Independence Day Reflection

I've never been nationalistic, have always been heavily critical of my country and some of its culture (yet constructively, and always out of concern) but most particularly, of my government. Ultimately, I am glad I live here and not somewhere else, and despite the multitude of idiots out there (left or right) I think the majority of Americans are generally decent people who just want to live their lives in peace.

Don't let these crooks in power divide us. Don't let them convince you that folks like me are "extremists" for wanting to CONSERVE certain values and principles we think are fundamental to this place, and for wanting to hold the government accountable when they trample on those values and principles. It doesn't mean there's no room for growth; it doesn't mean we still don't have strides to make in equality of opportunity; it means being able to work toward those goals while still acknowledging the foundational ideas that must be preserved for us to keep this going, and paying homage to those ideas by seeing how far we have been able to come, historically, because of them.

Enjoy your holiday.

-Dan

(Photograph taken by Katelyn Kopenhaver, July 4th, 2020)