By: D.J. Beauregard, Mayor of Methuen
Our society and political system are broken. People raise their voices faster, assume the worst more easily, and treat opponents as enemies rather than neighbors. You can sense it in Washington, in state capitals, and yes, here in Methuen.
I’ve long believed that our institutions are not the problem.
Our democracy has inspired generations of freedom-seeking people across the globe. The problem lies with us, the imperfect people who manage these institutions.
We are human.
We get aggravated.
We let our frustrations show.
And I’m the first to admit that I am not perfect. I’ve let my aggravation get the best of me at times, especially during my time as mayor. I’m writing this column to serve as a reminder to myself as much as it’s intended to send a message to others.
Certain city councilors know which buttons to push, and they push them. I haven’t always responded well. But I try to be civil, polite, and firm. I try to live up to the standard set by Tip O’Neill and Ronald Reagan, two giants of American politics who fought tooth and nail over policy during the day but could share a laugh and a drink at night.
That model is badly needed now. If we can practice it at the local level, maybe – just maybe – we can show our leaders in Washington what it looks like to disagree without tearing one another down.
As for this year’s election, I have nothing bad to say about my opponent. I’m sure we’ll have our disagreements, but I like my opponent as a person, and I believe she genuinely cares about our community. We need more people like her willing to run for office. Just because someone challenges me politically doesn’t mean I have to dislike them, or view them – or their supporters – as enemies. I’m the mayor of all of Methuen, not just the people who vote for me.
Unfortunately, not everyone in local politics has embraced that same spirit of civility. Some of my colleagues have been unfairly and inaccurately maligned in these very pages, with the same attacks repeated endlessly on social media.
We don’t always agree, and our styles can be very different, but I know each of them cares deeply about Methuen’s students and our community. We would all be better served by focusing less on tearing each other down and more on building each other up.
We need to stop casting aspersions on each other’s motives.
Whether we are naturally combative or naturally conciliatory, whether our styles are blunt or diplomatic, we all have a responsibility to remember that the way our leaders act sets the tone for our whole society.
If our political and societal leaders bully colleagues, disparage immigrants, mock LGBTQ+ youth, place an entire group of people into a “basket of deplorables,” or vilify anyone who simply thinks differently – what do we think will happen?
We will raise a society that thinks this is normal. We will create a culture where cruelty is a badge of honor and decency is seen as weakness.
That’s not the America I believe in.
Our society is already straining under the weight of cancel culture from all directions. Smartphones and social media have amplified every slight, every insult, every careless word. We are so busy looking down at our phones that we miss life’s most special moments.
Social media has given an outsized voice to the loudest, angriest keyboard warriors. But here’s the truth: social media is not real life. Look up from your phone. Enjoy the moment. We would all benefit from a collective reset.
What kind of generation do we want to raise? One that is desensitized and mirrors the coarseness and cruelty we sometimes see today? Or one that builds on America’s legacy of striving toward a more perfect union, where we place our shared emphasis on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?
I know my answer. I believe our children deserve better than what they see from too many leaders today. They deserve civility. They deserve respect.
Call me idealistic, but I think it’s our job to show them what that looks like.
D.J. Beauregard is the Mayor of Methuen. Contact him at djbeauregardma@gmail.com. ◊