the rug. In contrast, not a single shot was fired by the rioters in the Capitol Hill riot. Some angry and unhinged people went overboard, and stormed the building – and for that, centrists and conservatives in this country are labeled as terrorists and racists, getting censored and canceled, with more serious oppression likely to follow. Is that what you want? Can we have a peaceful democracy resting on that?
There is ample evidence of the storming of the capitol being a planned event by elements of Antifa (see John Sullivan) and others who were clearly identified from the BLM/Antifa riots over past year. They along with some other fringe groups that are controlled by the Feds were the initial group that got physical and smashed windows, etc. They probably numbered like 50 or 100. There were Trump supporters who also got swept up in the excitement and disinformation campaigns of groups like Q. This is the Reichstag fire they need to clamp down and go after their political opponents and solidify power. They want the complete control with no real diversity in political thought. Complete obedience and rooting out of “enemies”. The militarized Capitol with 12 foot fencing, razor wire and thousands of National Guardsmen should tell you all you need to know. Biden is clearly has dementia and will most likely be replaced by Harris within a year. I don’t think it matters much, these are merely frontmen and women for the S&P100/Davos crowd. We’ll see how it goes. Let’s hope we get some brave leaders to stand up. I think even the most indoctrinated brainwashed folks among us will be hardpressed to deny what is transpiring.
Thank you, Will
You are a true advocate and I believe in you and your honest leadership. I do not say that glibly.
Thomas, I agree 100%. Will is honest, thoughtful and transparent. Not traits that are often shown by politicians. I am sure Will isn’t the only politician with those traits.
Well said, Will. I’m in too. And I am glad to have you as my senator!
I agree with Nikki: Well said, I’m glad you are my senator.
I worry about the US Senate. The Republicans already sound as if they are not in with us. They can really hold things up, but it’s worth trying to push forward.
Thank you for your thoughts, Will. On Inauguration Day, it was good to be reminded of the preamble of the Constitution and its goal of “a more perfect union.” Historically, the union was certainly “more perfect” than that under the articles of Confederation. But the concept of a “more perfect” union to me also highlights its message that there’s work to be done — that America is not just a place that’s static but one that’s seeking to perfect itself. We all have a role in making that happen.
Count me in, too.
It seems unity is not a value for some people. You only have to listen to Fox News to know this. the hate and division they promote will never bring us together and only continue to fuel dissent and a great obstacle for a more democratic union. May our new administration despite the critics move us forward as best they can and may each of us as Amanda said “put our differences aside and reach out our arms to one another…for there is always light if only we are brave enough to see it if only we are brave enough to be it”
Thank God you’re on the side of infallible moral rectitude.
I was thinking the same. If all those people always viewing themselves as morally superior could just squash the last remnants and channels of independent political thought, they could finally rest and declare that the country is fully democratic at last.
“We can treat each other with dignity and respect. We can join forces, stop the shouting, and lower the temperature.”
– Inaugural address by President Biden, January 20, 2021
“To lower our voices would be a simple thing…..We cannot learn from one another until we stop shouting at one another — until we speak quietly enough so that our words can be heard as well as our voices.”
– Inaugural address by President Nixon, January 20, 1969*
The call to Americans to stop shouting, lower the temperature, speak respectfully to each other, disagree respectfully with each other, is nothing new. It is a good and aspirational goal. I hope we can make some progress toward it, though that will be hard when we live in alternate realities, call each other “snowflakes” and “deplorables”. These divisions remain though the administration which aided, abetted, promoted and benefited from it is gone. Hard work ahead to keep our republic.
* …. I was required to watch Nixon’s inaugural, in high school, on a portable black-and-white TV on the physics teacher’s desk.
I’m looking forward to turning the page with a new administration and putting in the work for a better future! Thanks for your dedication!
Thank you Will, for excerpting these jewels. I would add the memorial service for the 400,000 people who have perished from the pandemic as another very memorable moment. It gave MaryAnn and me a chance to remember and grieve for the loss of some very dear friends.
Fred
Let’s listen to one another.
Let’s listen to left and right and seek economic fairness to all.
Thank you Alice Kidder for pointing out the need for a dialogue. The country can’t heal just with monologues from the left.
What a relief to have competency back in government!
My biggest fear is that our justice department will not hold to account all of the lawlessness of the past 4 years, and especially that around the insurgency. We are already seeing people who took part in Jan. 6 released who would certainly be held of they were POC. And I doubt Trump himself will be held to account in the Senate. There will be no unity without justice.
If only they could for some kind of truth and reconciliation commision. Then we could round up dissidents for reprogramming.
