Massachusetts is facing serious financial challenges as Republicans in Washington attack the “eds and meds” institutions that underpin the state’s economy. So what issue is bubbling to the top for GOP hopefuls looking to unseat Democrat Maura Healey?
There’s no question the banner and motto are from another era. The flag shows a colonist’s arm holding a sword above the image of a member of the Massachusett Tribe. The emblem is draped by a Latin motto that roughly translates to: “By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty.”
By state standards it is hardly old — adopted in 1908 and changed in 1971 to remove a reverse side. But the image is offensive to the state’s indigenous community:
“Too many of our ancestors have died and left Mother Earth with broken hearts after they saw this flag’s depiction of a sword over Native American head left flying in the wind, on state cars, on various decals for sale, letters and television. We all have choked back tears from time to time and still do Its long overdue and time to change so the tears and heartaches can stop.”
Efforts to respect those feelings have resulted in name changes for many high school mascots. But in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd in 2020, the question of the seal and flag generated enough attention that former Republican Governor Charlie Baker signed into law a bill creating a commission to consider a new standard.
That panel ended with a failure to reach a consensus and this year a new panel held a contest for a design that offered up everything from the ridiculous to the serious.
Healey has already weighed in on the need for change in this area:
"The state flag and seal? Look. I don't mean to laugh. But of everything that's going on right now — I support that there was a legislative commission to look at this. The Legislature passed a law, a commission to look at all this. So I think it's a — sure, have a look at it, and I'm sure there'll be discussion, you know, over the ensuing time and years."
But for Mike Kennealy and Brian Shortsleeve that time apparently is now.
The two Republican GOP hopefuls — each former Baker appointees by the way, are apparently looking to change the focus from Donald Trump and national Republicans going after Massachusetts in what one study estimated could result in damaging more than $16 billion in total economic activity and 81,300 jobs supported by federal funding for research and development.
The University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute report found this funding goes to hospitals, colleges, pharmaceutical firms, research facilities and private and nonprofit organizations. Every one dollar of research funding generates nearly double the amount of economic activity, according to the report.
The “eds and meds” which form the foundation of the state economy.
But the GOP candidates — who are currently trying to appeal to Republican primary voters — would rather talk about a tasty dessert than a substantial main course.
Kennealy, who served as Baker’s housing and economic development secretary, posted a picture on Xitter declaring “Keep our Flag” and urging retweets if you agree.
Shortsleeve, one of six MBTA general managers during Baker’s eight years in office, professed his “love” for the motto and the flag.
Massachusetts faces a host of issues beyond the Trump regime’s attack on the economy: a housing shortage and transportation infrastructure questions for example, two areas that Kennealy and Shortsleeve were charged with handling under Baker.
Healey does face legitimate questions about how the state handled the shelter crisis precipated by the large influx of immigrants into Massachusetts during the Biden administation.
That crisis has ebbed with Trump’s immigration policies. But those policies are hardly popular with the state’s electorate, who have seen ICE snatch a Tufts graduate student off the street and disappear her into a Louisiana prison, and grab and detain two Milford High School students as part of what “immigration czar” Tom Homan promsed was a plan to “bring hell” to Massachusetts.
While defense of the current state flag and motto undoubtedly appeals to Republican primary voters, their stances seem to cancel it out as an issue. And perhaps they are just laying in wait for the general election to go after Healey on the shelter question.
So in a positive spirit, I’m ready to offer them another “pressing” issue for them to tackle — bike lanes. After all, it worked so well for Josh Kraft in his campaign against Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.
Loved this—especially the reminder that “attention” isn’t just an individual virtue but a cultural and design choice. I’ve noticed the same thing in my own reading and writing life: when I live inside notification streams, my thoughts start arriving pre-fragmented; when I protect stretches for deep reading, the world connects again. Your piece models that shift without scolding, which is why it lands.
Two tactics that have helped me: (1) deliberate friction—opening books or long PDFs on a separate device with no social apps; and (2) a short “transition ritual” before I write (timer + one sentence about what I’m trying to notice). Both are tiny speed bumps that reset my brain from skimming to seeing.
I’m curious how you think about the trade-off between meeting readers where they are (short, skimmable) and inviting them where they could go (long, layered)—do you aim for a ratio, or do you design each piece to nudge attention a little farther than the last?