Happy Fourth of July?
In this time when everything seems to be political, of course the thoughts around celebrating today are political. My thoughts around the day are complicated. From patriotic displays to the last boom of the fireworks, there are things to love and hate about how we do this thing.
The first problem this year is that it is midweek. Some of us still have to get up in the morning to go to work. So many of the celebrations revolve around the big fireworks show and then the drive home in traffic. Just isn't worth it to this old lady.
I wonder how much that was a part in not seeing fireworks very often as a kid. I don't think that so many cities started doing their own displays until the '70's or '80's. Living in Topanga Canyon, the nearest display for us was off the Santa Monica pier. I think we did it a couple of times. The viewing place was Palisades Park that runs along the cliff top overlooking the beach. I really only have one clear memory of doing this, and the last time we did it.
I was around 11 or 12; the year I was into making iced tea and adding a bit of mint flavoring to the pitcher. I helped my mom make a picnic of several different kind of sandwiches. I think we did tuna and maybe baloney. There is also a chance my mom made some of her favorite peanut butter and mayonnaise. It certainly wasn't fancy or special, and not cookout food. We took some fruit, small bags of chips, and a jug of my mint tea. We lucked out, finding an open bench on the point that suck out on the pier end of the long, narrow park. We ate our picnic, watched the show, and went home. No parade or music, and more importantly, no big arguments.
But my family tended to keep celebrations low key, so I don't know if this was the norm of the time. I do know that as I was raising my kids, we often sought out bigger displays, threw fancier picnics. I loved the years we went to the annual display at Tustin High. I love singing the Star Spangled Banner, in our best and fullest voices, with my daughter.
But we can't ignore the problems in our country. This year, many people are protesting instead of celebrating. It is so hard to find that place of pride right now. How can we possibly celebrate a country where children are being imprisoned, where race and gender based discrimination and violence seems to increase every day, and, well, you know, you know. From the old homeless vet being spit on for sitting in public, to 45's big military show because he likes how the communist countries do it.
But I can't say that I grew up in a less problematic time. The "good old days" of the 50's and 60's were a time of racism, sexism, Vietnam, and protests against all those things. And like today, the old white men were in charge and willing to kill to keep it that way. And yet we celebrated.
Because it isn't about the reality, it is about the ideals of freedom, of overcoming against the odds. It is about our origin story of standing up against oppressors to create a nation where all have the human rights of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" no matter how poorly we have done over the years in granting them equally. It is about remembering our core values and trying to do better.
So I have to get up at 4:45 in my morning and go to work. I'm staying in this evening, trying to go to bed at my usual time. My celebration of this day will be quiet and personal. But I will celebrate. At some point I will most likely stand up and sing the Star Spangled Banner. I may cry a bit and have a little talk with God. But I will celebrate the only thing I can celebrate, hope.
Stories have power. We are defined and guided by the stories we tell, by our facts and our myths. We set our priorities by the stories we cling to and pass on. Our national story of freedom and equality continues to matter, no matter how often we fail. Because the other part of that narrative that we need to hold tight to is this; we stand up for what is right and we don't give up.
However you celebrate today, I wish you joy in it. Think about how you will stand up for what is right so that we can all continue to celebrate together.
