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In Memory of Senator Paul E. Tsongas
The death of Paul Tsongas will be deeply felt by every member of the Concord
Coalition family. With his death, some will inevitably wonder whether the work
of the Concord Coalition will continue. No one who had the privilege of knowing
Paul Tsongas could have any doubt about the answer. Of course it will.
Senator Tsongas often spoke of legacies. To him, the work of the Concord
Coalition went well beyond the tactical goal of balancing the federal budget. He
was much more concerned with the larger purpose of restoring generational
responsibility to our public policies.
In A Call to Economic Arms, Paul Tsongas wrote:
- "Facing our challenges forthrightly is how we honor the labors of our
forbearers. It is our moral imperative. But more importantly, it is the source
of our hope. We are a blessed America. It is our will and determination that
will deliver us. Let us, again, unleash the spirit of the American people and
again secure our future and the future of our descendants."
In Journey of Purpose, Senator Tsongas described a larger reason for
his work:
- In the end, there must be a purpose to our journey. Human endeavor cannot
consist simply of random acts and happenstance. There needs to be meaning
beyond self that gives our limited days definition and direction. And only
within that meaning can the judgment rendered upon our lives have worth.
Beyond individual achievement and failure, there is common purpose, shared
and inescapable. It is not purpose derived from legislative mandates. It is
genetic. It resides in every being because it is the continuance of that
being. It is the sacredness of generational responsibility. To be given life
and to ensure that life passes on, enhanced, cherished, protected.
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