Janet Fitch Quotes

Washington is busy with nothing that absorbs the minds and occupies the energies of the typical American city.

Since 9/11, there has been a huge leap in people wanting to get personally involved in public service and international affairs.

We're all looking for an authentic way to be engaged in the community, engaged in politics, engaged in national discussion - and so, we're clunky. We're all clunky. But it's better than not doing it.

The cooperation of government at its different levels is important and can only be achieved as long as the people of Chicago are directly involved in our efforts and supportive of our goals.

The first lesson in civics is that efficient government begins at home.

In Sacramento you simply had to think about what the law ought to be and leave it to someone else to implement. In San Francisco, you hear about it the next day.

We are not apathetic in this country.

When I was very young, I took no interest in party politics. My line of interest was how can you be part of an influence to the society that you live in.

I think it's very important to be part of the Boston society and the people who live in Boston.

One of my philosophies is that citizens are the mayor... so we have citizens play an integral role in making policies and implementing them.

It's really important to be active in your community, whatever community that is... find allies and find people who you relate to and who make you stronger as a group.

I take very seriously the notion that you have to get out in your community; you have to talk to people, but, more importantly, you have to listen to people.

I have always believed that every great city in history needs a vibrant center.

If people take the film and screen it whenever possible for their social and professional networks, we can continue to make a difference. It is one more element we have to use in the ongoing effort to take back our country.

I think everybody's political. The act of being alive is political. Unless you choose to be a hermit, you're automatically political because you're part of a community.

My ministry's always been one of social activism. I think a responsible minister must be at some levels involved in the social order.

I'm sure Putnam is right that there's been a decline in certain kinds of organizations like bowling leagues. But people participate in communities in other ways.

I feel a real responsibility to my community and so right now there has been this bizarre myth in our community how our vote doesn't count. I'm trying to get out there and re-educate on how the government works and break that myth and talk about the importance of being involved.

In my regular life, I am very involved in commissions for cities and sometimes countries. And I think of public art as a team sport. The outcome is only possible with the interaction of all the players.

I always preach that you have to be active as a citizen no matter what, and some people just voting as an excuse not to do anything.

People in New York pay attention to national issues - a huge percentage of people.

The primary thing I should do, apart from being a good husband, brother, son, and friend, is to be a citizen activist. But I'm afraid it takes away from the writing. Not that anything depends on whether I put an essay in 'The Nation' or not. But you want to participate.

In the U.K., a lot of writers won't show up to support activist issues because they figure they're already repairing the world. I don't want to be one of those people.

I do feel, in a sense, the rules of engagement for citizenship has changed, and we must encourage other people to speak up and to take action.

Whoever moves into a community has a vested interest in it.