Happy(?) 4th of July

It's hard to celebrate when Republicans voted to make so many suffer...

My intention when I started writing this was to discuss taking the 4th of July holiday off to celebrate our democracy, despite recent attempts to destroy it. Independence Day has always been one of my favorite holidays. It was a day to commemorate the founding of our country. A day filled with friends, family, good food, and fireworks. From the Asbury Park fireworks of my childhood, to watching the Bicentennial fireworks in 1976 from the White House lawn, to the yearly display that is visible from my current home, I have always loved sparkling, loud 4th of July fireworks. But this year, like many of my patriotic friends, I really didn’t feel like celebrating.

Of course, the holiday marks July 4, 1776, when the 56 men representing the 13 colonies signed the Declaration of Independence, a document that included these words:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”

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249 years later to the day, Donald Trump signed a bill that takes the right to Life away from hundreds of thousands of Americans. The cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and SNAP will endanger the sick, disabled, elderly, and unborn. It’s a peculiar bill to come from a party that claims to be pro-life!

This “Big Ugly Bill” also includes about $170 billion to support the Trump administration's border and immigration goals, including detaining and deporting a record number of people from the U.S. It is certainly a threat to the right to Liberty for millions who came to this county in search of a better life for themselves and their families. The administration has not deported many of the criminals they claimed to be targeting. Instead, they’ve been expelling veterans, sick children, and people trying to be good citizens out of our country. The Trump quest to illegitimize birthright citizenship would ironically deny citizenship to many of the people who voted for him in 2024.

This effort to rid our country of immigrants (particularly non-white individuals) is an insult to anyone whose ancestors came to this country in search of a better life. “The New Colossus", a poem written by Emma Lazarus, which is engraved on a plaque on the Statue of Liberty, concludes with the beautiful and meaningful lines:

“Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Finally, defending our right to the pursuit of Happiness does not seem to be a MAGA priority, except for the ultra-wealthy. Even those who will be badly hurt by the “Big Ugly Bill” support it. It is, and will be, a very unhappy time for many Americans.

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So, let’s still try and take today to celebrate the promise this country offered 249 years ago, and then join the fight. Here are a few actions you can take:

• If your Republican senators or congressperson voted for this bill (no Democrats voted yes), be a regular caller and remind them that they will come up for reelection and that you will work hard for their opponent. The entire House of Representatives will be up for reelection in 2026, and this will be a great opportunity to take control of that body.

• If, like mine, your representatives and senators are Democrats, look for another local district that needs your help.

• Make sure your less politically educated friends understand what pain this bill will cause over the next several years.

• Sign up for Resist.bot. This app offers the opportunity to easily send messages to your senators and representatives.

• Don’t forget self-care. I know it’s hard to do these days, but it is vital. As many have said: “This is a marathon, not a sprint.” Protect your mental and physical health by disengaging when necessary. Make time for your pets, TV (not the news), books, walking, gardening, or anything else that gives your mind a break.

If we work together and have faith in each other, we can still return our country to the morality, ethics, and values we cherish. Maybe in 249 years, America will be celebrating us!