The True Meaning Of July 4

From the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”

At times, the U.S. has lived up to those lofty ideals and we have accomplished many great things during our history. We are the richest country in the history of the world and we have liberated millions of people around the world from tyranny. We helped save the world from fascism during World War II and brought about the end of the Cold War. We should be proud of those achievements.

But there have been times in our history when we haven’t lived up to the lofty ideals spelled out in the Declaration of Independence. We certainly aren’t living up to those ideals in 2020.

Sadly, the U.S. is no longer a “shining city on a hill” and a beacon of hope for the rest of the world. The Founding Fathers would be disappointed at the current state of the country.

Unfortunately, the Trump Administration and its enablers make it difficult to appreciate and celebrate our accomplishments. However, we must also pledge ourselves to continue working hard to make sure our country lives up to the ideals we were founded upon. That is the true meaning of patriotism.

As Barack Obama posted on Facebook on Juneteenth: “In fact, it’s patriotic to believe that we can make America better. We’re strong enough to be self-critical. We’re strong enough to look upon our imperfections and strive, together, to make this country we love more perfect...So no matter our color or our creed, no matter where we come from or who we love, today is a day to find joy in the face of sorrow and to hold the ones we love a little closer. And tomorrow is a day to keep marching.”

Have a safe and happy July 4th!