When I was a kid, I knew nothing about The Fourth of July. What it meant to me way back then was that each 4th of July I watched my older two brothers and sister blow firecrackers in front of our house. At that time, regulations to keep us from doing this did not exist. Maybe they did but I didn’t know. Anyway, what could you expect from a seven-year old girl?
As the years went by, July 4th fireworks became a forgotten amusement. Now, in 2020, I realize what The Fourth of July means. Yet, I can’t help wonder how life was portrayed when the United States of America (USA) existed as 13 fledgling colonies. I cannot attest to life at that time since I wasn’t there. But if a time machine existed, I would take it to go back to that era so I could make a then-and-now comparison of our country. But a time machine doesn’t exist, so I am unable to witness what the 13 colonies experienced when they achieved and celebrated their freedom.
Yes, freedom is an important asset, but nowadays its interpretation is misguided. The principles under which our country was founded are almost unrecognizable. Lately it is difficult to ignore the clamoring of people demanding justice for improper police procedures leading to the death of innocent people. Moreover, our lives are being threatened by Covid-19, a highly contagious virus that some people assume will go away on its own. Well, the virus isn’t going away unless we work together to eliminate it, and our country will no longer be the USA unless we join forces to restore it to what it used to be as our founding fathers stated in the Preamble to the Constitution: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence (sic), promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
I’m grateful that I was born and live in the US. But this year, I’m not too excited about celebrating the Fourth of July. There’s too much unrest in our nation. Plus, my husband and I are taking care of my sister, who has Alzheimer’s. So, no fireworks or picnics will occur this day at our home. Instead, I’ll spend the day with my husband and sister, and try to forget the turmoil that presently assaults our country.
If you want to learn more about the fourth of July click here.
M. E. Murray 