Chair Mary Jane Parks’ Remarks at Flag Raising
In 1876, to honor our nation’s centennial, France gave the United States the Statue of Liberty, originally a symbol of the republic and liberty, to honor the young nation’s centennial. By 1883, the famous line from the Emma Lazarus poem was inscribed on a plaque at the base. “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”
Welcome to the flag-re-raising ceremony that will take place outside this door.
Thank you to the Progress and Justice Building owners, especially Richard Longo, for all your work to prepare for today. Thank you to team Ward 4C led by the joyfully dedicated Ward Chair Jean Brophy. Thank you to the NM Veterans and Family Caucus. Thank you, Mayor Garcia, for your support and time today and thank you for being here.
In New Mexico, the beautiful land of enchantment, we live in a land of the ancient nations/tribes and pueblos and among the 400-year history of Spanish culture. We celebrate the diversity and freedom of this land, all those who have come before us, as we mark the nation’s 250th birthday.
I would like you to think about what freedom means to you as you go through the next few days. You represent it through the work you do for democracy every time you knock on a door, make a phone call, text or send a post card in our community GOTV. What else does it mean to you?
Freedom is represented in the flag, the stars and stripes – reminding us about the 13 original colonies and 50 states. On the NM flag, the sacred circle found on the Zia symbol represents the four sacred obligations: development of a strong body, a clear mind, a pure spirit, and a devotion to the welfare of the people.
Freedom for all is represented in the concept of liberalism, a doctrine centered on the rights of the individual and consent of the governed. It is a willingness to respect opinions different from one’s own, an openness to new ideas. In politics, liberalism promotes individual rights, civil liberties, democracy and free enterprise. These government ideals allow freedom of the press, activism and an opposing voice without fear of retribution.
As Democrats, we love our country and these liberal ideals that helped establish the nation.
In NM, we know freedom is also prevalent in nature. Where the rivers run free, animals roam in their habitat, the land provides. And human beings, with scientific minds and artistic vision, are called to take care of the planet, our home.
Yes, we love our country, we just do not love the trauma of abuse of power, insurrection, gun violence, mass incarceration, grift and the failure of our institutions to protect all people and the environment that has happened in history and under this federal administration. We can and must find better systems to solve our problems.
We love our country greatly enough to change it. We want peace, human rights, clean energy, thriving habitat, health care for all, mega-donors out of politics, a living wage, unions, corporations that pay their workers enough so they don’t have to be on food stamps, and affordable housing – when someone has a safe home, then we can better talk about their job, their school, their diet, their future.
Today, we the people are the light bearers for a nation whose ideals are not yet fully manifested in the daily lives of all of its citizens. We are called to use the lamp of liberty in our own time to ensure the next generation celebrates sustainably and prospers.
We can and will do this!
I want to leave you recalling a movie scene about taking a stand for freedom. Remember when Annie, Ray’s wife in “A Field of Dreams,” gets all revved up when her activist self speaks out against book bans? It’s a great scene that you should watch again when you have a chance. At the end of her speech defending books about humanity, peace and love, she walks out in the hall, so jazzed because she reminded the whole town about the Constitution and freedom, and she says to Ray as she dances down the hall:
It was just like the 60s!
I hope you all find your moment to stand up for freedom!