Disagreement without disrespect

Posted 1/23/25

On a day when we marked the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., we watched a peaceful transfer of power as President Donald J. Trump was sworn into office for a second term.

We hope this …

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Disagreement without disrespect

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On a day when we marked the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., we watched a peaceful transfer of power as President Donald J. Trump was sworn into office for a second term.

We hope this is a moment on the national level to put aside the pettiness of politics. 

The work ahead is too great to waste a single moment on political distraction and grandstanding. On the national level, the issues can seem overwhelming and too great to solve: war, inequality, the economy, the climate.

While these deserve our attention and advocacy, let’s also keep our focus on the actions taken by our local leaders.

Here at home, across our city halls and school departments, we also can't waste time on politics. Our mayors are preparing their budgets, which are their priorities for our schools, infrastructure and quality of life. Warwick and Johnston are already facing financial shortfalls and Cranston is on the hunt for professionals to run department of public works, engineering and planning – key positions that help maintain our community and sustain its growth. 

During the first few weeks of the year, we witnessed new council and school committee members take their oaths, along with the mayors of Cranston and Warwick. Amidst words of congratulations, there were mentions of setting aside partisanship to work together for the good of the communities we love. We hope this sentiment carries through the upcoming local budget season. 

In her remarks heralding the beginning of a new legislative season as president of the Cranston City Council, Jessica Marino may have best captured the need to revive civility in the arenas of debate:

"If we all want better then we need to take responsibility in doing better ... we need to practice what we preach. We need to spend more time being thoughtful and taking pause. Disagreement when done right is healthy and it's absolutely normal and essential in a civilized and prosperous society. 

"What is not healthy and should not be tolerable is exhibiting hostility with insults or violence.... 

"We should refuse to accept the notion that the word ‘differences’ is to be synonymous with what is wrong in this world …”

Her call to action is worth considering across every community. We must do better for one another. The times demand it. And said more eloquently, in the words of Martin Luther King Jr.: "The time is always right to do what is right.''

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