Thank you for verbalizing my thoughts.. I was just commenting to my husband that I feel a malaise about the 250th. I remember the 200th. I worked for the National Park Service. It WAS a big deal. There were wonderful Bicentennial projects everywhere. The queen visited. This year we have a cage match and a buffoon. It's sickening.
Thank you, Chuck... Reading this and reflecting on my own love for this country and feelings of heartache and disappointment felt like the first moment in my own commemoration of 250. It has felt like such a loss and so alienating when all the celebrations I see have been so co-opted by forces I don't want to align with. I'm a hospice chaplain and grief counselor, and what you wrote is a beautiful example of naming grief. When we do that, it also allows us to reflect on our love, and also our hopes and dreams, too. Grief also teaches us what matters, what's important to us, and how to live in light of our grief and regrets and could haves and what ifs… if we pay attention to our grief and let it speak. We're not very good at that in individual grief or national grief… May we also learn that lesson as a country. Happy 250 to you; with all its bumps, bruises and black eyes, this is STILL the land we love. We will tell the truth, strive to make it better and truer and safer for ALL, and we won't give up ❤️🤍💙
Nailed it. In 1976, when I was eight year olds, I remember the "Bicentennial" was way better. I don't know why. Was it because I saw the world thru the eyes of an 8-year-old? Was it because the world was different 50 years ago? My father and all my uncles somehow lucked out on the lottery draft and none of them went to Vietnam. Was everyone just happier in my family? Or maybe was it just because "Bicentennial" is way better branding than "Semiquincentennial?" [awkward silence] I think I'll choose to be an 8-year-old this weekend.
Nicely said Chuck. The next step is to get all of us to understand that whatever political party we support (and I personally support none) we're Americans first and foremost. The values of being an American are defined in the Constitution - which is a living document that points the way.
i am taking this time to celebrate the successes of the world cup matches all over our country- in my city of seattle, it has been a spectacular display of people coming together (during fabulous pride, nonetheless) and truly celebrating life!
Thank you for perfectly capturing what so many of us are feeling. It's not a malaise; it's utter disgust at our government, beginning with the clown-in-chief. A cage match on the WH lawn?! Who can even begin to give words to the antipathy most Americans feel about that disgrace? You add in the corruption of the Trump family, this administration, the GOP and now the Supreme Court. Of all of those, the actions by the Supreme Court are the most disturbing. They are unabashedly overturning precedent and with it the rule of law and democracy ~ all in the glorification of a misguided "unitary executive" theory. The six in the majority have not only sullied themselves, they have eliminated any remaining respect most citizens had for the Court.
However, it is not hopeless. We have seen the patriotic citizens of Minnesota rise up and together show us the way forward. But, this weekend . . . it can't end soon enough for me. I just hope the Dems can get their act together. There will be an enormous amount of legislation to be enacted to ensure this never happens again!
Great piece. We were just talking the other day about how despite massive turmoil and upheaval at the time (Vietnam, Watergate, etc.), the bicentennial was a much bigger celebration that was embraced throughout our diverse and divided country. I was 19 at the time, and there seemed to be a universal pride in America - and a willingness to tell and accept the good and the bad in our founding and history. That pride and willingness are now gone. I probably won't be here for the 275th, but I hope we can regain what we've lost and make progress again towards being a more perfect union.
I have to agree with the prior comments: you have articulated so well what many of us are thinking and your ability to encapsulate a country's feelings and thoughts is just amazing. Many of us are just so blase about this 4th of July but hate to admit it for fear we'll be thought of as "anti-patriotic", especially if we're Democrats. What we see from Washington is superficial, corrupt, and without soul.
Great piece, Chuck. I must admit that I thought Covid would be this transformation point because it exposed so many of the cracks in American society. I hope you’re right about this moment being a clarifying event to get real change to come and move us forward.
Thank you for this article. It helped me realize it's not the country I refuse to celebrate this year, it's him, for hijacking that celebration.
