progress arrived from on high, the abolition of slavery, better working conditions, cleaner air and water. lgbtq rights, women's rights, all these things gain traction because a critical mass of people got involved, got engaged and came together to make their voices heard. and, yes, that process can be contentious, as i'm sure the governor and mayor are aware. it can take time. but in the end, it's the most effective, most inclusive most durable way to move the world as it is towards the world as it should be. the idea of participation, of active citizenship also happens to be at the heart of our american experiment in