 Republican Congresswoman
Liz Cheney asked these important questions in her opening remarks when the U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol convened earlier this week. We certainly hope the answers are... YES! NO! NO! Yet, increasingly, it feels like there is no way to be certain. This process of making sure the events of January 6th are fully understood is an important step on our path forward. The peaceful transition of power is a hallmark of our democracy. Let's keep it that way. It's up to all of us to place our country and our Constitution over partisan politics as we walk this bumpy path into the future together.
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 President Biden delivered
a poignant speech at Arlington National Cemetery today to mark the 153rd National Observance of Memorial Day. He spoke about empathy... "Empathy is the fuel of democracy." The FUEL of DEMOCRACY. Our democracy can only function well when we are focused on each understanding one another. There are plenty of challenges in front of us. This Memorial Day. let's pause to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our Democracy AND Let's pledge to do better. Let's keep the fire of DEMOCRACY burning with the fuel of EMPATHY.  President Kennedy's
words at the end of his 1961 inaugural speech capture the pace of change in politics. Progress is often incremental. Sometimes the movement is g l a c i a l. Very rarely, change comes quickly, like an avalanche. At the end of his first 100 Days in office, President Biden addressed Congress this week and outlined his vision for a path forward. It's a BOLD vision, based on the notion that We the People can support one another in times of crisis and work together to rebuild America. It's BIG vision that aims to make changes quickly that will strengthen both our economy and the fabric of our social structures. It's a vision that can only succeed with bipartisan compromise and support. It takes the slow and steady work of listening and perspective-taking to move forward, one step at a time. Are you ready? Let's begin. Again. Let's continue to look for the purple.  Dr. Seuss has been in the headlines this month. Dr. Seuss Enterprises will stop publishing six titles because, according to their statement, "These books portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong." They've made a business choice that is consistent with their values. Nobody is cancelling Dr. Seuss. Let's stop the divisive rhetoric and take a page from their book. Their stated mission is to support children and families with "messages of hope, inspiration, inclusion, and friendship." The tonic we need, Let's follow their lead... We WILL listen in our rooms, and we WILL listen in our zooms We WILL listen here and there... We will LISTEN EVERYWHERE!  This Presidents' Day, let's seek a little wisdom from our first president. Have you ever read George Washington's Farewell Address to the nation? Take a moment to look at this particularly prescient passage... I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally. This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy. The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty. Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it. It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another. There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. This within certain limits is probably true; and in governments of a monarchical cast, patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume. Written in 1796,
but it rings true today.... spirit of revenge false alarms animosity riot insurrection foreign influence corruption These are all buzz words from our recent news cycles. President Washington warned us. It's our job, as citizens, to ensure that our democracy is not consumed by the fire of political passions. It's a big job. Let's get back to work.  Can you hear the exhale?
The collective sigh of relief across our nation? Since the unrest at the capitol, we've all been holding our breath, waiting for the peaceful transfer of power. Just like that, It happened. Peacefully. Air Force One delivered President Trump to Florida. Joe Biden was sworn in as our 46th President. Kamala Harris made history becoming Vice President. A peaceful transition of power. The world spins on, and the difficult, often frustrating, work of democracy continues. This important work is ours. It belongs to all of us. A major theme of this week was AMERICA UNITED. Many of the events of this week highlighted our common history, our common challenges, and our common purpose as a nation. As President Biden said in his inauguration speech, "The American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on ALL of us. On we the people who seek a more perfect union." We have an opportunity to reset, to work together to continue creating a more perfect union. It's time to write the next chapter in our nation's story. Could we call it, America United? Let's try... It's up to ALL of us.  President Lincoln's words
from 1862 certainly resonate today. "The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present." We are currently swept up in the storms of the present. Last week's assault on the capitol leaves our nation's collective hearts broken and our heads reeling. "...We must think anew, and act anew." We need action. We need answers. We need accountability. And then we need to work together to create a path out of this morass. "We can only succeed by concert. It is not, "Can we imagine any better?' but "Can we all do better?" We need to heed Lincoln's words. Our nation depends on us.  Happy New Year! 2021 It's here at last! January always feels like a fresh start. A blank page waiting to be filled. What will we do with this new beginning? Here are three resolutions to guide our purple work in the new year... Resolution # 1 LISTEN Let's resolve to listen to each other. 2020 brought an election year where the discourse volume was turned on HIGH. Let's take a moment to lower the volume so we can actually hear one another. Let's continue to seek out different perspectives with the goal of listening mindfully, building empathy and finding common ground. Resolution # 2 CARE Let's resolve to care deeply for one another. 2020 has left many feeling fragile or broken. Let's be kind with our words and our actions. Let's look for ways to be a part of the healing that our nation desperately needs. Resolution # 3 CONNECT Let's resolve to connect with others. COVID-19 has left many feeling isolated and alone. Let's look for ways to connect with our friends, our family, our neighbors. Let's also find ways to connect with new people and with different voices. Let's work to forge new connections and build new bridges in our community. Finally, let's remember that each moment in 2021 is a new opportunity to think purple and to act purple. 2021... It's a new year. A new beginning. Can we imagine a new US? A purple US? Let's try together.  Wishing you a joyous holiday season!
It's time for our annual purple holiday sing-along... Deck the Halls with Points of Purple, Fa La La La La, La La La La! Find a view that's universal! Fa La La La La, La La La La! Don we now our listening ears, Fa La La La La, La La La La! Help the discord disappear! Fa La La La La, La La La La! Happy Holidays! -The Purple Living Room Project  Happy Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is tricky this year. Everyone is making tough decisions about how and where to celebrate. It's a year when connecting virtually will be more important than ever. Our last post encouraged everyone to Be Kind-Rewind! Did anyone try it? I did. It was difficult. I tried to write cheerful messages to friends with different political perspectives and I kept getting stuck. Every attempt sounded trite or awkward or random or forced or just plain bizarre. And then I started thinking, what am I really trying to say? I'm trying to say, "Thank You" for being my friend... "Thank you" for being part of my family... "Thank you" for your contributions to the world... This is what I appreciate about you. And then I thought, "THANKSGIVING!" Suddenly, it made sense. Here's what I wrote... Happy Thanksgiving, ____________! This Thanksgiving, I just want to let you know that I’m very thankful for you. I’m thankful for the way you... I’m thankful for all of the times we.... I’m thankful for how you... I'm thankful for... I’m thankful for YOU. -------- Each message/email I sent started with this thank you format and then, at some point, I included something like this... -------- This Thanksgiving message was inspired by a Purple Living Room Project blog post: http://www.purplelivingroom.org/meet-in-the-middle-blog/be-kind-rewind You and I don't talk about politics much, but I get the feeling that we might have different opinions on some issues. In a year that has been so politically divisive, it feels important to come together and share what we appreciate about one another. Do you know anyone with a different perspective that you’d like to connect with this Thanksgiving weekend? You’re welcome to copy this message, adapt it, and send it forward. Thanks again for everything you bring to the world... Happy Thanksgiving! So that's what I've tried.
I've sent versions of this message out to several people in my life. It feels good to focus on gratitude and it's wonderful to connect with friends I haven't seen in a while. I'm planning to send many more of these "Thank You" messages over the coming Thanksgiving weekend. Do you want to give it a try? Consider making this message your own! Share it with your friends... let them know what makes you THANKFUL for their friendship. This Thanksgiving weekend, even though we need to stay socially-distanced and apart, let's take a few steps together and lift each other up. We can all be thankful for that kind of appreciation and support. Happy Thanksgiving! -Jen @ Purple Living Room |
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