Plus, I know that I am a good & patriotic Democrat. I don't need validation about that from anyone! :-)
Thank you for verbalizing my thoughts.. I was just commenting to my husband that I feel a malaise about the 250th. I remember the 200th. I worked for the National Park Service. It WAS a big deal. There were wonderful Bicentennial projects everywhere. The queen visited. This year we have a cage match and a buffoon. It's sickening.
Amén, Chuck!
Thank you, Chuck... Reading this and reflecting on my own love for this country and feelings of heartache and disappointment felt like the first moment in my own commemoration of 250. It has felt like such a loss and so alienating when all the celebrations I see have been so co-opted by forces I don't want to align with. I'm a hospice chaplain and grief counselor, and what you wrote is a beautiful example of naming grief. When we do that, it also allows us to reflect on our love, and also our hopes and dreams, too. Grief also teaches us what matters, what's important to us, and how to live in light of our grief and regrets and could haves and what ifs… if we pay attention to our grief and let it speak. We're not very good at that in individual grief or national grief… May we also learn that lesson as a country. Happy 250 to you; with all its bumps, bruises and black eyes, this is STILL the land we love. We will tell the truth, strive to make it better and truer and safer for ALL, and we won't give up ❤️🤍💙
Nailed it. In 1976, when I was eight year olds, I remember the "Bicentennial" was way better. I don't know why. Was it because I saw the world thru the eyes of an 8-year-old? Was it because the world was different 50 years ago? My father and all my uncles somehow lucked out on the lottery draft and none of them went to Vietnam. Was everyone just happier in my family? Or maybe was it just because "Bicentennial" is way better branding than "Semiquincentennial?" [awkward silence] I think I'll choose to be an 8-year-old this weekend.
Nicely said Chuck. The next step is to get all of us to understand that whatever political party we support (and I personally support none) we're Americans first and foremost. The values of being an American are defined in the Constitution - which is a living document that points the way.
So well said. Happy Birthday America…continue to grow towards your ideals!🎆
i am taking this time to celebrate the successes of the world cup matches all over our country- in my city of seattle, it has been a spectacular display of people coming together (during fabulous pride, nonetheless) and truly celebrating life!
And, frankly, celebrating America to some extent.
100%
Thank you for perfectly capturing what so many of us are feeling. It's not a malaise; it's utter disgust at our government, beginning with the clown-in-chief. A cage match on the WH lawn?! Who can even begin to give words to the antipathy most Americans feel about that disgrace? You add in the corruption of the Trump family, this administration, the GOP and now the Supreme Court. Of all of those, the actions by the Supreme Court are the most disturbing. They are unabashedly overturning precedent and with it the rule of law and democracy ~ all in the glorification of a misguided "unitary executive" theory. The six in the majority have not only sullied themselves, they have eliminated any remaining respect most citizens had for the Court.
However, it is not hopeless. We have seen the patriotic citizens of Minnesota rise up and together show us the way forward. But, this weekend . . . it can't end soon enough for me. I just hope the Dems can get their act together. There will be an enormous amount of legislation to be enacted to ensure this never happens again!
That wretched vile cruel monster in residence in the White House has taken the joy out of everything! Damn him anyway.
Great piece. We were just talking the other day about how despite massive turmoil and upheaval at the time (Vietnam, Watergate, etc.), the bicentennial was a much bigger celebration that was embraced throughout our diverse and divided country. I was 19 at the time, and there seemed to be a universal pride in America - and a willingness to tell and accept the good and the bad in our founding and history. That pride and willingness are now gone. I probably won't be here for the 275th, but I hope we can regain what we've lost and make progress again towards being a more perfect union.
I have to agree with the prior comments: you have articulated so well what many of us are thinking and your ability to encapsulate a country's feelings and thoughts is just amazing. Many of us are just so blase about this 4th of July but hate to admit it for fear we'll be thought of as "anti-patriotic", especially if we're Democrats. What we see from Washington is superficial, corrupt, and without soul.
Well said
Jon Meacham also points to the Voting Rights Act of 1964 as the beginning of our inclusive democracy.
Well stated!
Great piece, Chuck. I must admit that I thought Covid would be this transformation point because it exposed so many of the cracks in American society. I hope you’re right about this moment being a clarifying event to get real change to come and move us forward.