THANK YOU, ROBERT AND CITIZENS OF CANADA FOR YOUR GENEROSITY AND CONCERN. Know ----the sane US citizens love our neighbors to the north!!! Sherra Arkansas USA
There’s a poem by Kenneth Patchen whose title applies today : Hallelujah Anyway! Because, as my father once told me, if you don’t love someone “anyway” you don’t really love them. The same goes for this country
This captures my feelings as well. But this also provides needed perspective and gratitude for our democracy, and all the sacrifices made for our country. As well, inspiration for our better angels, not falling to the darker forces unleashed by this fascist regime.
Elliot, this post describes my sentiments and sadness most of us feel as we drudge through this day of celebration!!! So much history of shameful disgrace and so much history of honor and pride. But with this recent period of mega wealth buying power to create an insurrection, acts of treason, hate, division, lawlessness to undermine and destroy our Democracy and honor, is sad indeed. BUT. I WILL CELEBRATE THIS DAY TO HONOR ALL THE GOOD AND DECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS "WE THE PEOPLE" HAVE GIVEN TO OUR WORLD COMMUNITY AND DO IT WITH PRIDE AND JOY!!!!! AMERICA CELEBRATE WITH GUSTO---WE HAVE NOT LOST THE BATTLE AND WE ARE STILL THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA----- A DEMOCRACY OF CARING AND SHARING CITIZENS!!!!!
Thank you, Elliot, for so ably expressing the mix of emotions that so many of us are feeling this 4th of July. It brought to mind the similar mix of feelings that I felt as a young teen, in the late 1960's and early 1970's.
I have also been reflecting about relatively recent times that filled me with hope--during Obama and Biden's administrations. They weren't perfect, but so much good happened during their presidencies. I pray that we can turn the country towards a new era of progress, beginning with the midterms.
My friend said this day feels like we are grieving the passing of a beloved friend. I replied she isn’t dead. She is being held hostage until we free her.
Sadness has been my primary feeling today and so I feel affirmed reading today's missive. This morning, I posted Langston Hughes' poem "Make America America Again" on FB. It underlines, for me, the fact that the struggle to make the dream real has always been there, that my privileges as a white, middle class, educated woman are not experienced by so many of my neighbors and fellow Americans. But, as you state, this particular 4th of July is particularly sad because of the sad state we are in. We slid way way back in our "Chutes and Ladders" game and we have no choice but to pick up the dice and keep playing. I refuse to stand up and knock the game to the floor, as much as I sometimes feel like it.
My Italian grandparents thought they had died and gone to heaven when they escaped the Lower East Side for the Bronx in the 1920s. One of my daughters bought a condo on Ludlow Street ( also LES)in the 2000s and I marveled at how things had changed and how amused my grandparents would have been to see that. I read Mamdani’s speech and Trump’s unfortunate speech in South Dakota and there it was. The abyss between those 2 men is too deep to be bridged by our good thoughts and belief that all will be better if we work hard and get out the vote in November. I was horrified by Trump’s first inaugural speech in 2017. I had read or heard many inaugural speeches but never one so ominous and ill willed as his. He outdid himself at Mt. Rushmore. He and his millions of adherents just do not get it, have never gotten it and never will. They are wired differently. I read their comments and the things they post and believe and I do not see reconciliation, only retribution ahead. I lived through the first Red Scare. It really was not as tidy as the movies would have you believe. My own father was a McCarthy fan but I was in the midst of a junior high through college experience in the CUNY system where professors and teachers were escorted out of classrooms and fired for their previous experience with the American Communist Party in the 30s when Americans had gone to fight in Spain in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade for the Spanish Republic against Francisco Franco. I look at comments from the VP saying Watergate was not a big deal and would have been nothing today andI know if we are not successful in November we truly are doomed. I wonder how intact I will be by November as I have never seen anything like this.
We seemed to have lost so much of our liberty under today's regime that this year, I really don't feel like celebrating. I think we will celebrate when we lose this regime and begin to heal and can again feel like Americans.
I’m enjoying watching the tall ships because “the mouth” isn’t present, just “mini hand puppet” has to have a little air time. I’m typing this as it spews. God Bless the good and decent Americans of which outnumber the detractors. Celebrate and try not to think of them. Happy birthday America 🇺🇸❤️🧨🎆🎸
I am celebrating the fact that several days ago the first active duty Air Force Major Watson had the courage to risk it all for the greater good in attempt to help save our democracy, which is absolutely on life support. This was the only glimmer of hope I’ve had for 6 months. We must demand Congress do their job - file and demand a vote on articles of impeachment. Remove the regime.
Happy 4th. And Canada is sending 250 MapleTrees. Who knows what he will do with them.
