Moving on to the heart of his talk, he took on the Jan. “Each day 327 people are shot in America, and 117 are shot and killed by gun violence, homicide, or suicide.” “We live in a time of random, brutal, and lethal violence, that is a daily violation of the social contract,” the congressman said. The congressman described gun violence as an “attack on the social contract.” He touched on mass shootings, acknowledging that at least some 50 people died in shootings over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. “Freedom is only safe in the hands of small-‘d’ democrats,” said Raskin. On authoritarianism, he spoke of “Orwellian anti-memory laws” in DeSantis’s Florida “that are designed to obliterate young people’s ability to learn about and understand America’s history of slavery and white supremacy.” He named Vladimir Putin an autocrat, Donald Trump a kleptocrat, and pro-life politicians theocrats for taking away women’s freedom and healthcare in America on the grounds of religious beliefs to “protect liberty.” This is the “social contract” that we all as citizens of our modern nation enter into. They believed that people exchange being in a state of nature, “all against all,” where no one can count on the protection of the rule of law, for being in an organized state of civil society where people abide by agreed upon-rights for mutual safety, protection, and resources. He harked back to classic philosophers like Locke, Hobbes, and Rousseau, who argued for inalienable rights. Authoritarianism and right-wing insurrectionism threaten “our voting rights, our democratic norm, the rule of law, the Constitution,” and undermine “the American social contract,” Raskin said. “Our social contract is ragged today, it is under attack, under relentless assault,” the congressman continued. That’s why we’re an exceptional country,” Raskin said. “What makes America exceptional is that the people constantly resist those dark impulses, and are always fighting for democracy and freedom within the constitutional framework. “That’s the meaning and the beauty of the American experiment,” said Raskin. democratic republic as becoming more inclusive over time with amendments. The statement earned laughs and applause from the audibly blue audience. “So I wanted to start on a bipartisan note by invoking our last great Republican president, Abraham Lincoln,“ he said. He called himself “a true-blue, dyed-in-the-wool Democrat,” but acknowledged that there could be a range of political views in the audience. Raskin launched into his talk, a combination of well-versed professor and rousing politician. “I’m psyched to be with you all,” the congressman confirmed. “Maryland was the first state to pass marriage equality without being forced by the Supreme Court,” he bragged of his home state, which the audience found amusing. He acknowledged Massachussetts as being the first state to legalize same-sex marriage, although pointed out it was under order to do so from the state supreme judiciary court. “I’m proud of the people of Massachusetts,” he went on. It was a form of child abuse my parents sent me to college when I was 16 years old.” Another round of laughs. “Rabbi Broitman, what a pleasure it is to see you … You were way too kind about what I was like in my freshman year. “Thank you very much for the warm welcome,” opened Raskin, giving thanks all around. Raskin received a standing ovation from the packed temple as he took the podium, wearing his signature bandana in an American flag pattern. “He was always that patriot, and it is an honor for me to have known him in college and to welcome him here to the synagogue. It’s no surprise to me what an important voice he is now for democracy,” said Broitman. We all knew his passion for justice, his commitment, his devotion. I can tell you that he was a shining star then. “I really have a very special welcome for Congressman Jamie Raskin,” Broitman said. She acknowledged Shelly and Bruce Eckman, the former chairs of the Summer Institute, and gave thanks to the new chair, Heller, before moving on to Raskin, whom she’s known since their college days at Harvard. “I hope to see you over the summer,” she said. Rabbi Broitman thanked the audience for their attendance and support.
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