Thoughts on Independence - Sam Slade

Monday, July 06, 2020

Sam Slade, Contributor

 

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Sam Slade

This column is usually about employee benefits but in honor of our July 4th holiday, I wanted to share some thoughts on independence. Our state, our nation and the entire world are battling through something the likes of which we have never experienced. This is a time of dual crisis: public health and economic. 

People are hurting, scared, and angry. Case counts are rising. We are worried about getting sick or friends or family falling ill. Many of us have lost loved ones, some of whom died alone, adding tragedy on tragedy. Even the steps taken to combat the virus (lockdowns, quarantines, social distancing), while effective in flattening the curve, have had negative consequences. Rising mental health issues, learning and social developmental challenges for our children, and economic consequences like lost jobs, closed businesses, evictions and looming poverty have all come from fighting the virus.

During all of this, we are increasingly a nation divided. Friends and family disagree about how to best fight the pandemic. Hyper-partisan politics now permeate almost all aspects of our daily life. And we are witnessing a national protest movement that seeks to change ingrained police practices, end racial profiling and bring real equality for all. While many of the efforts are peaceful, violence and tearing down statues of historical figures has created more polarization.

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Independence Day has always been one of my favorite holidays. For me, it celebrates a concept, a principle, that I believe in: independence. When I think about our July 4th holiday and the concept of independence, I think about our national tradition of tolerance. Tolerance of other people’s views and opinions is a key part of being independent. Here in Rhode Island, we have the Independent Man standing tall atop the Statehouse, who reminds us of Roger Williams and the notion that religious freedom is a central aspect of what it means to be independent. 

The ideal of freedom is so important and yet it is not unlimited. We are not ever free to hurt others, for example. As we battle our way through the age of coronavirus, I hope all of us can nurture a fundamental respect for those with whom we disagree. I believe that if we can listen, hear each other and understand, we will find ways to come together to beat this virus.  

Sam Slade is Managing Director, Employee Benefits, at The Hilb Group of New England, where he delivers consulting and brokerage services to local employers. He has extensive experience in all aspects of employee benefits, including underwriting, plan design, communications, compliance, and analytics, with a particular focus on alternative funding and self-insurance. Sam lives in South Kingstown with his wife and three sons.  

 

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