Week 27 2024

What a strange Independence Day. When I was a kid, my room featured three bold, 7-inch tall red, white, and blue stripes that encircled the room, only broken by my name, “Dennis,” in some kind of italic, bold typeface (I need to look up what that was!). I loved the United States. I loved being a citizen. I wept at the American Adventure at EPCOT Center and was a proud Boy Scout, ready to serve fellow Americans and anyone in need. I had such hope in democracy and freedom for all people.

Today, my “all” people includes even more people than when I was seven. I’m concerned, though, that not all people are listening to all the other people. People with different ideologies and positions too often refuse to listen to others—to consider different viewpoints and respect others even though they disagree. I still believe in the hope of our country, but I don’t think it can last if we keep calling one another names, blaming each other, and refusing to listen. Rhetoric like “fight for America” requires an enemy. To fight, you must have someone or something to fight against. In today’s social climate, opposition, not collaboration, is the default.

I love(d?) the United States because it is a partnership of states that symbolizes working together despite our differences. We’ll all look up at the same fireworks tonight. I wish we could look at one another as co-builders of a place where everyone is free and has what they need. I’m working toward that goal. I hope you will, too.