Am I The Only One?
Not feeling enthused about America's 250th 'celebration'
Hello, Friend,
I was 12 years old in July of 1976. We lived in the Philly ‘burbs, which made America’s Bicentennial all that more exciting. Though not written as an anthem, Elton John’s Philadelphia Freedom blasted from the radio and we all sang along with enthusiasm.
“Oh, Philadelphia freedom
Shine on me, I love ya
Shine a light through the eyes of the ones left behind
Shine a light, shine the light
Shine the light, won't you shine the light?
Philadelphia freedom, I love ya.
Yes, I do!”Taupin/John
The Spirit of 1776 was everywhere and the excitement was palpable. Three cheers for the red, white, and blue! Break out the sparklers, fire up the hot dogs, start the parade!
Sure, America had yet to manifest the promise of liberty and justice for all.
But, at least for that summer, it kinda felt possible.
Flash forward to 2026 and every last ounce of fun has been sucked out of America’s 250th celebration. Having a president who can barely string a sentence together call tens of millions of Americans ‘dum’ or ‘dumm’ or ‘dum with a b’ isn’t helping rouse my enthusiasm. At least I can spell dumb. I can also spell witless, moronic, idiotic, fatuous, and ‘ass with a hat.’ Add in the ‘war’ that looks to have resulted in an abysmal ‘deal’, the gaping pit where the East Wing used to stand, the concrete erasure of Jackie’s rose garden, the curtain concealing JFK’s name on The Kennedy Center, the gaudy gilded gee-gaws glued on every surface of the People’s House, the invite only cage match spectacle on the White House lawn, the DOGE-ing of our government, the rampant and unfettered grift, increasing inflation, the specter of unregulated AI looming, the rapidly expanding surveillance state, a 14 million dollar toxic swamp being caged and drained, the kidnapping and disappearing of innocents, the mounting attacks on free speech and the free press, the vilification of immigrants, the bizarre bombing of fishing boats, the rapid rollback of rights, court sanctioned voter suppression, unchecked cruelty…and so on and so forth ad infinitum.
As I might have said back in 1976 after making a mouth popping sound with my pointer finger and twirling it while rolling my eyes, “Big whoop.”
What’s left to celebrate? We’re not the land of the free these days and the way The Department of ‘War’ and our ‘Commander in Chief’ have been acting, we’re not looking like the home of the brave either.
What should have been our joyous national celebration has devolved into a campaign rally lead by a bloviating narcissist who doesn’t have a shred of decency, an ounce of shame, or a single filter. He’ll roll out his usual list of grievances and imagined slights. He’ll hurl a litany of juvenile insults. The perpetual victim yelling gibberish at clouds, demeaning any of us who dare point out he’s no emperor and he’s naked as a jaybird.
Meh.
Will we make it to the other side of this national nightmare? If we somehow manage to do it, nothing will ever be the same. The thing that keeps me marching bravely forward is the hope that maybe we can take this opportunity to re-envision and manifest the country America has always promised it could be.
Shine a light, shine the light!
I’ve got my sparkler ready, how about you?
Dig it? Share it! Thank you.
Join The Lady Party. We have sprinklers and a modicum of enthusiasm.
Sometimes I make art.
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I remember the bicentennial well - I was lucky enough to attend a large party on a boat in the New York harbor, with a view of the Statue of Liberty, and all the tall ships from all around the world, which had sailed there for the occasion. Music, an open bar, and fireworks after dark. It was quite the celebration!
I’m definitely not feeling it this year though. Maybe if Obama had still been in office. Or if Kamala and/or Hillary had won, and the current Oval Office occupant had faded away in shame and obscurity. Maybe then.
I just painted some celebratory ornaments to mark the occasion this week, but they’re not particularly patriotic. Mice with sparklers. It was as festive as I could muster. :)
Funny, I was just thinking about this this morning And how different it feels than it did in 1976. I was thinking about all the celebrations across the United States and how excited we all were. John jakes series of books started coming out And were eagerly read by many of us. The tall ships sailed here. And July 4 was amazing that year. However, I don't feel anything but the same horror and sadness that accompanies every other day.
And yes, If Donald trump can find a way to steal even more Of the joy and pride That should a company This birthday, We all know he will.