On the 4th of July

The flag on a bed of roses. Very much the idealized, romantic and preferred image of ourselves. I am writing on the eve of this year’s holiday, when the current occupant of the White House plans to co-opt the traditional celebration of our nation’s independence for political purposes. Just another affront to our national character. I’ve stopped counting how many have preceded it. American Democracy is under siege in 2019. It also occurred to me that we bring flowers to funerals as well.

Stars for the States, stripes for the thirteen

White for purity and for the red and the blue

It’s Independence Day for the patriots

A day off from work

A day of sales for the conspicuous consumer

Fireworks for the little kid in all of US

A day of consumption for most of US

More of a time to forget

Rather than reflect on the true meaning of the day

From Francis Scott Key to Frederick Douglass

The meaning of the 4th of July

As numerous as the fireworks in the sky

Rejoice, Reflect, Regret, Remember

Take your pick on this national holiday

Forget, for now, the tarnished image of

The Other America

Or the proclamations of the charlatans who

Distort its meaning for political ends

Go fishing, take in a parade, drink beer

Watch a baseball game

For now… we can still bask in the ideal of America

It is a day for fun and forgiving

To float in a pool or lay in the shade

To eat burgers and dogs without guilt

In fact, it is our patriotic duty

It is the essence of our American-ness

But at some point during

This day of idealized frivolity

Make an honest assessment

Of where we stand as a nation today

Consider each star an unrealized goal

Each stripe, a wall that separates

US from true national unity

A true measure taken of how far

We have come and how far

We still have to go

Our imperfect Union is still

A work in progress

And this day above all others should

Embrace that simple reality.