They’re working on it.
What is the basis of this statement: “We are already seeing people who took part in Jan. 6 released who would certainly be held of they were POC.”? This does not reflect reality. Where are the POC who rioted, looted, and burned buildings in several major cities last summer, who were NOT released? (and that’s assuming they were even arrested). Even the most violent ones, who should have stayed in jail, were bailed out by well funded extreme-left groups.
As an immigrant who is a US citizen by choice I have always viewed the US population as a whole as naive and immature, reminded of the wild swings in temperament of a teenager.
The Trump period was like an ice-bucket shower for this nation, and I sincerely hope that as a nation we will soberly reflect on the President’s as well as on our senator’s wise words.
Count me in.
Well said, most respect your thoughts. I m not an immigrant, but from my international travel, I see as you expressed as well…
And, count me in, also! : )
Very few people (including here) are trying to understand why America First movement has happened, or why it will not be going away. Without understanding those people’s gripes, there won’t be unity. The Biden presidency is just a blip that will pass, similar to the Trump presidency blip. The people who feel legitimately aggrieved are not going anywhere.
Thank you for this, and your tireless efforts. We all are called to steward the “growing edge.” As the great Civil Rights theologian and educator Howard Thurman wrote 65 years ago:
Look well to the growing edge! All around us worlds are dying and new worlds are being born; all around us life is dying and life is being born. The fruit ripens on the tree, the roots are silently at work in the darkness of the earth against a time when there shall be new leaves, fresh blossoms, green fruit. Such is the growing edge! It is the extra breath from the exhausted lung, the one more thing to try when all else has failed, the upward reach of life when weariness closes in upon all endeavor. This is the basis of hope in moments of despair, the incentive to carry on when times are out of joint and men have lost their reason, the source of confidence when worlds crash and dreams whiten into ash. The birth of the child — life’s most dramatic answer to death — this is the growing edge incarnate. Look well to the growing edge!
Thank you for these thoughts, Will. And thank you for the integrity of your representation. Last Wednesday was a day-long celebration of who can be at our best, and a reminder, in Amanda Gorman’s words, of the work that remains for us to do if we are to truly become the nation we are called to be.
Your excerpts are well chosen, Will. It was a beautiful speech and poem. I know Biden had help from an incredible speech writer, but he believes in what he speaks. I hope we hear much more from Amanda Gorman.
It’s good to know that your ideals and those of our leaders now resonate together.
Good thoughts!
Count me in!
A most welcome summary of last Wednesday’s long awaited words of hope and unity. Thanks, Will, for your continuing commitment to government that we can hope, in the long run, will bring us together.
I expect grid lock in Washington. I liked Biden’s speech. The Poem was amazing. I heard on youTube Amy Walter of the Cooke Political Report speak on PBS’s Politics Monday during the news hour. She spoke the Monday before ceremony. And I agree with her. Her thesis is Biden needs to get the government response to the pandemic to work. My belief is that for the past 30 years or so, the Conservative movement in the USA has worked to destroy our faith in government working to solve our nation’s problems. The culmination of the effort was Trump. He proved that rich conservatives cannot make government work to solve our nation’s problems, especially ones that only government can solve. (pun intended) He also solidified this belief amongst the mass of conservative voters who are his base because they have not seen outcomes from Government that have helped them or if they get help, they are unable to connect the help to it being a government program. IE these people now believe the propaganda and the conservative media over facts. Hence his hold over the Republican party. No matter how corrupt he was. Ms Walther said nothing will change in Washington unless Biden succeeds in getting the federal government to create a effective response to the pandemic. Unfortunately, McConnell and the rest of the Republicans know this too and will do there best to screw up the response. It is already happening. If the democrats manage to get the pandemic under control, then it is possible to undermine the conservative movement’s central argument about Government. And cause a change of political fortunes for the Democratic Party and it’s New Deal Idealism.
Our over-powering corrupt central government is responsible for us losing faith in our self-servicing leaders in Washington DC. Remember our founding fathers warned us. Do not have blind trust in leaders. That is why we have 3 branches of government and a laundry list of safe guards.
Russ-the House Covid relief bill gave citizens $600 but they gave THEMSELVES a $54,000+ RAISE….
To me the greatest inauguration speech that called for world unity was that of President Kennedy. When judging a speech one must take into consideration the person’s background, track record and core values. President Kennedy was an anti-communist, anti-fascist and spoke against the Nazi movement early on. He was a war hero, a great representative of the greatest generation. He also had compassion for the disadvantaged throughout the world, starting the Peace Corps. He rallied the American people by setting the stage to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade. We believed in him, and he believed in us.
