Some people have been hard at work making lovely short videos to celebrate. Heather Cox Richardson shared some of them. I hope the good will outweigh the crass bully and his underlings.
But Kathy, we’re not celebrating the current debacle. Have you watched the videos? They cover a wide range of historical events. People everywhere are fighting back and resisting this attempted takeover. Sanity will prevail.
I read her every night, listen to her interviews, listen to her T/T chats, listen to her Saturday morning podcast, and I been paying attention to her latest posts about history.
I’m my opinion, we do NOT need to be celebrating our country as it current is. We do not need a bbq, a parade, a day at the lake - we need to reclaim our country
Another thought: In Stephen Colbert’s LAST show he & other luminaries CELEBRATED almost wildly … to do a hang-dog final version wd have been Trump’s triumph.
I'm an old Jewish widow, retired US History teacher, in the West San Fernando Valley (LA,CA) who has been active in my community and Democratic politics for years. I remember as a kid putting HST bumper stickers on cars and listening to Helen Gahagan Douglas speak at a Kern County Democratic picnic. Got it? I'm more than appalled with the current administration so love your idea of postponing a celebration until our democracy has been restored as well as voting rights and reproductive freedom.
Thanks for the opportunity to vent as nobody bothers to ask MY opinion!
Susan, I want to hear your opinion. Every voice that wants to fight for democracy matters, I say vent away, email the DNC, all of your representatives state and federal, resurrect Alice Paul energy, or if you are a Fried Green Tomatoes book fan, its time for all of us to activate our inner Tawandas!
I do vent and channel my inner Alice Paul as an active member of the League of Women Voters in Greater Los Angeles! I constantly email my members of Congress as well as my State legislators. I've not read Fried Green Tomatoes but ate them for the first time at the Sweet Potato Cafe in Stone Mountain, Georgia. (That was a cultural experience for this native Californian.)
Thanks for taking the time to reach out. I appreciate it so much. Cheers...Susan
Susan, I grew up in Chatsworth, in a Jewish family, and I retired from my career in teaching 7 years ago. We have a lot in common!
My family moved to Tucson while I was in college, so Chatsworth is mostly a distant memory for me. I ended up living in Tucson eventually too. Most recently, my husband and I moved to the Pacific Northwest to be near our children and grandchildren.
I agree that we should consider postponing the REAL celebration of our independence only when we regain the country and make it sane again… We have a lot of work to do!
Perhaps Independence Day II could feature Bruce Springsteen as a headliner, instead of the motley crew of obsolete acts featured in Trump's lineup. I would throw in Green Day, who anticipated Trump with their album American Idiot.
No Kings the 2nd anniversary on 6/14 will be our gathering (I'm expecting some UFC themed signs!), and we can celebrate the opening of the Obama Presidential Library on 6/19 (Juneteenth!). In fact, if you're in or can get to Chicago there is a multi-day celebration/dedication that should be great! In fact, maybe Juneteenth is a better celebration than July 4th anyway. It's the first day the country took a baby step toward making "all men are created equal" something other than a lie. So we can go high on 6/19 while they go low on all the other days. I expect the prize winner to have a deep mud wallow at the not-a-state fair!
maybe its time to celebrate , Juneteenth an official U.S. federal holiday. Also known as Juneteenth National Independence Day or Emancipation Day, as a bigger celebration for the democratization of America, and we can all be quiet for trumps birthday takeover of the July date.
Bruce, Jane Fonda, Patti Smith, Bette Midler, Rufus Wainwright concert and protest 6/14 in New York. Keep your eyes peeled for streaming info if you're not in the Big Apple!
Such a heartfelt and thought provoking article. Filled with such sadness and regret.
All because of one truly miserable, pathetic and evil individual. At this point the only thing people can cling to is that there is always, always hope for a better and brighter future.
Hope that despite the negative influence of the current "world leader" that it will indeed turn out to be a great and joyful celebration.
