July 5, 20179 yr Saw something on Twitter last night and then chased it down the rabbit hole to just read what everyone was saying. Had no idea that this was a thing and that there were so many people out there that refused to celebrate/honor 4th of July. A lot of it seemed to stem from the fact that slavery still existed, so they didn't have their independence. Others stemmed from women not having equal rights at the time. A few started diving into police brutality and how they refused to celebrate a holiday when white males came in and took land from the indigenous people. Thought some of it was interesting, especially regarding many of the posts by African-Americans and their thoughts about the holiday. But all noted that they were still going to enjoy the good BBQ and time with family.
July 5, 20179 yr Maybe not as horrific as slavery or the atrocities committed against the Native Americans, but we can all identify something in our nation's history that we are not proud of and get "offended" by. I guess it is all in how you view it, but celebrating Independence Day is not celebrating what existed in 1776, it is what we have been able to become as a nation since 1776.
July 5, 20179 yr Not a new sentiment. And there are definitely some legitimate grievances in there. For the best historical perspective on it, check out Frederick Douglass' 1852 speech, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" My argument to that is that the introduction and preamble to the Declaration represent an aspirational ideal. It's something to which we constantly strive and that desire, ingrained in the American experiment, to constantly try and do better -- to BE better -- is itself worth celebrating.
July 5, 20179 yr Author Relatedly, I wonder how many know of/celebrate Juneteenth. I saw this referenced a few times last night while I was exploring. I'll admit, I had to look up what it was.
July 5, 20179 yr I think Phil Klay said it better than I could (but you have to read the whole Tweet thread.) Twitter The whole debate reminds me of another Frederick Douglass quote, "He is a lover of his country who rebukes and does not excuse its sins. It is righteousness that exalteth a nation while sin is a reproach to any people."
July 5, 20179 yr I think Phil Klay said it better than I could (but you have to read the whole Tweet thread.) Twitter The whole debate reminds me of another Frederick Douglass quote, "He is a lover of his country who rebukes and does not excuse its sins. It is righteousness that exalteth a nation while sin is a reproach to any people." I've said many times that I take issue with the"love it or leave it" crowd. More of a "love it and try to make it better" guy myself.
July 5, 20179 yr Relatedly, I wonder how many know of/celebrate Juneteenth. I've known about it for a while. There are quite a few people I went to school with in Ashland that celebrate it rather than Independence day.
July 5, 20179 yr I'd get deactivated, suspended , kicked out , and many other things if I said what I think about those that refuse to celebrate the 4th and promote juneteenth .
July 5, 20179 yr I think Phil Klay said it better than I could (but you have to read the whole Tweet thread.) Twitter The whole debate reminds me of another Frederick Douglass quote, "He is a lover of his country who rebukes and does not excuse its sins. It is righteousness that exalteth a nation while sin is a reproach to any people." That thread is really, really good.
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