This Fourth of July Feels Like New Year’s Eve

I used to love July 4th as a child: cookouts, big family get togethers, sparklers, and fireworks. I was brought up to love my country. I was proud to be an American. My parents were first generation Italian American. They never took it for granted their parents left Italy for a better life in the USA. We were Americans!!

I am a Patriot. It used to drive me bananas when my students would repeat The Pledge of Allegiance every day slouching or mouthing the words. There was a reason The Pledge was said in American schools. It was to remember what our forefathers died for: freedom from tyranny with a voice in government -certain civil liberties must be revered . These men came together to create a system of checks and balances between the executive, judicial, and legislative branches.

I read my fifth graders The Children’s Story by James Clavell. It shows how a class of impressionable young people who do not understand the Pledge of Allegiance can become communist in 25 minutes. It is frightening in its simplicity.

Today in 2024 the news is NOT the news. It is filtered by the right or left wing political lens. Much is editorial opinion. Let’s not even think about how AI can alter what people view as the truth they “see”.

I am a little shaky this July 4th. On New Year’s Eve I tend to become introspective and to take stock of the last year. I feel this same way for the first time on July 4th Eve.

I do not see how the Constitution is being upheld by the US Supreme Court, the highest court in the land. How could they give immunity to the President? No one should be above the law. We should all be equal . Our forefathers made sure we would never have another monarchy because of the checks and balances. The Supreme Court changed that this week. And what if the newly appointed President refuses to abdicate his throne? What if he decides to imprison anyone who spoke ill of him? Where are the checks and balances now? We need to be very careful whom we give this power to. It could destroy our democracy. Not to mention if we elect a President who refuses to put a check on climate change, the entire world will be forever changed.

I see civil liberties being systematically stripped away. The Chevron ruling severely weakens our federal government. We can return again to State’s Rights, but that led to a Civil War.

Yesterday I read an article about a woman in Idaho who was hemorrhaging at 20 weeks into her pregnancy. She rushed to the emergency room. They refused to treat her. The doctor was afraid he would lose his license. The woman was afraid she wouldn’t live to take care of her two children and her husband. Abortion is being ruled on by the lower courts in this state. No verdict has been reached. They did airvac her to Nevada where she had an abortion to save her life.

What law would force a doctor to refuse medical care to a man?

The right and the left are becoming polar opposites. The Republican and Democratic Parties are becoming polar opposites. Not good. The negativity and fear people experience based upon their political beliefs is not good.

This July 4th, let’s come together as a Nation. We are and remain the United States of America. Let’s move towards the center of the political spectrum. Let’s listen to one another and problem solve together. We need to do this before the entire system unravels.