I agree that a celebration seems wrong, given the state of our union. But an anniversary is a good time to take stock so there should be some way to acknowledge what we had, what we have lost, and what we can still attain. When we finally get rid of these crooks no one will be able to stop us from dancing in the streets. But there’s a lot of work to do before we get to hear that music.
Yes…completely agreed. I am in no celebratory mood right now. I was thinking about exactly where I was and what I was doing the day we turned 200, and hoping I would live to see this one. But I will not celebrate loss. I will mourn it, but will not celebrate it. Big difference. Let’s pull back until we DO have something to celebrate. But first, we have a fight ahead of us and we need to vigilantly defend democracy…just like our forefathers did. The torch has passed, and we are the ones it has been passed to. We are ordinary people, but there are heroes among us who will rise and stand for what is right over what is profitable. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it. And then, let’s throw ourselves a party.
There are a number of events that could serve as our birthday: the Declaration of Independence, the surrender of the British after the Revolutionary War, ratifying the Constitution. Any of those--or all of them--will do. Trump is trashing the first, so let's move on. Rain dates, as it were. 😉
I agree with postponement. If we were ready to celebrate there would be activities brewing in every locale. People would be excited. And I am not in agreement with a traditional celebration until we have made reparations to the disenfranchised people in this land. Black and Native people aren't thrilled with July 4th let alone this.
I remember going to a huge parade in Morristown, NJ for our country's 200th birthday. Everyone was celebrating, clapping for and saluting soldiers, and having a wonderful time with hope for our future. Yes, we should have a celebration when we remove the fascists from our government.
Some people have been hard at work making lovely short videos to celebrate. Heather Cox Richardson shared some of them. I hope the good will outweigh the crass bully and his underlings.
Katherine, I am glad you pointed these out. They are wonderful and a great way to celebrate.
I follow HCR religiously but to celebrate something that has fallen apart, that no longer exists that is an embarrassment is a travesty.
But Kathy, we’re not celebrating the current debacle. Have you watched the videos? They cover a wide range of historical events. People everywhere are fighting back and resisting this attempted takeover. Sanity will prevail.
I read her every night, listen to her interviews, listen to her T/T chats, listen to her Saturday morning podcast, and I been paying attention to her latest posts about history.
I’m my opinion, we do NOT need to be celebrating our country as it current is. We do not need a bbq, a parade, a day at the lake - we need to reclaim our country
Celebrating gives him the power
Another thought: In Stephen Colbert’s LAST show he & other luminaries CELEBRATED almost wildly … to do a hang-dog final version wd have been Trump’s triumph.
I'm an old Jewish widow, retired US History teacher, in the West San Fernando Valley (LA,CA) who has been active in my community and Democratic politics for years. I remember as a kid putting HST bumper stickers on cars and listening to Helen Gahagan Douglas speak at a Kern County Democratic picnic. Got it? I'm more than appalled with the current administration so love your idea of postponing a celebration until our democracy has been restored as well as voting rights and reproductive freedom.
Thanks for the opportunity to vent as nobody bothers to ask MY opinion!
Susan Strauss Strickland
Susan, I want to hear your opinion. Every voice that wants to fight for democracy matters, I say vent away, email the DNC, all of your representatives state and federal, resurrect Alice Paul energy, or if you are a Fried Green Tomatoes book fan, its time for all of us to activate our inner Tawandas!
I do vent and channel my inner Alice Paul as an active member of the League of Women Voters in Greater Los Angeles! I constantly email my members of Congress as well as my State legislators. I've not read Fried Green Tomatoes but ate them for the first time at the Sweet Potato Cafe in Stone Mountain, Georgia. (That was a cultural experience for this native Californian.)
Thanks for taking the time to reach out. I appreciate it so much. Cheers...Susan
you cn warch the movie on Netflix now - I hope you enjoy it
Susan, Got it!!! And thanks!
Susan, I grew up in Chatsworth, in a Jewish family, and I retired from my career in teaching 7 years ago. We have a lot in common!
