Summer in the United States is full of anniversaries. Of course, the Fourth of July celebrates our nation’s independence from England in 1776. But this isn’t the only notable anniversary this season. On June 23, we celebrated the 53rd anniversary of Title IX, a landmark law that remains under constant attack. On June 24, we remembered the 3rd anniversary of the devastating Dobbs decision.
With Independence Day quickly approaching, I find myself asking: How do you celebrate a nation that doesn’t celebrate you?
House Democrats came together to recognize the anniversary of Dobbs in a recent press conference. Representative Katherine Clark (MA-5) powerfully pointed out how young women in America today hold less rights than their grandmothers.
Ayanna Pressley (MA-7) remembered June 23, 2022 by saying, “My daughter was going to sleep with fewer rights than she woke up with that morning.”
At a time where so many women feel abandoned and targeted by our current administration, it can be challenging to find space in our hearts to celebrate our country.
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on what it means to be an American patriot. So often, patriotism is framed as blind allegiance, a concept that has been co-opted by far-right nationalism. I’ve heard the criticism that liberals “hate” this country because we challenge its failures. And at times, I’ve even internalized that framing myself. When I take a step back, though, I realize why I’m dedicating my life to this work.
I love this country. I believe in this country.
Our country’s progress has always come from those willing to challenge its shortcomings. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X stood up to institutionalized racism, often at great personal cost. Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Harvey Milk pushed forward in a time when queer identity itself was criminalized. And women like Susan B. Anthony, Gloria Steinem, and Ida B. Wells spoke out boldly when society tried to silence them.
America has never been perfect, nor will it ever be. But the American people have proven time and time again that in periods of upheaval, we unite and make change.
I don’t expect our nation to be without flaws and conflict. All I want is what we all deserve: a country that’s truly for everyone.
Isn’t that why the colonists came to America in the first place? Isn’t that what we’re truly celebrating on the Fourth of July?
While I don’t agree with the idea that Independence Day should be a time to ignore our nation’s flaws and celebrate uncritically, I do think this day can be used as a powerful reminder of all the freedoms we still have.
We have the right to fight for what we believe in. Rising protests across the country demonstrate this beautifully. Americans of all genders, races, and ages are coming together to fight against the rising authoritarian regime in Washington. Those in power today do not represent us. They do not represent what we’re celebrating.
New York City just saw an astounding mayoral Democratic primary that placed a Muslim Democratic Socialist on the ballot. Virginia and Pennsylvania have upcoming general elections for governor, attorney general, and municipal officers, respectively. There are opportunities for change, and we must take them.
This Fourth of July, I call on everyone to remember our past in order to fuel our future. Celebrate the wins we’ve already seen in this current administration, even if they seem small. Use this enthusiasm to continue the fight for freedom; freedom for all.
Hope isn’t blind optimism. Hope is the light we carry through the darkness.