First published in the Wakefield Daily Item, June 30, 2023. What happens when a community and its leaders give up on finding ways to come together to solve problems in favor of aggravating and leveraging our differences? Sadly, in recent years the town of Wakefield has been going through the process of finding out.
I would have loved to have had a pubic discussion about where the new flag pole, which very few elected leaders even knew about prior to the vote, was going to be installed. When was there prior talk of the purchase of the new pole, the cost of the pole and the cost for installation? When was there talk of the choice of its permanent placement, and the choice of who installed it (Did the town install it? I do not think so. What was the extra cost). These are all issues that were dealt with, unfortunately, in ways that were not for public display. Why? Who on the town council voted to put the permanent flag pole in front of Town Hall? You see, there was no vote for the pole placement. All of this was done quietly behind the scenes with only a few people knowing. Only a few Town Councilors kere. For far too long, under respected and discriminated communities have not had the governmental recognition and legislative support of our leaders...at local, state, and national levels. Why does Town Hall not fly the Pride Flag....and the Juneteenth flags proudly, on its from lawn, each June from now on? I feel that the place of most prominence and meaning for all past and future generations would have been on a flag pole in front of our Town Hall as that is the seat of our executive branch of government. So many lost their lives fighting for equality and equal access to health care...so many were lost during the aids crisis as our governmental leaders often treated many in need as "invisible populations". Now that some government bodies are responding and recognizing historical mistakes, our government must own up for their past negligence. Our local government leaders do not work out of the Civic Center...they lead out of the Town Hall. The flag should fly in front of government buildings in the memory of all that were tragically marginalized and ignored in the past...and in respect to all who should be represented by their thoughtful votes and actions in the future. Our Town Hall has created the platform for this argument to be repeated for years to come. The Pride flag and other flags that represent those who for far too long have not been represented by the votes and actions of our government...should fly on Town Hall land in the future. Our retired military veterans have done their part and should be thanked; but they will not as this fake argument involving the Civic Center will be repeated on a yearly basis. I feel that the next generation of elected leaders should stand up and own the placement of the flag. Past generations fought so hard to be heard. Wonderful
Love this, Jeff. It’s completely on point, and we need more of this. Thank you for writing it.
I would have loved to have had a pubic discussion about where the new flag pole, which very few elected leaders even knew about prior to the vote, was going to be installed. When was there prior talk of the purchase of the new pole, the cost of the pole and the cost for installation? When was there talk of the choice of its permanent placement, and the choice of who installed it (Did the town install it? I do not think so. What was the extra cost). These are all issues that were dealt with, unfortunately, in ways that were not for public display. Why? Who on the town council voted to put the permanent flag pole in front of Town Hall? You see, there was no vote for the pole placement. All of this was done quietly behind the scenes with only a few people knowing. Only a few Town Councilors kere. For far too long, under respected and discriminated communities have not had the governmental recognition and legislative support of our leaders...at local, state, and national levels. Why does Town Hall not fly the Pride Flag....and the Juneteenth flags proudly, on its from lawn, each June from now on? I feel that the place of most prominence and meaning for all past and future generations would have been on a flag pole in front of our Town Hall as that is the seat of our executive branch of government. So many lost their lives fighting for equality and equal access to health care...so many were lost during the aids crisis as our governmental leaders often treated many in need as "invisible populations". Now that some government bodies are responding and recognizing historical mistakes, our government must own up for their past negligence. Our local government leaders do not work out of the Civic Center...they lead out of the Town Hall. The flag should fly in front of government buildings in the memory of all that were tragically marginalized and ignored in the past...and in respect to all who should be represented by their thoughtful votes and actions in the future. Our Town Hall has created the platform for this argument to be repeated for years to come. The Pride flag and other flags that represent those who for far too long have not been represented by the votes and actions of our government...should fly on Town Hall land in the future. Our retired military veterans have done their part and should be thanked; but they will not as this fake argument involving the Civic Center will be repeated on a yearly basis. I feel that the next generation of elected leaders should stand up and own the placement of the flag. Past generations fought so hard to be heard. Wonderful
read....https://www.army.mil/article/183153/how_war_veterans_impacted_the_civil_rights_movement
Thanks for the piece Jeff. Well said and for pointing out the bias in the "reported" article.
Happy Independence Day!
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