We were at the fireworks for the 4th of July yesterday and I said something silly, that didn't really make sense. I knew what I'd said wasn't what I mean, but there was too much going on to really think about it and fix it. I took me until today to figure it out.
Everything had just ended - the smoke from the Grand Finale was still lingering in the air, catching the red, white, and blue beams from spot lights. Mass amounts of people were gathering their things and heading back to their cars, fighting with each other for walking space, car space, and the right of way. Even still, there were people sitting on the lawns lighting off cheap, legal "fireworks," and even some illegal ones.
It had been a friend of mine's first time celebrating the 4th, and he wasn't impressed. It was stressful, he said. Which is true. The Saginaw set up isn't really crowd friendly. Another in our group loves it - the people, the colors, the fireworks, what it represents. The whole shebang. In response to the discussion, I'd said "I just like the fireworks. I could give two shits about the holiday, I don't really like what it represents. But I like the fireworks." After a quizzical look, I continued, "The whole killing people for more land idea." Which didn't really get me a good response. More of a condescending "you don't really understand, do you?" response.
I realize what I'd said, but with the hectic crowds and the moment, I let it go. I kept thinking about it though. I knew what I'd meant, I just couldn't phrase it.
It's not that I don't understand that the 4th of July is Independence Day - our freedom from Britain - rather than a celebration of a battle for land. I'm not an idiot. But it took a battle for land, theoretically to get there. If we didn't win the land, Britain would still have it and we wouldn't really be free. Which is from where I was coming. But that wasn't my ultimate meaning.
The United States of American were originally fought for and founded in order to gain religious freedom from Britain. Colonists wanted to practice what they believed, rather than what they were told to believe. They didn't want to be controlled by a government in which they had no say. All very valid arguments.
So we fought, and we won, and that's great. But then we proceeded to persecute those not of the religion on which American was founded - or any other differences people may have had, really. Salem Witch Trials, anyone? Red Scare? Slavery and the Civil Rights Movement? Women's Rights? The LGBT Rights Movement? We aren't really even free from our own country. We gain new freedoms, sure. But it takes a long, hard battle to get there. Frankly, if there was anymore land to be had, there'd probably be a group destined for it, trying to start a new country. What do you think - socialist? All gay, all the time? Survey says...
Our victory and freedom from Britain was just a proclamation of our inability to accept our differences as human beings, and an encouragement to run away and live with other people who are just like us. And that is what I don't like about the 4th of July. We have a great and beautiful country and we have a lot of freedoms compared to other places, but we aren't done yet. Not until we can live with our neighbors, no matter how much we disagree with them, and love them for who they are.
And maybe the 4th of July is a celebration of out ability to fight for our freedoms and win - I suppose that's a possibility. But I'm not ready to gloss things over just yet. There still a little negativity buried beneath my optimism.
None the less - I love my country - but we aren't perfect. And that was all I meant by my slightly inaccurate and brash statement.
Happy America Day,
Peace and Love.
Everything had just ended - the smoke from the Grand Finale was still lingering in the air, catching the red, white, and blue beams from spot lights. Mass amounts of people were gathering their things and heading back to their cars, fighting with each other for walking space, car space, and the right of way. Even still, there were people sitting on the lawns lighting off cheap, legal "fireworks," and even some illegal ones.
It had been a friend of mine's first time celebrating the 4th, and he wasn't impressed. It was stressful, he said. Which is true. The Saginaw set up isn't really crowd friendly. Another in our group loves it - the people, the colors, the fireworks, what it represents. The whole shebang. In response to the discussion, I'd said "I just like the fireworks. I could give two shits about the holiday, I don't really like what it represents. But I like the fireworks." After a quizzical look, I continued, "The whole killing people for more land idea." Which didn't really get me a good response. More of a condescending "you don't really understand, do you?" response.
I realize what I'd said, but with the hectic crowds and the moment, I let it go. I kept thinking about it though. I knew what I'd meant, I just couldn't phrase it.
It's not that I don't understand that the 4th of July is Independence Day - our freedom from Britain - rather than a celebration of a battle for land. I'm not an idiot. But it took a battle for land, theoretically to get there. If we didn't win the land, Britain would still have it and we wouldn't really be free. Which is from where I was coming. But that wasn't my ultimate meaning.
The United States of American were originally fought for and founded in order to gain religious freedom from Britain. Colonists wanted to practice what they believed, rather than what they were told to believe. They didn't want to be controlled by a government in which they had no say. All very valid arguments.
So we fought, and we won, and that's great. But then we proceeded to persecute those not of the religion on which American was founded - or any other differences people may have had, really. Salem Witch Trials, anyone? Red Scare? Slavery and the Civil Rights Movement? Women's Rights? The LGBT Rights Movement? We aren't really even free from our own country. We gain new freedoms, sure. But it takes a long, hard battle to get there. Frankly, if there was anymore land to be had, there'd probably be a group destined for it, trying to start a new country. What do you think - socialist? All gay, all the time? Survey says...
Our victory and freedom from Britain was just a proclamation of our inability to accept our differences as human beings, and an encouragement to run away and live with other people who are just like us. And that is what I don't like about the 4th of July. We have a great and beautiful country and we have a lot of freedoms compared to other places, but we aren't done yet. Not until we can live with our neighbors, no matter how much we disagree with them, and love them for who they are.
And maybe the 4th of July is a celebration of out ability to fight for our freedoms and win - I suppose that's a possibility. But I'm not ready to gloss things over just yet. There still a little negativity buried beneath my optimism.
None the less - I love my country - but we aren't perfect. And that was all I meant by my slightly inaccurate and brash statement.
Happy America Day,
Peace and Love.
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