Will, what happens when the Antifa, Black Lives Matter, and anarchists march through Watertown Square and Belmont Center and smash and burn?
What will your “political creed” tell you then? What will you say to the residents and businesses?
It’s all well and good for you and your political party to have been silent or even enabling of the terrible mayhem last year that resulted in 40 deaths and untold hundreds of millions if not billions in damage.
We know what happened. Don’t bury your head in the sand.
Remember the mayhem, arson, and looting last year in Boston? Any comment?
Portland and Seattle just had more riots: https://nypost.com/2021/01/22/portland-seattle-residents-slam-weak-response-to-antifa/
I’m wondering what your adoring fans would say if these things come to your district.
Yeh, I know your answer: blah blah blah.
Antifa and the BLM are the paramilitary groups of the Left and they know it. That is why they pretend they are “peaceful protests” and ignore the destructive behavior and rhetoric. Divide the people into ideological groups, conquer and control. I also note all these Dem big city mayors and Governors now relaxing Covid restrictions and the WHO changing the standard for labs to ID positive cases. Watch the “cases” plummet now. They will flip the script now that they have power. They did not even wait a few days before changing the narrative. They are rubbing our faces in it.
You are absolutely right, Dee. You see the reality of things, which other people are ignoring. You are able to see the dangers that are looming when extreme leftists are emboldened, and no one is doing anything about it just because they’re leftist and they say they’re for racial justice (who isn’t? normal people don’t want racial injustice – but when the claim of racial injustice is used to endlessly agitate to dismantle the entire system, and also to claim unjust race-based privileges – is that what we really want?)
I really worry about the future of this country. The extreme left is just as dangerous as the extreme right, but while the latter is always condemned, the former gets a pass.
If you compare the composition of the current Republican party with the number of white supremacists, racisists, nativists, and anti-semites in this country, you’ll seed there is about a ninety per cent overlap.
I’ve lived my whole life in Massachusetts and never met anyone who is in the KKK or a White supremacists. I do find the most biggoted and narrow minded people to be on the Left. They are easily controlled and manipulated by emotive messaging. They also have a very condescending viewpoint on minority groups….as if they are superior and need to help. Many minorities are insulted by that viewpoint and just want to be treated fairly.
Your bias is outrageous.
Michael – you just insulted a lot of people. Since we only have two viable parties, the republican party by necessity is the home of many well-meaning people (even POC) who happen to have conservative views, and are not “white supremacists, racists, nativists, and anti-semites”. With that kind of accusations, this country will never heal.
Thank you for your thoughts, Will…always the appropriate tone and sentiments for the moment. You’ve consistently been a strong supporter of your constituents and I’m only one of many who appreciate the extraordinary efforts you expend for the betterment of our lives.
Will, thank you for sharing these inspiring words from the inauguration. These are ideals to aspire to and to live by. I look forward with hope to dialogue based in facts and truths, accountability, fairness and compromise. Thank you for your representation and your hard work and successes is the last legislative session.
Thank you, Will, appreciate your words and deeds!
Few brief thoughts:
1- any election issues were at state level, so Feds do not have domain. However, if an “investigation” or a “commission” would actually be unifying, and if could identify possible consistent processes for future elections (at STATE level), why not! (yes, $$$$ of our tax dollars). after all, Trump did it 3(?) yrs ago, then disbanded it from lack of finding.
2- no gloating Dems. (and for most part, not happening) What might be helpful — clear acknowledgment of Trump-voting citizens’ issues: accessible services (broadband), corporate abandonment (jobs losses), respect for rural life… Would be great if these folks felt listened-to?
3- make federal govt work: competency in COVID vaccine roll-out, responsible immigration implementation (what about more judges in border courts?!?!), means-test relief packages (no payments to working Americans!), engagement by PotUS with Mayors & Governors re equity (racial injustice) issues, etc. Showing responsible actions and inclusion would help reduce tensions?
I do think Biden Admin is moving in these ways, maybe not towards all these specifics — but the guy needs a chance.
Always remember, Trump never acted in a way that brought folks together. He could have, but chose not to. If Biden chooses to, and acts so, then how’s bout a chance?
