Proud to be an American

By -
   
Today, the fourth of July in the U.S.A, is our independence day. Normally my family would pack a cooler of food, grab a few picnic blankets and head to our local firework show with the other American citizens in our city. We would be celebrating the birth of a country that did what no other country had done. It built a democracy from scratch, with no previous foundation other than a few colonies built up from British rule. Independence Day 2020 is looking very different. Most families are staying at home, I'm going to work, and the news is dominated by people who seem to want to tear our country apart. It's hard to be joyful over this day when I see people who are citizens so against the United States.
   Many of the debates circulating the media are concerned with the coming election and the treatment of minorities in the past and present. Yesterday, I saw a post that claimed no Latina/o person could possibly be happy with our country and its leader. Well, here I am, a Latina girl with immigrant parents who, if she was 18 in November, would be voting Republican. Sadly my birthday misses election day by a couple of months. Most people my age would be shocked by my political stance. "How can you be proud of a country that once treated minorities so terribly?" Well, I've seen the alternative. 
     The United States does have a history of racial issues. It did have slavery. So did every other country in the world. It had founders who owned slaves. Well, African tribes enslaved each other too and sold themselves to the Europeans. None of this to say that it was justified. It wasn't. But it was normal. And we can't erase that. It also isn't a reason to destroy America as it is now. The alternative isn't pretty, and to be honest, most if its supporters have never seen it in person. Many liberal movements have Marxist/socialist ideologies, and the events currently happening in our country are the same that happened when places like Cuba, Venezuela and others began down the same path. I've been to Cuba. My family escaped from there. 

     A country with a tainted history that has given the people freedoms to try and change it id infinitly better than a country that stomps out every semblance of liberty through force. 

 And sadly, that is what we are walking towards. As an American citizen, that terrifies me. But I am proud in a way. I am proud because I live in a country where people with radical views can voice their opinions. Not many can in the world. I am proud to live in a country where I can go to church without fear. I am proud to live in a country where liberty is still cherished. But for how much longer?
   On this fourth of July, I pray. I pray that our country will not fall away from freedom the way others have, relinquishing their liberty as if it is a horrible thing. I pray we do not destroy our history because those who wrote it were not perfect. We tend to forget 200 years from now, our descendants may do the same to us. I pray that we will not be ashamed of our country. I pray that we will see that we have been given privileges simply by living here that many do not have, and that rather than clamoring for more entitlement, more destruction, we sit back and realize the mistakes we may be making as we demand "justice". Last night, I watched the musical Hamilton. During one of the scenes, Jefferson and Hamilton (two of the founding fathers) are both trying to convince President Washington of whether or not to support the French in their revolution. Jefferson is pro, Hamilton is against. The president stands and sides with Hamilton. Jefferson protests "But sir, do we not fight for freedom?" And the president replies "Sure,when the French figure out who's gonna lead 'em." Jefferson retorts "The people are leading!" And here's where things get interesting. Washington replies:

 The people are rioting. There's a difference, frankly. It's a little disquieting you would let your ideals blind you to reality. 

      
    That statement hit home. It painted a picture of exactly what is happening right now. Democracy is not guaranteed. We could lose it at any moment unless we fight for it. Our founding fathers fought for it, knowing it was worth it. They gave us the very freedoms many use to complain and destroy. What would they say if they saw us now?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Planning Fails

By -
Image
    When I opened this tab to start writing, it began to rain outside. It still is, right now, as I stare out the window, the sky is grey and water pours over the trees and roof. This is making me think about how, later this week, my family wants to go to the beach. I immediately hope our plans won't be ruined by the rain. And that leads us to today's post.    I am most definitely a TYPE A  person. I like things planned and under control, preferably under  my  control. I make lists and schedules and set reminders on my phone. (Don't let this make you think I'm organized, I'm really not.This actually tends to balance out with the fact that I'm also extremely forgetful, a bit chaotic and I tend to misplace things all the time). So when my plans get messed up, I get a little upset. Ok, a lot upset.    There are so many examples I can give. When I finished seventh grade, and a week before eight grade started, my parents had to make the in...
Read more

Why Should I Bother?

By -
Image
    I was fifteen, sitting on the cafeteria table during a summer camp I was working. Surrounded by other volunteers and a couple of the adult teachers. My best friend, who was working the camp with me, sat on a chair below. Somehow, we had switched subjects from the hilarity of the kids we were taking care of, to politics. One of the adult teachers was from Eastern Europe, with a heavy accent and a big smile. We had grown to like him pretty well. Yet he was the leader of a group of teenagers who were advocating for socialism in America, demeaning our government, and overall just spouting wrong information. I was floored, and my best friend made eye contact as if to ask ‘should we say something?’.     It can’t be lost on anyone that we’re faced with this sort of decision often in our country. A country of free speech, of opinions and change. I love living in a place where we can defend our opinions, speak up without fear. But sometimes, I find myself and others si...
Read more

Legendary (Review: WARNING SEQUEL AND SQUEALING AHEAD)

By -
Image
   Ok, so this review is a little out of place because I never reviewed the first one but I HAD TO because I love this book so much my heart shattered and is somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic. It's Legendary by Stephanie Garber (check out the post on our IG @thepageflippers) and is the sequel to Caraval . Here's the summary you get online for both ( just so you have an idea on what the first one is about and aren't completely lost. Totally not to remind myself.) Caraval:   Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their ruthless father. Now Scarlett's father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the legendary, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over. But this year, Scarlett's long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor who she has just met, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soo...
Read more