My family moved to Tucson while I was in college, so Chatsworth is mostly a distant memory for me. I ended up living in Tucson eventually too. Most recently, my husband and I moved to the Pacific Northwest to be near our children and grandchildren.
I agree that we should consider postponing the REAL celebration of our independence only when we regain the country and make it sane again… We have a lot of work to do!
Perhaps Independence Day II could feature Bruce Springsteen as a headliner, instead of the motley crew of obsolete acts featured in Trump's lineup. I would throw in Green Day, who anticipated Trump with their album American Idiot.
No Kings the 2nd anniversary on 6/14 will be our gathering (I'm expecting some UFC themed signs!), and we can celebrate the opening of the Obama Presidential Library on 6/19 (Juneteenth!). In fact, if you're in or can get to Chicago there is a multi-day celebration/dedication that should be great! In fact, maybe Juneteenth is a better celebration than July 4th anyway. It's the first day the country took a baby step toward making "all men are created equal" something other than a lie. So we can go high on 6/19 while they go low on all the other days. I expect the prize winner to have a deep mud wallow at the not-a-state fair!
maybe its time to celebrate , Juneteenth an official U.S. federal holiday. Also known as Juneteenth National Independence Day or Emancipation Day, as a bigger celebration for the democratization of America, and we can all be quiet for trumps birthday takeover of the July date.
Excellent idea. Let’s wait til we actually have something to celebrate—the survival of our democracy for example.
Bruce, Jane Fonda, Patti Smith, Bette Midler, Rufus Wainwright concert and protest 6/14 in New York. Keep your eyes peeled for streaming info if you're not in the Big Apple!
Such a heartfelt and thought provoking article. Filled with such sadness and regret.
All because of one truly miserable, pathetic and evil individual. At this point the only thing people can cling to is that there is always, always hope for a better and brighter future.
Hope that despite the negative influence of the current "world leader" that it will indeed turn out to be a great and joyful celebration.
I agree that a celebration seems wrong, given the state of our union. But an anniversary is a good time to take stock so there should be some way to acknowledge what we had, what we have lost, and what we can still attain. When we finally get rid of these crooks no one will be able to stop us from dancing in the streets. But there’s a lot of work to do before we get to hear that music.
I like the idea of silence on July 4th, but great resounding voices on 6/14 and 6/19.
Yes…completely agreed. I am in no celebratory mood right now. I was thinking about exactly where I was and what I was doing the day we turned 200, and hoping I would live to see this one. But I will not celebrate loss. I will mourn it, but will not celebrate it. Big difference. Let’s pull back until we DO have something to celebrate. But first, we have a fight ahead of us and we need to vigilantly defend democracy…just like our forefathers did. The torch has passed, and we are the ones it has been passed to. We are ordinary people, but there are heroes among us who will rise and stand for what is right over what is profitable. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it. And then, let’s throw ourselves a party.
Great writing, Elliot. I needed that.
maybe we should all hang out black bunting on 7/4.
Postpone until Trump is in prison and we can have a real celebration.
There are a number of events that could serve as our birthday: the Declaration of Independence, the surrender of the British after the Revolutionary War, ratifying the Constitution. Any of those--or all of them--will do. Trump is trashing the first, so let's move on. Rain dates, as it were. 😉
How can we feel good about celebrating the 250th when we have a " Nazi" president.
I agree with postponement. If we were ready to celebrate there would be activities brewing in every locale. People would be excited. And I am not in agreement with a traditional celebration until we have made reparations to the disenfranchised people in this land. Black and Native people aren't thrilled with July 4th let alone this.
I vote to postpone
I remember going to a huge parade in Morristown, NJ for our country's 200th birthday. Everyone was celebrating, clapping for and saluting soldiers, and having a wonderful time with hope for our future. Yes, we should have a celebration when we remove the fascists from our government.
What a great idea! Thanks!