Independence Day. Fourth of July. July Fourth. Uncle Sam’s Birthday. You name it. The day citizens of the United States gather to celebrate the federal holiday honoring the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776. The day the Continental Congress proclaimed the thirteen colonies were to be recognized as a new, independent nation. The birth of the United States of America and Democracy. Patriots rebelled against British control during the American Revolutionary War for our freedom, and the rest is history, folks.
Although these are the facts of our nation’s independence from Britain, do you acknowledge them when you celebrate July Fourth?
Let me answer that for you. No, you probably don’t. Maybe you wear t-shirts that say “God Bless America” and sing “Let Freedom Ring,” but our Independence Day celebration’s meaning has been warped over the last 200 years.
The holiday once celebrated as a notion of freedom for the colonists is now a capitalist, booze-fest for privileged Americans.
When I was younger, I couldn’t wait for the Fourth of July. It was the day that everyone looked forward to and was my absolute favorite holiday. My family and friends would spend the whole day at my grandparent’s lake swimming, fishing, playing games, enjoying great food, lighting fireworks, eating s’mores and having the time of our lives. After sunset, we would all rush to the dock to pick our spots to watch the fireworks. As hundreds of fireworks glistened on the water, people would happily shout patriotic phrases like “I hope the people in England can hear us!”.
After the activities had ended and it was time to get ready for bed, we all felt extremely blessed to be an American and have our freedom. I still get that feeling when I celebrate the Fourth, but I don’t sense it from everyone.
The holiday seems to be plagued with tacky decorations, overpriced fireworks and endless coolers stuffed with beer. People get together, eat food, talk about life, watch the fireworks and head home. I mean, I do enjoy these things, but it feels like people have lost their “spunk” about celebrating Independence Day. This isn’t the only issue.
Companies use the Fourth as a way to trick people into to buying their crummy products labeled as “party necessities” to increase their profit margins. These overpriced items range from merchandise stamped with “Party Like It’s 1776” and American flag printed anything. People are dressed from head to toe in these commodities and it gets worse every year. All of these goods end up in landfills and waterways sooner or later. Yay. Capitalism strikes again.
Like I said, some of these things are fun, but only for a moment. As I get older, I’m becoming more aware of my surroundings. I’ll show up to our Fourth of July celebration every year and be in awe of the numerous bags filled with fireworks, shiny decor, infinite food supply and everyone dressed in red, white and blue. Now, all of this seems unnecessary.
It isn’t wrong to go all out and have the party of the century, but in all of the excitement, stop to think about the meaning behind the holiday in the “land of the free and home of the brave”. Are you celebrating your freedom or the free booze?
