Today we celebrate ‘Independence’. Like Christmas, the meaning behind the holiday has been lost. The hope for ‘Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’ has been elusive for many Americans. During the pandemic I often reflected on our fragile democracy.
Last summer there were protests around the world against the police abuse, job losses, and financial inequities suffered by people of color. This year the backlash against diversity and inclusion is prevalent across the nation. Some days I feel the shift in views as severe as the plate tectonics one would experience during an earthquake.
I have seen this before. I am a child of the 60s. I watched Walter Cronkite on the evening news inform America of the good, bad, and ugly that people of our democracy. The people experiencing the ugly were humble and defiant in the protests against the injustices imposed upon them. Their persistence in seeking to make real the promises made in the U. S. Declaration of Independence were granted with the 1964 Civil Rights Act. This act enforced the fundamental human rights for people of color which alleviated discrimination in hiring and work practices, voting rights and housing.
I believe the American people will collectively address the cracks in our democracy. We need time to listen to each other, reflect, and heal our differences.
Today my family will celebrate with a barbeque and outdoor games. Delicious food and fun is welcomed after the year we’ve had. Hope is alive. God Bless America!
~Bea