In his recent letter to Harvard alumni, President of Harvard University Lawrence S. Bacow was reflecting on the incomprehensible loss caused by this pandemic. He spoke of the spring of 1968, his junior year in high school, where after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. then Bobby Kennedy, America was hugely polarised and hope was in short supply. As we think about the challenges we face today, he urged us to return again and again to what we believe. With a little adaptation here’s some of what he said:
I believe in the goodness of the people of this country — and in their resilience.
I believe all of us, liberal and conservative, whatever our race or ethnicity, want a better life for our children.
I believe that New Zealand should be a beacon of light, a place of peace, and a home of refuge to the rest of the world.
I believe that our strength as a nation is due in no small measure to our ancestors’ tradition of manaakitanga, welcoming those who come to our shores in search of freedom and opportunity, by offering hospitality and generosity to individuals who repay us multiple times over through their hard work, creativity, and devotion to their new home.
I believe in the separation of powers, the right to a free and independent press that holds those in power accountable, and to a free and independent judiciary.
I believe in the equal protection of law for everyone, not just for those who look like me, or earn my wage, or live my privileged life.
I believe that one measure for the justness of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable members.
I believe we must provide opportunity to those who may not encounter it on their own so that they may achieve their full potential.
I believe in the power of knowledge and ideas to change the world, of science and medicine to defeat disease, of the arts and humanities to illuminate the human condition.
Larry concluded.
“I hope you will pause during these troubled times to ask what you believe. Even more importantly, I hope you will find the strength and determination to act on your beliefs — to repair and perfect this imperfect world. Those of us privileged to work or study at a place like this bear special responsibilities. As Luke teaches us, from those to whom much is given, much is expected.”
Just like many of you I have spent the last couple of weeks redefining my work, setting up home offices again, and recreating routines to look after my family. And like many of you, I have also started to redefine a future of my service as a judge through these unchartered waters.
From my family to yours, take time to prioritise self-care during these unique and stressful times. Focus on what’s important — yourselves, your loved ones, your community, your brother and sister judges. Stay healthy, stay positive, stay connected.
In this month’s newsletter, you’ll find articles from our partners Lifetime Insurance, Fine Travel, ANZ Private, and our newest partners Health Navigator and NZ Natural Clothing. We also have lists of books and films to dive into this month.
Noho ora mai
Gerard
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