On this day, July 4th 2022, I meditate on our independence as a nation. In 1776, we declared our independence in a letter of passion, of fervent belief that we have self-evident rights as individuals and as a group of individuals living together.
We sought freedom from our tyrannical English overloads—and we had to fight for it.
For generations, July 4th was observed as a solemn reminder of the price of that freedom.
Militias would train. We would make speeches in both reflection and hope for our young democracy’s future.
Today we are undeniably a sovereign country.
But being a free nation has always meant free for white, Christian men. Never forget that, even as we celebrated our independence from English rule, we enslaved African Americans.
Never forget that we failed to act on emancipation until Juneteenth, 1865–nearly 100 years after our declaration.
On July 4th, 1876 Susan B. Anthony delivered “Declaration of Rights of the Women of the United States” to US senators in Independence Square.
This is what she said:
“While the nation is buoyant with patriotism, and all hearts are attuned to praise, it is with sorrow we come to strike the one discordant note, on this one-hundredth anniversary of our country’s birth. When subjects of kings, emperors, and czars from the old world join in our national jubilee, shall the women of the republic refuse to lay their hands with benedictions on the nation’s head?
Surveying America’s exposition, surpassing in magnificence those of London, Paris, and Vienna, shall we not rejoice at the success of the youngest rival among the nations of the earth? May not our hearts, in unison with all, swell with pride at her great achievements as a people; our free speech, free press, free schools, free church, and the rapid progress we have made in material wealth, trade, commerce and the inventive arts?
And we do rejoice in the success, thus far, of our experiment of self-government. Our faith is firm and unwavering in the broad principles of human rights proclaimed in 1776, not only as abstract truths, but as the cornerstones of a republic. Yet we cannot forget, even at this glad hour, that while men of every race, and clime, and condition, have been invested with full rights of citizenship under our hospitable flag, all women still suffer the degradation of disenfranchisement.”
Women went on to gain the right to vote in 1920, but our other rights took much longer.
In fact, they are still not safe today.
July 4th is a beloved holiday because it cemented our identity as a nation. But it’s also been an important day to reflect on the journey and future of that independence.
This year, today, I would like us to turn our attention, not to freedom from foreign rule, but to independence from inequities that divide us.
Independence from the obsession with controlling female bodies.
Independence from the rule of extremist ideologies not tied to the will of our people.
Independence from white lust for power and fear that power will be taken.
Independence from hatred, from racism.
Independence from the shackles that bind us and once again divide us in a deeply hypocritical way.
We’ve not been this divided as a nation since the civil war—a war triggered over the desire for power over another group of people vs. the true beauty of our American spirit to equalize and protect the rights of all.
Let our independence this day and every day be that of freedom from the domestic forces that seek to fracture our democracy beyond repair.
We’ve always been a nation of revolution and we cannot let that flame flicker out because we are tired, we are comfortable, we feel powerless.
The revolution must continue.
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