…….your sentiments are beautiful and right on Will………….unity IS the only answer, to continue the divisiveness is to continue the hatred …………to exacerbate the wounds………to hurt, not to heal……..we are all human……….we shld be caring for one another, not tearing one another down………we only hv one lifetime with limited time before our time is up……….let’s make our mark on earth, with love, with understanding, with compassion…….Amanda Gordon’s poem says it all & it is ironic that it should be someone so young that reminds us of our humanity of our need for unity……….& as I hv said before, our hope is in the youth of America & Amanda reminds us of that……….but we too should be setting an example for the youth of America……….finally, democracy is more than a concept & we have been in danger of forgetting it, of losing it………it took an attack on our Capitol to remind us of it, that & the words of a 22 year old………..God bless America, God knows we need his blessing…..
Thanks, Will, for your continued leadership!
I agree with you, so much hope is included in Biden’s inauguration speech and the amazing poem by Amanda Gorham!
None of us have the wool pulled over our eyes. We realize how hard it is to run a government with so many people and so many different issues and opinions. And as if that wasn’t difficult enough we find ourselves in an time where elected officials are constantly manipulating and manufacturing facts. This is completely wrong and I feel we must hold them all accountable and sanctioned them for their continued lies. So too we each have a responsibility to be healthier news consumers. Perfect timing as it may be, I came across this ad for the National News Literacy Project https://newslit.org/about/ whose mission it is to teach educators and students on being healthier consumers of the news. Democracy is not a spectator sport. We must seek the truth and demand the truth and when we come across the lie, we must call it out and replace it with the truth. This is what it means to work together in good faith. And to climb the hill together.
Thanks as always Will…the tenor of way too many of these responses seems to me to be very negative and angry. You and your fellow Congressional members are going to have a difficult “row to hoe”…but with hope and hard work, the seasons will change and perhaps folks can calm down from all the extreme rhetoric that has been bandied about this last year and actually get some work done that “the people” will recognize and will be beneficial to all citizens in the years to come.
Best to all doing this very difficult work at this time…
Actions speak louder than words. Mr. Biden’s performance is best described by his form boss, President Obama, who said of him: “Don’t underestimate Joe’s ability to F… up”. So true. Joe’s trouble shooting missions were always been diplomatic failures though it seems he may have personally profited from them. Time and an honest investigation will tell. In the meantime, I’m skeptical and following Sec. Pompeo’s CCP maxim, “Distrust and verify”! I do hope the press can get beyond asking his choice of ice cream flavors and looking forward to Biden actions and performance on immigration, confronting big tech censorship and CCP hegemony.
Thank you for this reflection. I agree with your viewpoint and look forward to the addressing challenges that face both the Commonwealth and the nation.
Our Democracy, just like Free-Market Capitalism, can only thrive where lies don’t clog the waterways. Lies must be rooted out and exposed to the light so they can shrivel-up and allow decisions to flow with efficiency.
Will, your transparency is a huge asset to us all.
You are a victim of twilight zone propaganda. Your bias is outrageous.
In Washington D.C. both parties are self-serving and cannot be trusted. Anyone who believes democrat party leaders in Washington D.C. want to pursue unity lives in fantasy land. Remember history has proven most dictators are great speakers. I make no correlation to Biden’s speech.
As a German Jew and a liberal Jew and a progressive Democrat I truly appreciate your efforts. People can demonize the left, but you can thank the left for the 5 day workweek as well as child labor laws. Make no mistake that the insurrectionists wanted to kill legislators, they are white supremacists and neo-nazis, people who like trumps lies over realities. Recently a young black man in Belmont was run over and killed intentionally by a 54 year old truck driver. It will happen here. Thank you Will for standing up for democracy .
Bringing up the tragic example of the black man who was killed by an angry, unhinged white man seems very self-serving when you also intentionally choose to ignore so many examples of crimes where the race of the perpetrator and the victim were in reverse. The latter are rarely reported, or get minimal publicity, while the former are always amplified for the sole purpose of creating white guilt on the one hand, and black victimhood on the other. You cannot build a healthy society and unity on that.
Thanks for posting this and allowing all the discussion. Throughout the 2020 primaries I favored the candidates who talked about unity as a key theme; and loved Biden’s speech and Amanda Gorman’s poem. I have been thinking a lot about what “unity” looks like. Actually something like the concept of pacifism/non-violence…. it doesn’t mean being passive, but it means using language, tools and approaches to address conflicts/issues that are non-violent and that don’t lead to a cycle of further conflict and violence. Still thinking this through…. and appreciate the chance to read this post and all the reactions.
Excellent Will! Very thoughtful, informed, passionate and comprehensive discussion.
I’m sharing Jonathan Cahn’s powerful comments pointing to Washington’s First Inaugural and a chilling warning for us all: https://youtu.be/hrCtoQUXnmc