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Independence Day
8 years ago
General
Well, it happened on July 4th, 1776 (Traditionally. That is why the Declaration has the words, “IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776,” at its top, because that is the day the approved last version was signed in Philadelphia).
Happy Independence Day! (it's REAL name). It's a time when we, as Americans, can look back at the rebellion from the King of England back in 1776. When we proclaims our INDEPENDENCE which did not happen right away, by the way.
We are a country of Immigrants, all of us. Even with the land bridge from Russia many millennia ago when this land's Native Ancestors first came to the North American continent. America truly is the "melting pot" of all peoples, and no one has the right to say whose nationality can come in and whose nationality needs to leave.
"The New Colossus" (also known as the Statue of Liberty, Lady Liberty, The Torch Bearer, Mother of Exiles) has a plaque at her feet which reads:
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Dineegla
...and now more than ever it is time to let these words and their meaning soak in.
Happy Independence Day! (it's REAL name). It's a time when we, as Americans, can look back at the rebellion from the King of England back in 1776. When we proclaims our INDEPENDENCE which did not happen right away, by the way.
We are a country of Immigrants, all of us. Even with the land bridge from Russia many millennia ago when this land's Native Ancestors first came to the North American continent. America truly is the "melting pot" of all peoples, and no one has the right to say whose nationality can come in and whose nationality needs to leave.
"The New Colossus" (also known as the Statue of Liberty, Lady Liberty, The Torch Bearer, Mother of Exiles) has a plaque at her feet which reads:
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Dineegla
...and now more than ever it is time to let these words and their meaning soak in.
Now it seems like it's almost become a virtue to be cruel to others, as if it's some sort of victory over the "evils" of 'political correctness'. Mistrust has been allowed to take root and hatred for 'the other' seems to rule the day. The 'pull yourself up by your own bootstraps' party has become the one to place blame on the outsider for lack of a job, or the rise in crime. It's only called "terrorism" if the melanin present is two shades darker than lily white.
The mistrust was always just under the surface, but now it has a life of its own, not just given permission, but in every conceivable way, empowered by an ill-prepared, vengeful person who is currently installed in this nation's highest office.
Though the nightmare continues at present, we can come back to these truths, read them not only to ourselves, but read them to each other. Not just commit them to memory, but let their roots go deep, into our innermost core. Remembering what is most important, treating them like they are "all" and remembering that there have been other dark times this country has endured, and emerged from.