Over my entire lifetime July 4 has been a special day. Not this year. As a kid, it was the fireworks, parades, and special events on television. As an adult, instead of confidence that we’ll continue to strive, and eventually reach, the ideals this celebration promotes, I now have grave doubts.
Today, I’m haunted by images of USAID food being purposefully withheld from those in desperate need, skilled and competent, experienced women and people of color being fired without justification from our armed forces, masked ICE agents swarming our communities and killing at least two citizens without being held responsible, individuals and families being detained under inhumane conditions and deported without due process of law, and the truths of our historical experiences being scrubbed to avoid acknowledging our mistakes and pointing at efforts still needed to create a just society.
Bulldozing the White House and hosting cage fighting while being unable to mount a true countrywide celebration of July 4 just added to the ick-factor. These actions by my government demand persistent action from now until the mid-term elections so I can again look forward to July 4 as a celebration of serious efforts to reach our potential of “justice for all.”
Larry Cervelli
West Chesterfield