THANK YOU, ROBERT AND CITIZENS OF CANADA FOR YOUR GENEROSITY AND CONCERN. Know ----the sane US citizens love our neighbors to the north!!! Sherra Arkansas USA
There’s a poem by Kenneth Patchen whose title applies today : Hallelujah Anyway! Because, as my father once told me, if you don’t love someone “anyway” you don’t really love them. The same goes for this country
So Happy 4th , anyway.
This captures my feelings as well. But this also provides needed perspective and gratitude for our democracy, and all the sacrifices made for our country. As well, inspiration for our better angels, not falling to the darker forces unleashed by this fascist regime.
Elliot, this post describes my sentiments and sadness most of us feel as we drudge through this day of celebration!!! So much history of shameful disgrace and so much history of honor and pride. But with this recent period of mega wealth buying power to create an insurrection, acts of treason, hate, division, lawlessness to undermine and destroy our Democracy and honor, is sad indeed. BUT. I WILL CELEBRATE THIS DAY TO HONOR ALL THE GOOD AND DECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS "WE THE PEOPLE" HAVE GIVEN TO OUR WORLD COMMUNITY AND DO IT WITH PRIDE AND JOY!!!!! AMERICA CELEBRATE WITH GUSTO---WE HAVE NOT LOST THE BATTLE AND WE ARE STILL THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA----- A DEMOCRACY OF CARING AND SHARING CITIZENS!!!!!
“Perhaps our progress was more illusory than we would like to think, more fragile than we would have believed…”
Thank you, Elliot, for so ably expressing the mix of emotions that so many of us are feeling this 4th of July. It brought to mind the similar mix of feelings that I felt as a young teen, in the late 1960's and early 1970's.
I have also been reflecting about relatively recent times that filled me with hope--during Obama and Biden's administrations. They weren't perfect, but so much good happened during their presidencies. I pray that we can turn the country towards a new era of progress, beginning with the midterms.
I cling to the hope of better birthdays to come and will not give way to despair. Thank you for the perspective and thoughtful words.
Thank you for this thoughtful and helpful writing. Looking forward to your next film.
My friend said this day feels like we are grieving the passing of a beloved friend. I replied she isn’t dead. She is being held hostage until we free her.
Sadness has been my primary feeling today and so I feel affirmed reading today's missive. This morning, I posted Langston Hughes' poem "Make America America Again" on FB. It underlines, for me, the fact that the struggle to make the dream real has always been there, that my privileges as a white, middle class, educated woman are not experienced by so many of my neighbors and fellow Americans. But, as you state, this particular 4th of July is particularly sad because of the sad state we are in. We slid way way back in our "Chutes and Ladders" game and we have no choice but to pick up the dice and keep playing. I refuse to stand up and knock the game to the floor, as much as I sometimes feel like it.
My Italian grandparents thought they had died and gone to heaven when they escaped the Lower East Side for the Bronx in the 1920s. One of my daughters bought a condo on Ludlow Street ( also LES)in the 2000s and I marveled at how things had changed and how amused my grandparents would have been to see that. I read Mamdani’s speech and Trump’s unfortunate speech in South Dakota and there it was. The abyss between those 2 men is too deep to be bridged by our good thoughts and belief that all will be better if we work hard and get out the vote in November. I was horrified by Trump’s first inaugural speech in 2017. I had read or heard many inaugural speeches but never one so ominous and ill willed as his. He outdid himself at Mt. Rushmore. He and his millions of adherents just do not get it, have never gotten it and never will. They are wired differently. I read their comments and the things they post and believe and I do not see reconciliation, only retribution ahead. I lived through the first Red Scare. It really was not as tidy as the movies would have you believe. My own father was a McCarthy fan but I was in the midst of a junior high through college experience in the CUNY system where professors and teachers were escorted out of classrooms and fired for their previous experience with the American Communist Party in the 30s when Americans had gone to fight in Spain in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade for the Spanish Republic against Francisco Franco. I look at comments from the VP saying Watergate was not a big deal and would have been nothing today andI know if we are not successful in November we truly are doomed. I wonder how intact I will be by November as I have never seen anything like this.
We seemed to have lost so much of our liberty under today's regime that this year, I really don't feel like celebrating. I think we will celebrate when we lose this regime and begin to heal and can again feel like Americans.
I’m enjoying watching the tall ships because “the mouth” isn’t present, just “mini hand puppet” has to have a little air time. I’m typing this as it spews. God Bless the good and decent Americans of which outnumber the detractors. Celebrate and try not to think of them. Happy birthday America 🇺🇸❤️🧨🎆🎸
I want to wear a black armband today. :(
Thanks and Happy Fourth. Anyway!
Not yet never great, doesn’t rule out good-er. Hopeful because we can stay
Hungry for the promise; angry agitated and with clear thought…activated
I am celebrating the fact that several days ago the first active duty Air Force Major Watson had the courage to risk it all for the greater good in attempt to help save our democracy, which is absolutely on life support. This was the only glimmer of hope I’ve had for 6 months. We must demand Congress do their job - file and demand a vote on articles of impeachment. Remove the regime.