It\u2019s the Fourth of July, the \u201cbirthday\u201d of the United States of America. And, of course, even that date has some controversy (it is the United States). The Declaration of Independence was voted on in the Second Continental Congress on July 4th<\/sup>. Twelve of the thirteen colonies agreed, but the delegation from New York abstained. They had no instructions from their legislature, and didn\u2019t join until July 9th<\/sup>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And then there\u2019s the \u201csigning\u201d argument.\u00a0\u00a0John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were adamant that most delegates signed the document on July 4th<\/sup>, but historians argue that other signatures were added on in July and even in August.\u00a0\u00a0It\u2019s hard to argue with the firm views Jefferson and Adams. After all, they were there; historians were not.\u00a0\u00a0And so the Fourth of July is the \u201caccepted\u201d date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was two-hundred and forty-eight years ago. From the very beginning, the Fourth was celebrated by fireworks. John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail after the Congressional vote:<\/p>\n\n\n\n [This day] ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here in my town, Pataskala, we celebrated with fireworks on Sunday, June 30th<\/sup>. Jenn and I sat on the back deck and watched the show. It\u2019s not quite like being in the crowd at the park, but, we kept close to our dogs inside. They don\u2019t like booms and whistles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s been a week of ups and downs for American patriotism.\u00a0\u00a0It started with the absolute joy of American athletes making the Olympic team, proud to represent the USA in Paris at the end of the month.\u00a0\u00a0I watched record performances in track and field, with Sydney McLauglin-Levrone breaking her own world standard in the 400 meter hurdles. And a sixteen year-old high school kid, Quincy Wilson, earned a place in the men\u2019s 4×400 relay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I also saw amazing feats of skill in gymnastics.\u00a0\u00a0Simone Biles, all\u00a0\u00a0four feet eight inches of her, soared over twelve feet in the air straight from the mat.\u00a0\u00a0The \u201cthrill of victory\u201d was clear. So was the \u201cagony of defeat\u201d outlined in the grim smile of Shane Wiskus, the Minnesota born 2021 Olympic gymnast.\u00a0\u00a0He was relegated to alternate role on the team by a five one-hundredths of a point difference in computer scoring.\u00a0\u00a0The smallest point deduction in gymnastics is one tenth of a point \u2013 but the computer model \u201cdoesn\u2019t lie\u201d \u2013 so Wiskus gets to practice, watch and wait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As I watched the fireworks in this small town, I couldn\u2019t help but think what the 250th<\/sup>\u00a0Birthday might be like, two years from now.\u00a0\u00a0With so much on the line in this year\u2019s election, it\u2019s hard to tell what the future holds.\u00a0\u00a0Of course we will celebrate in two years, \u201c\u2026from one end of the continent to the other<\/em>\u2026\u201d. But what will our American government look like.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kevin Roberts, the President of the conservative Heritage Foundation made it clear what his vision is. He hopes to fill a Trump Administration with Heritage members and fundamentally change the American government, much as the Federalist Society took over the US Supreme Court. The Heritage \u201cProject 2025\u201d would use the Federal government to make fundamental changes in America. As Roberts ominously stated: \u201cWe are in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n They certainly have the Supreme Court behind them, and the huge thumb of right-wing media on the scale as well.\u00a0\u00a0It makes the 2024 election feel like so much more than just two old white men running for President.\u00a0\u00a0What was it Superman used to say?\u00a0\u00a02024 feels like an existential determination of what \u201cTruth, Justice and the American Way\u201d really means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Roberts laid down his gauntlet:\u00a0\u00a0he will have \u201chis\u201d revolution, bloodless or not.\u00a0\u00a02024\u2019s not about Trump, or Biden.\u00a0\u00a0It\u2019s about what the United States of America, and in extension, the world, is going to be like.\u00a0\u00a0Will we be celebrating the 250th<\/sup>\u00a0anniversary, or will we be in mourning for the loss of freedom Project 2025 promises?\u00a0\u00a0Who will be welcome in the Park to watch the fireworks, and who will be relegated to watching from outside?\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s almost like “regular” political arguments are no longer important.\u00a0\u00a0More or less taxes, wider or narrow roads, the price of milk and eggs; all those issues seem to pale before the threat to freedom that the Heritage Foundation offers.\u00a0\u00a0Their vision of America is one we left behind with \u201cWally and the Beaver\u201d back in the 1950\u2019s.\u00a0\u00a0But even worse, they hope to write that vision into stone; in law and practice; to weave it so deeply into our society that it will outlast my generation, the next and even more.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you didn\u2019t see fireworks this year, there\u2019s still time. The Fourth is today, there are small communities all over firing off their salutes to America tonight. Celebrate the freedoms we have. But when you see that \u201cbest firework\u201d, (for me, the huge gold chrysanthemum blast), and listen to the \u201cooh\u2019s and awe\u2019s\u201d, remember what we really celebrating \u2013 freedom. <\/p>\n\n\n\nRed, White and Blue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Birthday 250<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Protect Freedom<\/h3>\n\n\n\n