Celebrating Independence Day with Mixed Emotions 🌟🗽 🇺🇸
I’m celebrating with mixed emotions this year, but I’m committed to ensuring a future to believe in for all. 🌈
Hello fellow travelers, revolutionary heroes, and freedom fighters,
This year, as I prepare to celebrate the annual holiday, I find myself reflecting on the significance of Independence Day. It’s a time to remember the ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that our nation was built upon. But it’s also a time to acknowledge the challenges we face in preserving these ideals.
In this moment, there are no guarantees regarding the state of democracy and freedoms in our community, our country, and our world. However, I remain an optimist. I will continue to listen, learn, and lead to a positive, resilient, and sustainable future to believe in for all.
Declaration of Independence
As a child, I was captivated by the history of the Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776. One memorable summer in Denver, my friends and I staged a play set in colonial Philadelphia, with roles for key figures like Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams.
Later, in seventh grade, I studied the Constitution through a dynamic classroom experience that involved teams and competitive brackets. As I grew older, my belief in our democracy remained strong, and I enjoyed many Fourth of July celebration traditions.
However, adulthood brought deeper insights. Beyond what I learned in school, I read history books and discovered stories untold—the battles for liberty, from Juneteenth to Women’s Right to Vote, Civil Rights, and LGBTQ+ rights. These revelations made me realize how much I still had to learn about our shared past.
Our pursuit of progress, a journey spanning centuries, must continue today and into the future.
Celebration Time
Even now when everything we love is on the line, it is important to celebrate our victories, spend time with our family and friends, and rest, restore, and renew to be ready for the continued fight to follow.
Our independence isn’t merely a historical event; it’s a living testament to the resilience and determination of our nation. From the original Declaration of Independence to the emancipation of slaves and all the hard-fought freedoms secured over the years, each victory is precious.
In 2024, our independence is more important than ever. We do not want a monarchy, we need our democracy. We must continue to fight for it, ensuring that the liberties, laws, and love for our values are preserved for future generations.
So, please take time to celebrate. Celebrate at local Fourth of July parades, pancake breakfasts, community gatherings, family backyard barbeques, concerts, music festivals, fireworks, or drone light shows. Music, particularly blues, often plays a significant role in the celebrations. Let us celebrate our precious freedoms, rights, and responsibilities together.
But the celebrations need not be limited to traditional fireworks. There are safer and more environmentally friendly alternatives. For instance, many cities including Lake Oswego, Oregon City, Wilsonville, and Tigard, will use drones to offer a spectacular display without the fire danger or the noise impact on dogs, bees, and other living creatures. It’s a reminder that we can celebrate our independence while respecting and protecting our natural world.
How will you celebrate?
Preserving a Future to Believe in for All
After we celebrate, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get back to work to create a future to believe in for all. I am committed to voting, volunteering, and advocating for candidates, campaigns, and causes that serve us and sustain a better tomorrow.
Ready, Set, Go! There is much work to do to encourage people to vote for everything we love in our communities, states, and country. There is work to do to provide solutions to problems that are important to us. Work is needed to sustain our movement, our planet, and our future.
As an optimist, I’ll continue doing whatever I can today, tomorrow, and beyond to safeguard our freedoms, rights, and privileges. We—the people—hold immense power, and we must not lose faith in our potential for positive change.
The Fourth of July isn’t just about fireworks and barbecues; it’s a moment to renew our spirit, determination, and dedication. Let’s honor the promise of the original Declaration of Independence and stand alongside all those who’ve fought for freedom—both in our country and around the world.
Please join me, celebrate, stay safe, and continue our journey together.