Happy 4th of July! (Belated)
As I sat on the mall watching the fireworks, playing spades with my girlfriends and conversing with tourists, a bittersweet taste was in my mouth. My mind ran across this quote by Frederick Douglass:
"What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July? I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciation of tyrants, brass-fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are, to Him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy-a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation of savages. There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States at this very hour."
-Frederick Douglass
For those of us who are so enlightened to see what is actually going on in this country, they can see the validity in Douglass' quote. The term "American slave" could mean so many things. One could replace it with "military personnel", "inhabitants of a war torn Iraq", "Europeans", even "American citizens." All of us, regardless of race, religion, gender and socioeconomic standing are enslaved in someway by America. It?s just not fair. (Sidebar: Who said life was "fair" though?)
Don't get it twisted, I really like my country. (Sidebar: I wouldn't fight for it in war, but I am not a military person. I send shout outs and love/respect/appreciation for those in the military.) Despite its flaws, the United States of America is a pretty good place to be. In my opinion, it is just not as good as it proclaims itself to be.
Since the country has set itself on a pedestal, certain things just should not occur. Our literacy percentage should be higher. Everyone should have access to quality education and healthcare. The economic and social infrastructure should not be in shambles. If other countries have these things and America is supposed to be the best of the best, our country set the standard for these basic rights. Let's hope that one day our country gets it together to uphold the humanistic and moral ideals on which this country was founded.
I send my love and prayers to all of those in the military as well as those who have been affected by America.
(Sidebar: I have my answer...now I know what to do)
"What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July? I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciation of tyrants, brass-fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are, to Him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy-a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation of savages. There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States at this very hour."
-Frederick Douglass
For those of us who are so enlightened to see what is actually going on in this country, they can see the validity in Douglass' quote. The term "American slave" could mean so many things. One could replace it with "military personnel", "inhabitants of a war torn Iraq", "Europeans", even "American citizens." All of us, regardless of race, religion, gender and socioeconomic standing are enslaved in someway by America. It?s just not fair. (Sidebar: Who said life was "fair" though?)
Don't get it twisted, I really like my country. (Sidebar: I wouldn't fight for it in war, but I am not a military person. I send shout outs and love/respect/appreciation for those in the military.) Despite its flaws, the United States of America is a pretty good place to be. In my opinion, it is just not as good as it proclaims itself to be.
Since the country has set itself on a pedestal, certain things just should not occur. Our literacy percentage should be higher. Everyone should have access to quality education and healthcare. The economic and social infrastructure should not be in shambles. If other countries have these things and America is supposed to be the best of the best, our country set the standard for these basic rights. Let's hope that one day our country gets it together to uphold the humanistic and moral ideals on which this country was founded.
I send my love and prayers to all of those in the military as well as those who have been affected by America.
(Sidebar: I have my answer...now I know what to do)
posted by SdotK at 11:00 AM
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