We should be uncomfortable with the growing gaps in our society, and we cannot allow ourselves to become desensitized to these injustices.
Ayanna PressleyRead
I'm not naive. All politics is about identity, right? Neighborhood politics, cultural politics, issue politics. It's not as though I don't get that. It's just - it has to be, I think, tempered in a way that is for our overall advancement and not to our detriment or obliteration. When I say 'our,' I don't mean just communities of color.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Politics revolves around identity and must prioritize collective advancement.
In this quote, Ayanna Pressley acknowledges the fundamental relationship between politics and identity. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the various dimensions of politics—be it neighborhood, cultural, or issue-based—while advocating for an approach that promotes the overall progress of society rather than causing harm or division. Pressley insists that this perspective should apply to all communities, not just marginalized groups, calling for a collective responsibility in addressing political issues.
Themes
PoliticsIdentityCommunityAdvancementCollective
In practice
Example use cases
In a community meeting discussing local issues, this quote could be used to emphasize the need for unity.
More from Ayanna Pressley
All quotes →We desperately need comprehensive immigration reform in this nation, and yes, comprehensive immigration reform proposals are nuanced and complicated, but you know what shouldn't be? Our capacity to see each other's humanity.
Ayanna PressleyRead
You cannot have a government for and by the people if it is not represented by all of the people.
Ayanna PressleyRead
Raising me as a single parent, my mother held many jobs. Most of them had to do with the betterment and the advancement of our community and society at large. I grew up seeing her active in ministries at our church, with the homeless, as a social worker, with elderly, with youth, as a children's rights organizer with the Urban League of Chicago.
Ayanna PressleyRead
As I have always said, those closest to the pain should be closest to the power.
Ayanna PressleyRead
At the women's march, we held signs that said, 'Today we march, tomorrow we run.' They didn't believe us, but it's coming to pass.
Ayanna PressleyRead
Similar quotes
Fascist movements kill off their critics, literally or metaphorically, while democratic movements value, invite and even welcome criticism.
Parker PalmerRead
Never believe anything in politics until it has been officially denied.
Otto Von BismarckRead
Elections remind us not only of the rights but the responsibilities of citizenship in a democracy.
Robert KennedyRead
Democracy is an imperfect way of steering between the violence of anarchy and the violence of tyranny, with the least violence you can get away with.
Steven PinkerRead
The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite.
James MadisonRead
The government is huge, stupid, greedy and makes nosy, officious and dangerous intrusions into the smallest corners of life - this much we can stand. But the real problem is that government is boring. We could cure or mitigate the other ills Washington visits on us if we could only bring ourselves to pay attention to Washington itself. But we cannot.
P. J. O'RourkeRead