Like many of you, I am following the developments in Washington with a great deal of concern and anxiety. Unlawful interference in essential government processes by unelected, unaccountable, untrained, and unqualified people is unacceptable. 250 years ago, we decided what kind of government we would accept, and it was not oligarchy.
I still believe in the power and importance of democracy, and I will continue to do everything in my power to support and protect those who will be the most vulnerable in the coming months and years. I will not try and appease you by claiming that it will all be okay. It won't; many people will be harmed by what's going on at the Federal level, and by the many, many cuts in essential services, especially cuts to medical and scientific research. That is why it is so important right now to take care of one another as best we can.
Right now, we must do everything in our power to resist the most egregious violations of our rights and to be deliberate and thoughtful about which voices we uplift, and how we allocate our resources. Thankfully, we do have excellent representatives at the Federal level as well as incredible non-profits and advocacy organizations already challenging the legality of these actions and preparing to mitigate harm.
Here in Massachusetts, I will continue to work with my colleagues to do our best to insulate Massachusetts residents against what is to come.
I don't have easy answers, but I keep coming back to the quote from MLK Jr.: "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” It's good to remember though that we all play a role in bending that arc. It will not bend on its own and the universe requires constant awareness to refute the influences of misinformation, greed, and fear. I believe our values are correct. Our policies are more popular and better supported by science and expertise, but we are failing to effectively communicate that and demonstrate how our values address the real struggles faced by everyday Americans of all colors, backgrounds, and identities.
It is on all of us, in this increasingly fractured media ecosystem, to speak calmly and openly with those who disagree with us as much as we can. It's also important for all of us to avoid name calling and ugly rhetoric. Still, ignorance will not be eliminated by ceding space. There are people who we will need to reach to build a robust, more powerful coalition. We must grow our strength by being positive and hopeful and sharing a better vision for tomorrow.
Please do your best to take care of yourself in the weeks and months ahead. We need one another, now more than ever.
I will leave you with a quote from President Ford, on the 200th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
"We have inherited a great tradition, but it is our job – older and younger people joining together – to see to it that when our ancestors meet here 100 years from now, they can say that what was done here on this date was the kick-off for a new century of unity, and progress, at home as well as abroad."
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